Sunday, April 10, 2011 / http://www.bostonherald.com
JOE BRAMANTI
ANDOVER
The senior swingman averaged 23 points a game for the Golden Warriors. He was named the MVP of both the Christmas Tournament as well as the Merrimack Valley Conference. Bramanti surpassed the 1,000-point mark late in the season, finishing with 1,084 points. An honor roll student, Bramanti is looking to attend prep school next year.
PAT CONNAUGHTON
ST. JOHN’S PREP
The Gatorade Player of the Year, the 6-foot-5 senior guard averaged 22.5 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists a game in leading the Eagles to their first Division 1 state boys basketball title. In addition to basketball, Connaughton is one of the top pitching prospects in the area and will play both sports at Notre Dame in the fall.
MARCO COPPOLA
WATERTOWN
The MVP of the Middlesex League, the 6-foot-2 senior point guard averaged 25.2 points a game in leading the Raiders to the Division 3 state finals. A part of three Division 3 North sectional title teams, Coppola ended his career with 1,461 points. He recently committed to play college basketball at WPI.
JAKE LAYMAN
KING PHILIP
The 6-foot-8 swingman averaged 24.6 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.6 blocks and 2.3 assists a game in leading the Warriors to the Division 2 South sectional finals. A two-time Hockomock League All-Star and league MVP, Laymam surpassed the 1,000-point mark earlier this season and his 1,196 career points is the most for any boy in school history. In the offseason, Layman competes for the BABC.
JIMMY ZENEVITCH
CENTRAL CATHOLIC
The 6-foot-8 senior forward was a nightly double-double for the Raiders, averaging 21.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and four assists a game as the Raiders reached the Division 1 North sectional semifinals. Zenevitch was part of two state championship teams, concluding his career with 1,084 points. A volleyball standout, Zenevitch will attend Assumption on a basketball scholarship.
JAYLEN ALICEA
LAWRENCE
One of the quickest guards in the state, Alicea sparked the Lancers’ deep run through the Division 1 North tournament by averaging 30 points over five postseason games. A two-time MVC All-Conference performer and Greater Lawrence All-Tournament Team member this season, the 5-foot-10 senior point guard eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career and averaged 19 points per game this season.
JEFF AMAZAN
EAST BOSTON
This 6-foot-3 shooting guard powered the Jets to a Boston City League championship appearance with 22.1 points per game and 5.2 rebounds. One of the area’s top outside shooters, Amazan buried 43.7 percent of his 3-point attempts. A two-year starter, Amazan averaged 15.7 points as a junior, hitting 41.2 percent from beyond the arc, while pulling down 3.1 boards. He will attend the Taft School.
TRAVONNE BERRY-ROGERS
LYNN ENGLISH
Berry-Rogers produced in bunches for the Bulldogs, as the 6-foot-1 swingman averaged 25 points, six assists and eight rebounds to lead his team to a 21-3 record and a spot in the Division 1 North sectional semifinals. The two-time Northeastern Conference All-Star and honor roll student is considering Merrimack, Western Connecticut State, Johnson & Wales and Anna Maria.
MARK CORNELIUS
WESTFORD
A standout wide receiver in the fall, Cornelius proved to be just as dangerous as a forward in the winter, as he earned MVP honors in an ultra-competitive season in the Dual County League. A two-time DCL All-Star in both football and basketball, this 6-foot-3 senior poured in 21 points per game and grabbed 13 rebounds. An honor roll student, Cornelius is looking at both New Hampshire and Bentley.
DARIUS DAVIS
NEW MISSION
A key piece of the Titans’ Division 2 state championship squad, Davis helped control the tempo on offense from his point guard position and always seemed to hit a jumper when his team needed it. A Boston City League All-Star, the 6-foot-3 senior finished with 15 points and eight rebounds per game on a team that had a balanced scoring sheet on a nightly basis. Davis will attend Bentley University.
JOEY GLYNN
CARDINAL SPELLMAN
A junior from Abington, Glynn filled the stat sheet with 21.1 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, four assists and two steals per game as the Cardinals won the Division 3 South sectional title. The 6-foot-5 forward won the Catholic Central League’s MVP award this winter after making the all-star team a year ago. Glynn, who also plays football for Spellman, is a National Honor Society student.
BRYAN HURLEY
BC HIGH
A senior from Watertown, Hurley averaged 18 points, five assists and four steals as he earned Catholic Conference All-Star status and led the Eagles to a 14-9 record and a spot in the Division 1 South semifinals this season. For his career, Hurley averaged 15 points and six assists. A Catholic Conference All-Star in soccer and an honors student, Hurley will continue his basketball career at Bowdoin.
