Realignment and Preseason Predictions on Long Island ClassAA

Suffolk county Section Xi has had major changes to their leagues for this coming season. Here is your one stop shopping guide to where your team is playing. Plus we throw in predictions to win the league, sleeper teams and what players are POY canidates. Each team will play each other once play teams close to their school in proximity a second time. This will be only for this season, as NY State high school basketball has decided to add a class AAA next season details will be laid out in late 2023.

League 1 AA West Division

Bayshore*

Brentwood*

Central Islip

Commack*

Copiague*

Half Hollow Hills East*

Huntington

Lindenhurst

North Babylon*

Northport*

Smithtown West*

Walt Whitman

West Islip

playoff team *

In my opinion this is the best league on Long Island. Extremely top heavy and your looking at 8 teams who have legitimate shots at the playoffs. Besides those nine teams there are five teams that would have to be considered the favorites to win the Suffolk Championship.

Not only does Bayshore have the players. It has went back in time with Coach Parham returning. One of the most successful coaches on Long Island when he was at Bayshore he brings back that winning culture based on discipline and fundamentally sound and smart play.

But you need the horses and he has them in Terrell Adderley and Michael Samuda. Terrell is an athletic slasher. We have been very impressed with Michael having seen him at a couple of events over the summer. A long athletic slasher who can step out and drill the three. Michael is our pick for POY in this league if Bayshore is to win it.

The perennial playoff participant and county and state contender year after year Brentwood never should be counted out. They have lost some major talent in the last two years due to graduation but they should never be in the mix. Marquese Denis (2024)will be relied on to continue Brentwood’s quest for a title. He may have went unnoticed by opponents early but was a player coaches had to prepare for by the end of the season. He can score in a variety of ways extremely strong with the ball.

Northport and Smithtown West were both in the final four last year. Northport won the Suffolk title 2 years ago. so neither team would be a surprise .They have both lost some key players to graduation. Northport will rely on Brendan Carr Brendan Carr 6'2" | SG Northport | 2023 State NY a smooth shooter and ball handler who has the ability to score in bunches. Smithtown West has 6”6 Inside out player Patrick Burke Patrick Burke 6'6" | SF Smithtown West | 2023 State NY . He is capable of putting the team on his back. He is sneaky and deceptively quick player getting to the rim. His length will be hard to stop. On the defensive end he alters shots and controls the glass. These two players would be the leaders for POY if their respective teams win it all. Both teams are coached well and have the culture to win this league.

Commack might not have the best player in the league but they start three players who all can be all county players. Every year it seems Commack is pretty good but by the end of the year they are really good. Alot of credit to Coach Smith he gets the most out of his players and really good talent keeps on coming up the pipeline. Ethan Miesel a 6”6 post who takes up space. He is a strong big framed post who can score inside but can can also stretch the floor and shoot the three. Nick Waga Nick Waga 6'1" | PG Commack | 2024 State NY we have liked since his freshman year and he has improved every year. He is a scoring point guard. Can run the offense ,is very strong with the ball going to the rim. He can get off his own shot or off the kickout. Mike Gitz Mike Gitz 6'1" | SG Commack | 2023 State NY is an old school throwback. High basketball IQ and instincts. He moves really well without the ball finding the open gaps. An excellent mid range shooter. This trio of players can propel Commack to a league title run.

North Babylon should be a playoff team. They have two players who will show up every night leading the way. Aiden Morel Aiden Morel 6'4" | SG North Babylon | 2023 State NY an athletic wing scores in a multiple ways. He can get to the rim and contort his body to score the ball. Patrick Washington Patrick Washington 5'10" | PG North Babylon | 2023 State NY will run the show from the point guard position. His head is always up looking to make a play. He can weave inside and score or dish it off. If defenders play off him he can drill the three.

Copiague will be led by Malachi Moore Malachi Moore 6'1" | SG Copiague | 2023 State NY . This strong do it all athletic guard is coming off of a very successful summer season. In numerous events he was near the top of leading scorers. Malachi one of the top players on the Island can score the ball using strength and quickness. Plus he defends as well as any player on the Island.

It is a little different this coming season for Hills East. No longer is Coach Basel roaming the sidelines, he has retired from coaching. A fixture in the county championship and Long Island Championship picture for many years. They will be a young but promising club. Jordan Heyman Jordan Heyman 6'1" | CG Half Hollow Hills East | 2024 State NY is a junior who will have to be one of the leaders. He is a crafty PG with alot of flair on his passes and finishes. Very steady under pressure with a tough and strong handle. Chris Connell (2023) might be the most improved player in this group of players in the league we have highlighted. A sneaky quick long lanky player with excellent court vision. At a recent event he made some entry and kick out passes that were on point. He can stretch the floor and knock down the three or drive it and score. In time the two best players for Hills East could be 2026 Skylar Ellis and 2027 LJ Merchant LJ Merchant 5'6" | PG Half Hollow Hills East | 2027 NY . Very impressed watching Skylar in the idea ”you never know whos watching” I watched Skylar drain 7 deep threes in a row on a side court while other games were going on . Now I know game action is different, but this player can shoot it. Great rotation with an easy repeatable motion. He is lightning quick on both ends of the floor. LJ is a small but very tough PG. Has an excellent handle, and great court vision and awareness for such a young player. Extremely confident.