Team Preview AA: Aquinas Institute Lil Irish ☘️

<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Aquinas Institute Lil Irish come into the 2021-2022 basketball seasons as not only favorites to win a Section V championship but also to win an NYS Championship. Even with the loss of 6'6 Forward Damarius Owens, who holds offers from UMBC, and Siena to prep school. They are still returning 7 varsity players, with 5 of them seeing significant minutes last year. New coach Jeffery LaFave comes to AQ from Gates after winning a section v championship the previous year.</span></p> <p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Head Coach </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Jeffery LaFave 3rd Varsity Season 1 Sectional Championship</span></p> <p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Aquinas 2020-2021 Record 8-4</span></p> <p><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Key Returners<br /> <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/IMG_2268-crop-1528x1004-1634063712.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1306977" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/IMG_2268-crop-1528x1004-1634063712-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></span></em></strong></p> <p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="1046088" first="Jack" last="Bleier"] - Class of 2022 - Bleier a three year varsity starter comes into this season as one of the top 3 level scorers in the area. A 6'3 guard gets to any spot he wants and plays above the rim frequently. Bleier a senior now will be looking to go post-grad next season.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1306982" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/IMG_2269-crop-1826x1199-1634063997-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="1045935" first="Myles" last="Blackwood"] - Class of 2022 - Blackwood will be coming into his fourth year starting on varsity is a strong athletic forward who plays above the rim every possible chance. Blackwood is dominant in transition and a very good interior defender for his size.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Key Newcomer</span></em></strong></p> <p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1306925" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/IMG_2274-crop-1880x1235-1634060401-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>Mason Blackwood </strong>- [player_tooltip player_id="1045935" first="Myles" last="Blackwood"]'s 6'5 younger brother Mason will be the prospect to watch for the entire state of New York. The younger blackwood has an excellent understanding of the game, which allows him to get to his favorite spots at will. He knocks down catch and shoot 3's at a very high clip. Blackwood will end this season as one of the best guards in the section, if not the state of New York</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Prospect to Keep an Eye on</span></em></strong></p> <p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1306964" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/IMG_2267-crop-1723x1132-1634063371-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>Chris Leysath </strong>- Leysath is a 6'5 Forward with a very high motor and perfect touch around the rim. My first time seeing him was over the summer, and he dominated bigger forwards with his speed, and when a guard tried to match up dominated with his strength. Leysath will be a name to look out for this high school season and grassroots season as well.</p>