Newsday's All-Long Island boys basketball team 2026

Newsday Player of the Year: Ryan Leary, Carle Place, G, 6-3, Sr.

Ryan Leary had a plan for those games when his shots weren’t falling — keep shooting.

“If I can airball a three and the crowd can let me hear it, I feel like the next one’s going in,” Leary said.

A whole lot of shots went in for Leary dating to his two varsity games as an eighth grader.

The combo guard set the Carle Place program’s all-time scoring record. He surpassed 2,000 points during his final postseason and finished at 2,064.

Leary’s late, go-ahead four-point play vs. Woodlands in the Southeast Regional final capped a 39-point eruption, and his Nassau and Long Island championship team moved on to the state Class B final four in Binghamton for the second straight year.

The season ended in those semifinals, and he ended with an Island-leading 29-point scoring average, including games with 47, 40, 39, 39 and 38. And he sank 80 threes.

“I think once I step over half-court, I’m a threat,” Leary said.

But he’s more than just a shooter. He also averaged 8.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals and one block.

“I just think he facilitates really well,” coach John Cantwell said. “I just think he does a lot of things. … Phenomenal rebounder and scorer. … And he’s a leader.”

Next up? Football and basketball at D-II Pace. How will he do in hoops at that level?

“I like to think I’m a decent player,” Leary said, “so I think I’ll find my way.”

Suffolk Player of the Year: Michael Cascione, Smithtown West, G, 6-2, Sr.

There’s a reason why Smithtown West coach Mike Agostino describes Michael Cascione as “generational.” And he isn’t wrong.

The captain averaged 24.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists (with a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio) and 3.0 steals in his final season with this team, all while averaging 25 minutes per game. He shot 53.5% from the field.

Cascione, who scored 1,383 points and saw the Bulls go 81-11, win three league titles and make three Suffolk finals across his four seasons, helped them capture the first county and Long Island titles in program history this season.

“Having him on my side is the best,” Agostino said. “He’s so tough, skilled, but above all that, he’s so unselfish.”

Cascione stepping up in the big moments wasn’t confined to the championship games, either. Against teams that made or won the semifinal round — Baldwin and Half Hollow Hills West, plus two meetings with Deer Park and three with Half Hollow Hills East — he averaged 27 points.

Smithtown West played West Islip in a playoff game without Cascione. It was something Agostino hadn’t done “in a very long time,” reminding him just how uniquely special Cascione is.

“(Winning a county title) doesn’t just happen because we showed up,” Agostino said. “It happens because we worked so hard at practice for four months. He’s the catalyst for that. He checks off every box.”

FIRST TEAM

Amir Dickerson, Amityville, G, 6-4, Sr.

Dickerson turned in another superior season, averaging 23.5 points, 11 rebounds and 5.2 assists and making 44% of his threes during the Tide’s run to the Suffolk Class A semifinals. Coach Jack Agostino summed up Dickerson’s run with the program this way: “The contribution that Amir has made over the last three years can and will be considered one of the greatest careers in Amityville basketball history. There is no doubt he left an amazing legacy at Amityville.”

Kyle Dillon, Chaminade, G, 6-1, Sr.

Dillon didn’t miss a game the last three seasons, playing in all 77, and he capped his tenure with the Flyers by averaging 17 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists and making 47 threes. Coach Dan Feeney called the Wesleyan commit “not only a great player but also a true ambassador for our program. He has continued to elevate the level of our program.”

Corey Faines, Bay Shore, G, 6-3, Sr.

Coach Gary Williams called Faines “the best captain he’s been around” alongside co-captain Niall Haughney for their ability to hold people accountable, and no player was more important to Bay Shore’s success than the Nazareth-bound Faines. He averaged 19.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.3 steals and shot 46.8% overall and 37.1% on threes, boosting the Marauders along their run to Suffolk and Long Island titles and the Southeast Regional final in Class AAA.

Alex Franklin, Southampton, G/F, 6-4, Sr.

Franklin’s all-around ability made him one of the most complete players on Long Island. He averaged 24.4 points and about 14 rebounds, six assists and four steals. Coach Herm Lamison said that “there’s a level of comfort” having Franklin on the floor, praising his ability to elevate those around him.

Brendan Martin, Floral Park, G, 5-11, Sr.

Martin brought a lot to a team that took its second straight Nassau Class A championship and first Long Island crown. The Farmingdale State commit averaged 20.9 points and nailed 87 threes. Coach Sean Boyle watched him improve from year to year since he was a freshman. “He’s a quiet leader,” Boyle said. “He sets the tone with his work ethic in practice. … He’s a special, special player in Floral Park history.”

Melo Mojeed, St. Dominic, G, 6-2, Sr.

Mojeed led the Bayhawks to the NSCHSAA final for the second straight year and averaged 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals. Coach Isaiah Wilson noted that the point guard, who posted 1,417 points for St. Dominic, brought great leadership this season and “second and third efforts every game, which helped fuel those around him. … He helped finish plays on both sides of the court.”