ROBERT JONES
COHASSET
This 5-foot-8 point guard earned South Shore League MVP honors and led the Skippers to both a league title and a Division 4 South sectional crown. A three-time league all-star, Jones averaged 18 points and eight assists to go along with a tenacious attitude on the defensive end. A 1,000- point scorer and two-time captain, Jones is the school’s all-time assist leader and will attend Framingham State.
MICHAEL LOFTON
MANSFIELD
The leader of a Hornets team that won the program’s first Division 1 South title this season, this senior did a little bit of everything, averaging 13.5 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and three steals per game. A truly unselfish player, the 6-foot-5 forward also handled point guard duties and made the assist on his team’s game-winning basket in its South sectional final victory.
SAM LONGWELL
ACTON-BOXBORO
The 6-foot-3 senior averaged 17.5 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds. Longwell, who also led the Colonials in assists, was a two-time Dual County League All-Star for an A-B squad that earned back- to-back league titles and finished with a 20-4 record this winter. An honor roll student, Longwell is looking to play at the Division 2 or 3 level next winter.
AKOSA MADUEGBUNAM
CHARLESTOWN
The 6-foot-3 junior guard guided the Townies to the Boston City League title with an MVP performance in that tournament and led Charlestown to the Division 1 North quarterfinals. An athletic and skilled perimeter player, Maduegbunam averaged 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals as he made the league all-star team for the second year in a row.
SAMIR McDANIELS
NEW MISSION
This 6-foot-4 guard was one of the more valuable players in the city, as the Titans improved drastically when McDaniels returned from an early injury. A Boston City League All-Star, McDaniels surpassed the 1,000-point barrier as a junior and averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and five assists this season. A senior, McDaniels will continue his playing career at the University of New Haven.
BARRETT MURPHY
MARSHFIELD
One of the premier scorers in the area, this 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 24 points, six rebounds and six assists for the 16-5 Rams, who went unbeaten in Atlantic Coast League play. A three-time league all-star, Murphy averaged 14 points as a sophomore and 17.5 as a junior. A National Honor Society student, Murphy is looking at NESCAC schools but is undecided on his college destination.
JOSEPH MUSSACHIA
MANCHESTER ESSEX
The 6-foot-5 senior won Cape Ann League MVP honors in his third straight all-league season for the Hornets, as he averaged 24.2 points, 17 rebounds and five assists. Mussachia owns the school career scoring record with over 1,700 points and led his team to the Cape Ann Small Division title this winter. A National Honor Society student, Mussachia will continue his career at Amherst College.
ANDREW SCOCCA
MELROSE
A 6-foot-8 force in the paint, the four-year varsity player finished his senior season averaging 20 points, 20 rebounds, five blocks and three assists. A Middlesex League All-Star, Scocca missed his junior season to injury but finished his career with 650 points, 750 rebounds and 200 blocks. Also a baseball and football player, Scocca is undecided on his college plans.
MICKEL SIMPSON
WOBURN
A standout both on the court and off, this senior guard averaged 19.4 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks for the 18-7 Tanners, who won the Division 2 North title his junior year. The four-year letterman is a 1,000-point scorer and among the school’s top five for his career. A high honors student and class representative, Simpson will attend Trinity College in the fall.
JOHN SWORDS
LINCOLN-SUDBURY
One of the more imposing presences in the area, the 7-foot center averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks for the Warriors, who reached the Division 1 North quarterfinals before falling to eventual state champion St. John’s Prep. The senior is a two-time Dual County League All-Star and the co-MVP for this season. Swords will continue his basketball career at Bowdoin College.
JACQUIL TAYLOR
CAMBRIDGE
Only a sophomore, the 6-foot-8 center has already made quite an impression on the Eastern Mass. basketball scene. Taylor averaged 13.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.8 blocks to earn the Greater Boston League MVP award. A two-time GBL All-Star, Taylor averaged nine points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as a freshman. An honor roll student, Taylor plays for the Prodigy AAU program.
NOAH VONLEH
HAVERHILL
At 6-foot-7, the sophomore can play either guard or forward and do both at a very high level, as the rest of the Merrimack Valley Conference learned this season. Vonleh averaged 26 points and 22 rebounds for the Hillies. The highly skilled Vonleh’s versatility has several national recruiting publications projecting him as a high-major Division 1 prospect and one of the tops in his class.
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