LI independent boys basketball team-by-team outlook

LAWRENCE WOODMERE

TIGERS

Last season: 22-5

Coach: Jeff Weiss

KEY PLAYERS

Maurice Butler G 5-8 Soph.; Aidan Igiehon C 6-10 Sr.; John Harrison G 6-4 Soph.; Malik Speckman F 6-7 Sr.; Tyler St. Furcy G 6-4 Sr.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: Won the NYSAIS Class B state championship last season, led by Igiehon (committed to Louisville) and St. Furcy (committed to Marist).

LI LUTHERAN CRUSADERS

Last season: 23-3

Coach: John Buck

KEY PLAYERS

Jalen Celestine G 6-6 Jr.; Andre Curbelo F 6-1 Jr.; Zed Key F 6-8 Jr.; Essam Mostafa F/C 6-9 Sr.; Tyler Stephenson-Moore G 6-3 Sr.

ABOUT THE CRUSADERS: Long, athletic, versatile team loaded with Division I talent looking to compete for Federation title.

OUR SAVIOR NEW AMERICAN PIONEERS

Last season: 14-9

Coach: Ronald Stelzer

KEY PLAYERS

Abdou-Halil Barre F 6-9 Fr.; Fousseyni Drame F 6-6 Sr.; Hassan Drame F 6-6 Sr.; Jonathan Kuminga G6-8 Soph.; Adama Sanogo F 6-8 Soph.

ABOUT THE PIONEERS: A team filled with great size and athleticism, including Kuminga, who is one of the top recruits in the country in his class.

PSAA

THE KNOX SCHOOL FALCONS

Last season: 25-3

Coach: Majestic Mapp

KEY PLAYERS

Joshua Gray C 6-10 Jr.; Garang Kuot F 6-7 Sr.; Markell Lake G 5-9 Sr.; Blake London F 6-8 Sr.; Ismail Yilmaz G 6-4 Sr.

ABOUT THE FALCONS: After losing in the NYSAIS Class C championship state final, returns Lake and Gray, who averaged 10 points and five assists per game and 10 points and 10 rebounds, respectively.

PORTLEDGE PANTHERS

Coach: Nicholas Tsikitas

Last season: 10-11

KEY PLAYERS

Zaire Baines G 5-9 Fr.; Dante Brooks G 5-8 8th; Jahmir Primer G/F 6-2 Soph.; Aazayah Ross F 6-2 Fr.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS: Led by Baines, one of the top prospects in his class, who averaged 31.7 points per game last year.

THE STONY BROOK SCHOOL BEARS

Coach: Mike Hickey

Last season: 12-7

KEY PLAYERS

Andy D’Alessio G 5-10 Sr.; Jai Narain G 6-1 Sr.; Seamus Scanlon G6-0 Sr.; Owen Sobel F 6-3 Jr.; TJ Wachter F 6-6 Soph.

ABOUT THE BEARS: Making the move from Suffolk C to PSAA, led by senior guards Narain and Scanlon.

WALDORF WOLVERINES

Coach: Mike Flood

Last season: 7-6

KEY PLAYERS

Marco Bai G 5-10 Jr.; Zisi Blades F 6-4 Soph.; Jason Derosiers G 6-1 Sr.; Jovawn McNeil F 6-0 Sr.; Dexter Serraro G 6-0 Sr.

ABOUT THE WOLVERINES: Returns Blades, who Flood expects to have a strong season.