Mical Saint Jean, Baldwin, G, 6-1, Jr.

Saint Jean was one of the prime forces behind the Bruins’ latest Nassau championship season. He averaged 19 points — with two 35-point games and 43 threes — 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.2 steals. “His nickname is ‘Buckets’ because he can just score that ball,” coach Darius Burton said. “He’s a very good two-way player, but he can put the ball in the basket, which is what he does.”

Tristan Thomas, Holy Trinity, F, 6-3, Sr.

Thomas averaged 15.9 points, but he was especially strong in the playoffs, averaging 22 points over four games, helping power the Titans to the NSCHSAA championship — he was named game MVP — and the state CHSAA Class A title. During the postseason, coach Steve Gnus praised the Molloy commit’s leadership and said, “He gets the basket that we really need and he’s a really solid defender.”

Nassau Coach of the Year: Darius Burton, Baldwin

Burton lost two talented big men to torn ACLs before the season even tipped off, but when the Nassau Class AAA championship game was over, he had guided the Bruins to their sixth straight county title. Burton has led Baldwin to the playoffs in all 26 of his seasons in charge.

Suffolk Coach of the Year: Mike Agostino, Smithtown West

The Bulls entered this season having never won a county crown. But after his team fell by just three points in the 2024-25 Class AA final, Agostino guided his 2025-26 edition to an undefeated run to the top of League III and then finally to the program’s first Suffolk title. Smithtown West beat Half Hollow Hills West 98-68 in the Class AA championship game, its 21st consecutive victory after a 1-1 start. Win No. 22 in a row brought a first Long Island title, vs. South Side.

NSCHSAA Coach of the Year: Steve Gnus, Holy Trinity

Gnus was a longtime Titans assistant who finally received his chance to move up to the top spot, and it went very well. He led Holy Trinity to a 24-4 record, and that came with the program’s first NSCHSAA tournament title since 2022 and its first state CHSAA championship since 2014. The team finished its journey with a 57-52 win over Canisius in the Class A final.

SECOND TEAM

Jack Bell, Whitman, C, 6-6, Sr.

Bell led Whitman to a 17-5 season and a semifinal berth. The Ursinus commit averaged 20.9 points and about 16 rebounds and four blocks.

Kyle Edmundson, Kings Park, G/F, 6-6, Jr.

Edmundson helped flip a nine-win Kings Park team into a 16-win squad that reached the Suffolk Class A final. He averaged 20.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 3.1 assists and 2.2 steals while shooting 60.2% from the floor.

Myles Herbert, St. Mary’s, G, 6-0, Sr.

St. Mary’s looked ahead of schedule this winter, in part due to Herbert’s ability. He averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

Pete Mastando, Manhasset, G/F, 6-6, Sr.

Mastando left everything on the court in the Nassau playoffs, averaging 31 points across three elimination games. He averaged 19.9 points and about seven rebounds overall.

Ethan Sainsbury, Baldwin, G, 5-8, Sr.

Winning is simply what Sainsbury does. He became the first four-year Baldwin player to win four Nassau titles. He averaged 12.7 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 3.9 steals.

Ethan Saintjean, Half Hollow Hills West, G, 6-0, Sr.

Saintjean served as a captain and averaged 15 points, 6.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 steals for a Bulls team that went to the Suffolk Class AA championship game. A top-10 all-time scorer for Hills West, Saintjean’s season included a 29-point performance against Deer Park in the semifinals, 22 points against Westhampton and 21 points against a strong Southampton team.

Cameron Serrano, North Babylon, G, 6-2, Sr.

No player in Suffolk averaged more points than Serrano. He finished at 26.1, which went with 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.7 steals. He reached 1,000 career points this season and helped North Babylon claim the No. 2 seed in Suffolk Class AAA.

JJ Smith, Floyd, 6-0, G, Sr.

Smith averaged 14.5 points with 5.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists for a 20-win Floyd team. He averaged 17.8 points across four playoff games and had double-digit points in all but two of his 23 games.

Sharod Sutton Jr., Floyd, 6-3, G, Sr.

Whether he was starring defensively or making key shots, Sutton Jr. always made an impact on the court as he helped Floyd reach the county final with Suffolk Class AAA’s top seed. He averaged 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists.

Brian Vales, Mount Sinai, F, 6-6, Sr.

Vales’ nuance in navigating the paint with a quick fake or pass was exceptional, allowing him to average 21.6 points and 10 rebounds. The RPI commit led the Mustangs to a second straight Suffolk Class A title.

Sae’vion Ward, Southampton, G, 5-11, Sr.

Ward took a huge step forward in his senior season, averaging 18.7 points — including 46 threes — and about seven assists, five steals and three rebounds. The combo guard helped the Mariners capture the Suffolk Class B title.

Hank Williams Jr., St. Mary’s, G, 6-3, Jr.

Williams Jr. was thrilling to watch, scoring in bunches for the Gaels, posting 10 games with at least 20 points. He hit 80 threes and averaged 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists.