Newsday's Top 100 boys basketball players for 2025-26

Newsday's annual list of the top Long Island public and CHSAA boys basketball players as the 2025-26 season gets underway. Players are listed in alphabetical order, with all stats from last season unless otherwise noted.

Dante Anderson, Sewanhaka, 5-11, G, Sr.

Anderson averaged 11.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals last season. The second-year starting shooting guard has gotten even better — he scored 32 in a win over Hempstead on Dec. 6 — and is aggressive offensively, tough defensively and strong on the boards.

Iben Angud, Island Trees, 5-10, G, Sr.

The point guard and Baruch commit’s first season as a starter came with averages of 19.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists along with 57 three-pointers.

Stevie Aulicino, Herricks, 6-1, G, Sr.

Aulicino helped St. Anthony’s win a state CHSAA championship and led the NSCHSAA in three-pointers made. He averaged 19.9 points as a Herricks sophomore and averaged about 11 points with the Friars as a junior.

Charles Avallone, New Hyde Park, 6-1, F, Sr.

Avallone scored 35 points against Glen Cove and averaged 15 points in nine games after transferring to New Hyde Park.

Tim Bannell, Smithtown West, 5-10, G, Sr.

Bannell averaged 14.3 points for a Smithtown West team that’s now looking for a second straight trip to the Suffolk Class AA final.

Jayden Barrows, Uniondale, 6-8, G, So.

Barrows, who has drawn Division I interest, showed off his ability as a freshman starter, averaging 9.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

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

Bell, a fourth-year starter and Ursinus commit, averaged 15.5 points and 11.7 rebounds.

Josh Boothe, Sachem East, 6-1, G, Sr.

Boothe showed consistency in his first season as a starter at point guard, averaging 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists, and he sank 35 threes.

Jovan Brewster, West Islip, 6-1, G, Sr.

Brewster averaged 16.9 points and hit 48 threes. Coach Tom Cross lauded the third-year starter for “being one of the best defenders” in Suffolk.

Michael Cascione, Smithtown West, 6-2, G, Sr.

The point guard, who’s a third-year starter and a three-sport standout, averaged 20.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals.

Izaias Clemmons, Port Washington, 6-5, C, Sr.

After averaging 8.5 points, Clemmons is the only returning starter for a 21-win Vikings team that won a Long Island title. He also averaged 7.5 rebounds and more than a block per game.

James Coffey, Ward Melville, 5-10, G, So.

Coffey came through with averages of about 12 points and five assists as a freshman starter.

Amare Collins, Hempstead, 5-8, G, Sr.

The point guard contributed 10.1 points per game and hit 42 threes last season, his first as a starter.

Vince Corso, Half Hollow Hills West, 6-3, F, Sr.

Corso averaged 12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds. Coach Bill Mitaritonna labeled the power forward as “a clutch player.” Corso entered this season ninth in Hills West history with 64 threes.

Austin Darr, Herricks, 5-10, G, Sr.

Herricks knocked down 54 three-pointers and averaged 10.5 points.

Alex Davis, Bridgehampton, G, 5-9, Sr.

Davis averaged 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, three assists and three steals. He entered the season 210 points away from breaking the program’s all-time scoring record of 1,776.

Jonathan Davis, Hempstead, 5-11, G, Sr.

Davis, now a third-year starter, averaged a team-leading 16.1 points for the Tigers’ Nassau AAA quarterfinalist team.

Nusanti Delbridge, Deer Park, 5-8, G, Jr.

Delbridge averaged 8.7 points, 2.4 steals and 2.1 assists. He scored in double figures in the final six games, including a team-high 21 in the Falcons’ loss to Smithtown West in the Suffolk Class AA semifinals.

Kyle Demosthene, Locust Valley, 5-10, G, Sr.

Demosthene scored 38 points in a game at West Hempstead and averaged 15.2 points, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals. The second-year starter is fast and athletic and can get to the rim.

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

Dickerson averaged 23.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists and made second-team All-Long Island as a junior. He averaged 28.7 points in the Suffolk Class AA tournament, which Amityville won.

Kyle Dillon, Chaminade, 6-2, G, Sr.

The third-year starter averaged 17.9 points along with 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He scored 40 in a loss at Long Island Lutheran on Dec. 6. Coach Dan Feeney called Dillon “one of the top returning players on the Island.”

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

A third-year starter, Edmundson is a reliable defender who averaged 15 points before breaking his ankle in 2024-25, missing the team’s final 10 games.

Tony Etkins, St. John the Baptist, 6-3, G, Jr.

Etkins averaged nine points as a sophomore starter, then showed his outside touch by nailing nine threes in a varsity summer league game. He’s known as a pure scorer.

Sammy Etra, Syosset, 6-2, F, Sr.

Etra supplied nine games with double-digit points, starting all 21 games. The 2025-26 team captain averaged eight points and hit 34 three-pointers.

Corey Faines, Bay Shore, 6-4, G, Sr.

The athletic Faines averaged 15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals in his first season starting, helping the Marauders win 20 games and reach the Suffolk AAA semifinals.

Isaiah Faton, Division, 6-2, G, Sr.

Faton averaged 14.8 points across 20 games, including seven games with at least 20. Coach Jordan Dasch sees a player who provides great leadership overall and serves as a floor general.

Jai Feaster, Bridgehampton, G, 5-10, Sr.

Feaster’s burst and versatility is visible to the eye, having averaged 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.7 steals.

Westley Flythe, Amityville, 6-0, G, Sr.

Flythe averaged about 11 points, five rebounds and three steals and made an impact in Amityville’s postseason run that included a Suffolk Class AA championship. Coach Jack Agostino views the athletic Flythe as one of the top defenders on the Island.

Toby Foster, East Hampton, 6-2, G, Sr.

Foster averaged 20.6 points as a junior. The third-year starter has the ability to hit threes and drive to the hoop and “finish above the rim,” according to coach Dave Conlon.

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

Franklin is a 1,000-plus-point career scorer who averaged 22.6 points and about 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals as a junior. The fourth-year starter can play any position and is a “do-it-all” type who “is one of the hardest-working kids I have coached in my career,” according to 35th-year coach Herm Lamison.

Nehemy Fresnel, Sewanhaka, 6-6, F, Sr.

The versatile Fresnel averaged 16.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.

Christian Frey, Mineola, 6-0, G, Sr.

Frey’s third season as a starter came with averages of 19.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He’s an athletic three-level scorer.

Justus Gales, St. John the Baptist, 5-9, G, So.

Gales averaged seven points and nearly 32 minutes while starting as a freshman. The point guard has a high basketball IQ, is shifty, can get to the rim and guards full court.

Josh Gamarra, Oceanside, 6-5, F, Sr.

Gamarra averaged 15 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. Coach Ed Risener sees the third-year starter as “do-it-all forward” who “can take over a game in multiple ways.”

Chris Gorwitz, Bayport-Blue Point, 6-0, G, Jr.

Gorwitz averaged 9.7 points and 2.5 assists off the bench last season. Coach Charlie Peck praised the first-year starter’s “great command of the ball” and his ability to “attack the basket on both sides.” He’s also a three-point threat.

Truman Hahn, Westhampton, 6-0, G, Sr.

Hahn led Westhampton to a playoff berth by increased his scoring average from 12.1 to 15.5 points.

Niall Haughney, Bay Shore, 6-8, F, Sr.

Haughney, a Marist volleyball commit, averaged 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds. Coach Gary Williams views the the third-year starter as a player who “runs like a guard, defends like a guard and has a soft touch around the rim,” and is counting on him to dominate like “a traditional big man.”

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

Herbert, a third-year starter, can shoot and score as he showed last season. He averaged 21.5 points.

Chase Herrington, Islip, 5-11, G, Sr.

Herrington averaged 11.9 points along with about five assists and three steals, and coach Jamie Lynch is envisioning him being able to increase his scoring to about 20 per game after an offseason of work. Lynch sees the third-year starter as “one of the more dynamic players” in Suffolk.

Dylan Hickman, Uniondale, 6-2, G, Jr.

Hickman’s impressive first season as a starter featured averages of 13.5 points, five assists and 3.3 rebounds. The point guard, who has drawn Division II and III interest, is a playmaker who can get teammates open shots and make threes.

John Jimenez, Lindenhurst, 6-1, G, Sr.

Jimenez begins his fourth season as a starter after contributing 11.9 points, 5.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds. The Division II/III prospect is very shifty and can carry the scoring burden, pass, defend and hit the boards.

Jordan Jones, Huntington, 6-3, G, Sr.

Jones is a second-year starter, but that first year was as a freshman. He’s back after two years at Victory Rock Prep in Florida, where he averaged about 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists last season.

Wesley Jones, Sayville, 6-5, C, Sr.

Jones averaged 9.7 rebounds to go with 8.4 points and 1.6 assists. Besides the third-year starter’s rebounding ability, coach Kevin O’Halloran likes his finishing ability around the rim and team-first attitude.

Ryan Khezri, Miller Place, 6-2, G, Sr.

Khezri’s productive junior season included averages of 17.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals, and he knocked down 61 threes. The second-year starter at shooting guard is an “elite shooter” in the view of coach Joe Agostino.

Peter Lagnena, Riverhead, 6-2, G/F, Sr.

Lagnena hit 70 threes as a junior. The third-year starter has worked on his game in the offseason after averaging 12.1 points and contributing defensively and on the glass.

Noah Lau, Garden City, 5-11, G, Jr.

Lau helped in several ways as a sophomore and first-year starter on a team that went 20-2 and reached the Nassau Class AA semifinals. The point guard averaged 10.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

Ryan Leary, Carle Place, 6-3, G, Sr.

Leary earned second-team All-Long Island honors after leading the Frogs to the state Class B semifinals and finishing as the Island’s No. 3 scorer, averaging 26.9 points. That stat went with 8.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 blocks.

Tyler Liautaud, St. Dominic, 6-3, G, Sr.

Coach Isaiah Wilson called the athletic Liautaud “arguably our best defensive player for the past three years.”

Tyler Lievre, Shoreham-Wading River, 6-2, G, So.

Already in his third year of varsity play, Lievre enters the Top 100 with several recommendations from Suffolk coaches. He averaged about 12 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Chase Lordi, Oyster Bay, 6-1, F, Jr.

Lordi is the heart and soul of the team in the eyes of coach Brian Soper, a second-year starter who can do everything and plays bigger than his height. Lordi averaged a double-double at 15.6 points and 10.5 rebounds.

Petshley Louissaint, Westbury, 6-5, PF/C, Sr.

Coach Keith Moody raved about Louissaint’s dedication to improve, which showed last season as he grew from a 2.3-point scorer as a sophomore to an 8.8-point scorer as a junior. Combined with strong leadership, Louissaint will look to lead Westbury back to the playoffs.

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

Martin, a popular Top 100 suggestion from coaches around Nassau, averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists as he led Floral Park to its second county title in program history.

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

Mastando averaged 18 points and 8.1 rebounds. The third-year starter can play on the perimeter as well as be effective on the boards.

Brady McGowan, Eastport-South Manor, 6-0, G, Sr.

McGowan, a Marist baseball commit and fourth-year starter, is on pace to become the program’s all-time leading scorer. He averaged 16.8 points and drilled 69 threes as a junior.

Tristan Mitchell, Valley Stream North, 5-11, G, Jr.

A starter since his freshman year, Mitchell averaged 15 points and three steals. He stepped up in the playoffs, averaging 20.3 points over three games.

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

What a year Mojeed had as a junior, averaging 21.9 points as he led St. Dominic to its best season in 18 years, ending in the NSCHSAA championship game.

Justin Mompoint, St. Mary’s, 6-0, G, Sr.

The third-year starter can shoot and put up points, having averaged 17 last season.

Richie Montalvo, Island Trees, 6-1, F, Sr.

Montalvo, a fourth-year starter, contributed 19.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Kevin Moore, St. Anthony’s, 6-2, G, Sr.

The Delaware football commit averaged 12 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals for his state CHSAA Class A championship team and made second-team All-Long Island.

Collin Murphy, Floral Park, 6-1, G, Jr.

Murphy started the season as a rotational piece before becoming an instrumental part of Floral Park’s run to a county title.

