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All-Long Island Boys Basketball

Jason Molinet

April 13, 2003

Front row, from left: Dan Nawrocki (Chaminade), Kenny Jones (Wyandanch) and Marvin Lawrence (Uniondale). Back row, from left: Suffolk Coach of the Year Jack Agostino (Amityville), Richard Payton (Amityville), Nick Carter (Whitman), Nassau Player of the Year Mamadou Diakhate (St. MaryÂs), Suffolk Player of the Year A.J. Price (Amityville), LeMichael Allen (Copiague), Antoine Agudio (Whitman) and Nassau Coach of the Year Tom Diana (Uniondale). Not pictured, Etienne Brower (West Hempstead). (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara)

The 10 boys basketball players who stood out on the courts of Nassau, Suffolk and CHSAA high schools this winter.

MAMADOU DIAKHATE
Nassau Player of the Year
St. Mary's (6-6, Senior): Diakhate showcased a rare blend of maturity and versatility the moment he arrived in Manhasset from Senegal as a sophomore. The three-time All-Long Island selection led St. Mary's to three straight Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA titles and a 74-7 record in his career. He is a 1,500-point scorer. He delivered a Class B state Federation championship as a junior. This season, he moved to swingman and took St. Mary's to the Class A state CHSAA semifinals, the highlight of a 25-2 run. Diakhate averaged 20.5 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists while showcasing strong inside moves and a deft outside touch. It earned him a second straight Sandler Award as Nassau's best player. Diakhate will play at Eastern Kentucky.

A.J. PRICE
Suffolk Player of the Year
Amityville (6-1, Junior): Price's ascention from role player to player of the year followed a familiar blueprint. He became the third straight Amityville standout to earn the Sandler Award as Suffolk's best player, following teammates Jason Fraser (Villanova) and Tristan Smith (currently at St. John's). Unlike Fraser's low-post game and Smith's playmaker mentality, Price was the best pure scorer the county has seen in recent memory. The shooting guard averaged a Suffolk-best 25.4 points, including a school-record 63 three-pointers, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. He led Amityville to a 24-2 season and Class B state Federation title.

ANTOINE AGUDIO
Whitman (6-3, Sr.): Agudio is a two-year starter at shooting guard on a two-time Class A Long Island championship team. That, along with his explosive move to the basket, made him a two-time All-Long Island pick and a finalist for the Sandler Award. Agudio averaged 23.8 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals as Whitman avenged two regular-season losses to Uniondale with a win in the Long Island championship game. The guard hit 52 three-pointers this season and finished with 1,156 carerer points. His final game - 34 points in a state semifinal loss to Mount Vernon (Section I) - was his finest. Agudio will play at Hofstra.

LeMICHAEL ALLEN
Copiague (6-2, Sr.): Allen graduated from Newsday's Fabulous Freshman team in 2000 to his first All-Long Island selection this season. The four-year starter built a reputation as a smooth shooter and an outside threat. He averaged 19.7 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals in 17 games to help Copiague to the No. 3 seed in the Suffolk Class A playoffs. Allen never got to finish the season because he was suspended for his role in an alleged altercation with an official. But there is no denying Allen's body of work. He finished with 1,287 career points and scored a Long Island-best 50 points in a win over Huntington this season.

ETIENNE BROWER
West Hempstead (6-7, Sr.): Most schools get a great player once in a generation. Make that several generations at West Hempstead, where Brower emerged to guide the Rams to a 22-2 record and their first Nassau Class B crown since 1957. Brower averaged 18.3 points, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks and 4 assists, and was a finalist for the Sandler Award. He also shot a remarkable 59 percent the field. The four-year starter finished his career with 1,122 points. Brower is the son of former Hofstra and pro basketball standout Quinas Brower.

NICK CARTER
Whitman (6-0, Jr.): A second-team All-Long Island selection a year ago, Carter took on greater responsibility when he took over point guard duties this season. And he kept the Wildcats on track for their second straight Class A Long Island championship. Carter averaged 16.8 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals, and was a clutch performer from the foul line. He sank 91 of 127 foul shots, good for 72 percent. "Nick is probably the best on-the-ball defender I've had," coach Tom Fitzpatrick said. "He's very intense, and a great ballhandler."

MARVIN LAWRENCE
Uniondale (6-4, Sr.): Lawrence was the lone returning starter from last season's Nassau Class A championship squad, the school's first in 24 seasons. Thanks to Lawrence, the Knights didn't wait long to win again. He guided the team to a 20-3 season and the county title. Raw athleticism and an inside presence made him tough to contain. Lawrence averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. And when he was on, he was unstoppable. In a regular-season win over Whitman, Lawrence totaled a career-best 27 points and 17 rebounds.

KENNY JONES
Wyandanch (6-6, Sr.): The distinguished career of Jones also begs the question: What if? Wyandanch might have been the second-best Class B team in the state. But the Warriors never could get past Amityville in the Suffolk playoffs in each of the last two seasons. The four-year starter averaged 22 points and 16 rebounds, directing the Warriors to a 19-2 season and a date with Amityville in the Suffolk Class B final. A finalist for the Sandler Award, Jones did his part in his final high school game: 20 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks.

DAN NAWROCKI