Top 10 Long Island guards in public school and CHSAA boys basketball
From left: Amir Dickerson, Ryan Leary and Hank Williams Jr. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr., George A. Faella, Derrick Dingle
Long Island’s public school and NSCHSAA varsity boys basketball teams are loaded with good guards. So many of them could have been on a list of the best. But here’s a shot at the Top 10, with statistics through Sunday's games:
Michael Cascione, Smithtown West
The 6-2 senior is hitting 56.1% of his shots and is averaging 24.1 points — with at least 30 in five of his last seven games — 11.1 rebounds (including 19 last Friday vs. Smithtown East), 5.2 assists and 3.1 steals. Coach Mike Agostino sees the third-year starter, who owns 1,233 career points, as a floor general type of point guard, organizing the Bulls offensively as well as defensively, and someone who’s “consistently focused on making winning plays.”
Amir Dickerson, Amityville
The 6-4 senior, who averages 23.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists, is “an all-time great Amityville guard” in the eyes of longtime coach Jack Agostino and perhaps the best rebounding guard Agostino has ever had. Dickerson, whose natural position is point guard, has led Amityville in points, rebounds and assists since his sophomore year and is only the seventh in program history to reach the 1,000-point mark, now with 1,258.
Kyle Dillon, Chaminade
The 6-2 senior, who has 1,153 career points, is averaging 17.3 points in his third year as a starter, including a 40-point showing against Long Island Lutheran’s national team. Dillon, who also averages 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals, is a strong, well-rounded guard who’s effective on or off the ball and “finishes around the rim the best,” according to coach Dan Feeney.
Corey Faines, Bay Shore
The 6-4 senior, a shooting guard who sometimes initiates the offense, is scoring at an 18.5 clip — including a 34-point game with seven threes vs. Floyd and a 30-point game vs. Longwood — and averages 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Faines, who shoots 49.7% from the floor and 38.8% on threes, is a leader for the Marauders, someone coach Gary Williams feels has taken a large step forward in finding his spots for jumpers and with ball handling and rebounding.
Clockwise, from left: Corey Faines, Melo Mojeed and Kyle Dillon Credit: Bob Sorensen, Jessica Hill, Sam Johnston
Myles Herbert, St. Mary’s
The 6-foot senior, with 1,056 career points to his credit, plays point guard and is averaging 15.9 points, with six games of at least 20. Herbert, who’s also averaging 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists, is a versatile scorer for coach Paul Tricarico, a player who can hit the three, make pull-up jumpers and get to the basket.
Ryan Leary, Carle Place
The 6-3 senior, the program’s all-time scoring leader with 1,808 points, averages a Long Island-leading 29.2 points as well as 7.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists, and he has nailed 50 threes. Coach John Cantwell praised the point guard, who scored 40 in a December game against Malverne, for his high basketball IQ and court vision, and his ability to shoot and get downhill.
Clockwise, from top left: Brendan Martin, Cameron Serrano, Michael Cascione and Myles Herbert Credit: Dawn McCormick, George A. Faella, Kathy M Helgeson, Derrick Dingle
Brendan Martin, Floral Park
The 5-11 senior stands among the Island’s best shooting guards and averages 20.9 points — making a Nassau-leading 58 threes to go with 78 two-point field goals — as well as 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals. Coach Sean Boyle has seen the fourth-year varsity player, who’s 36 points from joining the 1,000 club, work at becoming more than a perimeter shooter, adding the ability to take his defender off the dribble and score at the basket.
Melo Mojeed, St. Dominic
The 6-2 senior, the NSCHSAA Player of the Year last season, is a combo guard who owns 1,264 career points and is averaging 21.7 points (shooting 55.4% from the floor), 5.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals. Coach Isaiah Wilson lauded his leadership and ability to get to the basket and finish and knock down mid-range pull-up jumpers.
Cameron Serrano, North Babylon
The 6-2 senior had scored at least 20 points in every game this season — including five with at least 30 — and was averaging 26.7 and stood 62 from 1,000 heading into game No. 18 Monday night. Serrano, a combo guard who was converting 85% of his free throws and averaging 2.7 steals, can score from all three levels but is especially dangerous attacking the rim and hitting mid-range pull-ups, according to coach Rakeem Vanterpool.
Hank Williams Jr., St. Mary’s
The 6-3 junior stood out for three seasons at Lawrence Woodmere Academy, then brought his scoring touch as a shooting guard to the Gaels this season. Williams, who has 1,239 points combined with the two schools, is averaging 15.3 points and is “a deadeye three-point shooter” in the words of coach Paul Tricarico, hitting 51 attempts from beyond the arc.