Kameron Napoleon, Glenn, 6-2, G, Jr.

Napoleon averaged of 9.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Coach Charly Rogener praised him as an athletic player with "the ability to score 20 points in the blink of an eye.”

Ouse Ninche, St. Anthony’s, 6-4, G/F, So.

Ninche played starter-level minutes as the sixth man for his state CHSAA Class A championship team. Coach Sal Lagano thinks he has “unlimited potential” and “plays like Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.”

Chase O’Brien, Friends Academy, 6-6, C, Jr.

O’Brien averaged 13.4 points and 9.4 rebounds, and he added 1.3 blocks. Coach Matt Johnsen praised the second-year starter's rim protection and pick-and-roll play as well as his jumper.

Jayden Oden, Uniondale, 6-4, G, So.

Oden averaged about nine points, 11 rebounds and two assists as a freshman starter. He’s an “athletic big guard that also does all the dirty work” and is “a downhill threat,” according to coach Jaaz Styles.

Sean O’Neil, Valley Stream Central, 5-11, G, Sr.

O’Neil, a fourth-year starter and high-motor player, filled up the stat sheet for a 15-win team that lost in the Nassau Class AA quarterfinals, averaging 16 points, 5.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals.

Craig O’Neill, Smithtown East, 6-3, G, Sr.

O’Neill is a fourth-year starter who averaged 19.2 points last season for a team that went to the Suffolk Class AAA semifinals. He’s big and athletic, goes to the basket hard and is able to hit threes.

Justin Ortiz, Hewlett, 5-11, G, Sr.

A third-year varsity starter, Ortiz averaged 19.7 points to help lead Hewlett to a 13-8 record and a playoff berth.

Aadi Patel, Wheatley, 6-2, F, Jr.

Patel is coming off a sophomore season in which he averaged 12.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and two blocks, and he posted 13 double-doubles in 20 games.

John Pericolosi, South Side, 6-3, G, Sr.

The versatile Pericolosi, a Stony Brook baseball commit, led his 18-2 team in scoring (13.3), assists (5.5) and steals (3.4), and averaged 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.

Ashton Pierre-Charles, Calhoun, 6-0, G, So.

The shooting guard contributed 12.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists and knocked down 60 threes as a freshman starter. He also averaged nearly two steals.

Ben Pnini, Roslyn, 5-10, G, Jr.

The shooting guard averaged 10.1 points and showed his long-range touch off the bench, nailing 60 threes. Coach Greg Tull believes Pnini “is the best shooter in Nassau County.”

Josh Presmy, Wyandanch, 6-3, G, Sr.

Presmy, a St. Joseph’s of Patchogue commit, averaged 14.5 points and about four rebounds, three assists and two blocks and made 46 threes. The shooting guard “knows how to take over a game at the right time,” according to coach Barry Baker Jr.

Jordan Rabinovich, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, 6-4, G, Sr.

The Hawks can welcome a player of Rabinovich’s caliber after he averaged about 17 points with Long Island Lutheran Regional.

Mark Reeves, Glen Cove, 6-3, G, Sr.

Reeves averaged 18.5 points as a junior, including nine games with at least 20.

Dylan Riegel, Miller Place, 5-11, G, Sr.

Riegel made 53 threes and averaged 13.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals. Coach Joe Agostino feels the third-year starting point guard is an elite shooter and ball handler.

Vincent Rienzie, Valley Stream North, 5-10, G, Sr.

A third-year varsity starter who averaged 15 points as a junior, Rienzie glides around the court with the ball in his hand.

Danny Rose, West Babylon, 5-10, G, Sr.

Rose scored at a 13.2 clip and nailed 37 threes. Coach Tim Lynch called the third-year starter “an explosive guard” and “an excellent shooter.”

Benjy Rubin, Roslyn, 6-6, F/C, Sr.

Rubin averaged 8.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in his first season starting. Coach Greg Tull views the power forward/center as “a double-double machine with rim protection ability.”

Alex Ruisi, Harborfields, 6-4, G, Sr.

Ruisi averaged a team-high 14.1 points and 4.5 rebounds and made about 37 percent of his three-point tries in his first season starting. Ruisi has three-level scoring ability.

