CHSAA boys basketball preview

Chaminade's Owen Prendergast, left, drives to the hoop during a CHSAA varsity boys basketball game against Kellenberg on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015. Credit: James Escher
Chaminade Flyers
Coach: Bob Paul
Last season: 20-8
Key players
G Ryan Dean 5-11 Sr.
G Owen Prendergast 6-1 Sr.
G Mike McGuire 6-1 Sr.
F Kyle Murphy 6-5 Jr.
F Charlie Salter 6-4 Sr.
Outlook: Chaminade’s unselfish senior class helped the program to the 2014-15 NSCHSAA title and an appearance in the Federation semifinals.
Holy Trinity
Coach: Joe Conefry
Last season: 17-8
Key players
G Thornton Scott 6-5 Jr.
G Cam Wynter 6-2 Jr.
G Mike Scott 6-3 Sr.
G Taj Jenkins 5-8 Jr.
F Aidan Barry 6-4 Jr.
Outlook: Without much experience returning from a team that won the regular season NSCHSAA title, Holy Trinity expects a big year out of Scott, who averaged 11 points, five rebounds and four assists in 2014-15.
Kellenberg Firebirds
Coach: Jack McCutcheon
Last season: 18-6
Key players
G Steve Torre 6-2 Sr.
G Kyle DeVerna 6-2 Sr.
G Ryan Wilkens 6-0 Sr.
G Anthony DeGennaro 6-0 Sr.
F Cleevans Lans 6-1 Sr.
Outlook: With Torre (18 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 6.0 apg) and DeVerna (15 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 8.0 apg) back in the fold, the 2014-15 CHSAA runners-up have a potent one-two punch.
St. Anthony’s Friars
Coach: Sal Lagano
Last season: 9-15
Key players
G Mike Mariconda 6-0 Sr.
G Josh Nicholas 6-3 Sr.
G James Walsh 6-1 Sr.
F Dauzia Etete 6-4 Sr.
F Jack Stafford 6-4 Jr.
Outlook: Nicholas is the leading returning scorer at 13.3 points per game. Sophomore guard John Harewood is a tenacious defender off the bench.
St. Dominic Bayhawks
Coach: Bruno Cotumaccio
Last season: 14-11
Key players
G Dominic Cotumaccio 5-10 Sr.
G Connor Sullivan 5-11 Sr.
F Patrick Kiernan 6-4 Sr.
F Collins Onyeike 6-4 Soph.
C Kyle Young 6-10 Sr.
Outlook: Cotumaccio (10 ppg, 6.0 apg, 4.0 rpg) is the initiator of St. Dominic’s Princeton offense. Kiernan, a solid all-around player, is the team’s top returning scorer at 12 points per game.
St. John the Baptist Cougars
Coach: Bob Patch
Last season: 2-22
Key players
G Brendan McGovern 6-0 Sr.
G Brandon Hayes 5-10 Sr.
G Gael Lambre 6-2 Sr.
F Jason Feliz 6-5 Jr.
F Nick DiMatteo 6-6 Sr.
Outlook: Patch, a first-year coach at SJB, looks to bring a motion offense and aggressive defense to turn around the Cougars’ program.
St. Mary’s Gaels
Coach: Lloyd Desvigne
Last season: 12-9
Key players
G Damani Myers 5-11 Sr.
G Osasuyi Obadioju 6-5 Sr.
G Brian Gallagher 5-9 Sr.
G Justin Brown 5-10 Jr.
F Jordin Lissone 6-5 Jr.
Outlook: A three-year starter, Myers shot 42 percent from long range and averaged seven assists per game last year. Desvigne expects a breakout year from Obadioju.