Ethan Sainsbury, Baldwin, 5-7, G, Sr.

The quick point guard contributed 11.3 points, 5.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 steals as a starter for a Long Island championship team.

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

Saintjean, a college baseball recruit, had an impactful junior basketball season. The point guard and captain averaged 18 points and 5.6 assists.

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

Saint Jean posted averages of 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 steals in his first season as a starter. He’s an energetic player who can hit threes or get to the basket.

Damien Scott, Deer Park, 5-10, G, Sr.

Scott can help in several ways as evidenced last season when the point guard averaged 11.7 points, 4.9 assists, 4.3 steals and 2.8 rebounds for the Suffolk Class AA semifinalist Falcons.

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

In his first season as a starter, Serrano contributed 12.7 points and about four rebounds and two assists per game. He’s “an explosive athlete with a knack for attacking the basket,” according to coach Raheem Vanterpool.

Braeden Skelly, Sayville, 5-10, G, Sr.

The point guard goes into his second season as a starter after averaging 14.9 points, 5.4 assists and 2.7 rebounds. Coach Kevin O’Halloran lauded Shelly’s ability to make threes, finish in traffic and “take any player 1 on 1.”

Brandon Smith Jr., Center Moriches, 5-8, G, Sr.

Smith Jr. was a 13.9 points-per-game scorer. Now in his third year as a starter, he’s a high-energy leader who’s excellent at getting to the rim.

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

Smith, a combo guard, started every game for his Suffolk Class AAA finalist team and averaged about eight points. The athletic second-year starter can hit from midrange and beyond the arc.

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

Sutton broke his leg in September of his junior year, but he came back to average 7.3 points and 4.1 rebounds and defend against the opposition’s top player. The athletic second-year starter can make threes or get into the lane.

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

Coach Steve Gnus believes Thomas is capable of winning NSCHSAA Player of the Year after a season in which Thomas averaged 14.6 points and eight rebounds.

Morell Toney, St. Mary’s, 6-4, G/F, So.

Toney, who averaged about nine points in a sixth-man role for Uniondale, transferred to St. Mary’s in October. Coach Paul Tricarico praised his scoring, ball handling and exceptional passing ability.

Jack Vafeas, Half Hollow Hills West, 6-3, G, Sr.

Vafeas, a shooting guard, averaged 13 points and sank 36 threes. The hard-working St. Joseph’s of Patchogue commit came into the season 10th in Hills West history with 56 threes.

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

More than 50 colleges were recruiting Vales after he averaged 14.3 points and 8.3 rebounds for a team that went 23-3 and fell in the state Class A final.

RJ Varland, Comsewogue, 6-3, G/F, Sr.

Varland, a SUNY Maritime commit, averaged 13.2 points and 6.4 rebounds. After seeing him score 29 points twice and 26 once in the final seven games, coach Joel Sutherland feels Garland is “one of the great scorers in Suffolk County.”

Jaiya Vera, Valley Stream Central, 6-1, F, Jr.

Vera averaged close to a double-double at 8.9 points and 10.2 rebounds, which went with 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals.

Jagger Verzosa, Holy Trinity, 5-9, G, Sr.

The team’s most experienced guard comes off a season in which he made multiple game-winning shots. He averaged 10.4 points.

Jake Walsh, North Babylon, 6-1, G, Sr.

Walsh averaged about 13 points, three rebounds and three assists, and he sank 48 threes. The third-year starter gets to the rim in addition to hitting from the perimeter.

James Ward, Comsewogue, 6-3, F, Sr.

Ward, a Penn College commit, averaged a double-double last season at 12.9 points and 10.2 rebounds.

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

The combo guard and second-year starter averaged 9.3 points for a 21-2 team that won Suffolk League VII and went to the county Class A final.

Michael Wede, Chaminade, 6-0, G, Sr.

Wede averaged 9.8 points and about five assists and three steals in his first season starting. He also averaged more than two three-pointers per game.

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

Williams brings his shooting ability over from Lawrence Woodmere Academy, where he averaged 15.4 points and nailed 62 threes as a sophomore.