NYS Champions: Best performers from each State Championship team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The New York State Public High School State Championships were last weekend and it showcased some of the top players from the state. The school winners from each classification are: AA- Victor*, A- Tappan Zee*, B- Westhill, C- Randolph*, D- Avoca-Prattsburgh. From each classification, there were players that stood out and were named tournament MVP and All-Tournament teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*First state title in school history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Class AA: Victor</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The Victor boy's basketball clinched their school's first ever boy's basketball state championship, led by juniors Nick Leonard and [player_tooltip player_id='1980958' first='Garrett' last='Clar'].</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Nick Leonard","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Victor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Victor big man stood out during the state championships and earned the largest school classification (AA) tournament MVP. Leonard is a position-less big that plays the game with a high-level IQ. Tasked with being the main big on his team at 6'4u0022, he possesses great passing skills and uses his big body well to find the angles when he rebounds. He is an outstanding outlet passer and creates a lot of easy fast break layups for his teammates because of this. He has solid footwork in the paint and uses an array of pump fakes to try and finish over more athletic players.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1980958' first='Garrett' last='Clar']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Victor","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Clar continued his stellar play into the biggest stage of the playoffs and earned an all-tournament team nod. Clar gets out in transition with a vengeance and constantly puts pressure on the opposing team. He is a solid finisher with both hands. He uses a quick first step to penetrate the gaps of the defense really well and does a good job at finding open teammates. He is an active rebounder and a willing defender. Clar has a nice jump shot that will translate well at the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641f1c76612ed"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Class A: Tappan Zee</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Another first in the class A classification, as the Tappan Zee boys team won their school's first boy's basketball state championship. The Flying Dutchmen were led by a stingy defense of undersized players who played bigger than their listed size.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sean Barrigan","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tappan Zee","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The multi-sport star for Tappan Zee earned the class A tournament MVP with his steady leadership on the court. The stocky point guard scored at all three levels in the tournament. Although shorter than most of the competition, you couldn't tell because of how shifty he was at finishing in the paint. Barrigan was a threat from all over the court as he was willing to pull it from even NBA range. He is an extremely confident athlete who plays well within the offense but knows he has the green light. He has quick hands on defense and makes his opponents uncomfortable with his tough, physical play.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Jack Maloney","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Tappan Zee","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The fiery lefty from Tappan Zee earned an all-tournament selection with his timely shot making throughout the tournament. Maloney is extremely crafty at getting to the lane and is a highly effective finisher with his left. He has deep range and willing to pull it. He plays the gaps well on defense and this often leads to fast break finishes. He was forced to play big on an undersized team and he answered the call, often battling with players 5+ inches taller than him in the paint and holding his own.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641f1c7661401"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Class B: Westhill</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The Westhill reign over class B continued as they won their 5th boy's basketball state title since 2010, and 6th in program history. The section III powerhouse uses great spacing and unselfish play to go with a hard-nosed defense to create a lethal combination of basketball, as their state titles list grows.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Shawn Mayes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Westhill","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The MVP of the class B state championship team is a winner. Mayes does all the little things that it takes to lead to a team to a state championship: he plays ferocious on-the-ball defense, boxes out every time and is a good passer with good vision in transition. He has quick feet and active hands on defense. His midrange game is very tough to defend because he is smooth at creating space for himself and he gets decent rise on his jump shot. He is good finisher with his strong hand and has a good stroke from deep. If he can add some more muscle and develop some counter attack moves, he will be a really tough player at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Omar Robinson","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Westhill","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Robinson is a long, athletic wing who helped his team in a myriad of ways to their state championship. The class B all-tournament team member is a tough attacker at the rim because he uses an array of acrobatic finishes to put the ball in the hoop. He can be a good passer and should continue to develop this underutilized aspect of his game. He has long arms which cause problems for his opponents. He has really good touch out to the free throw line with his moves that is highlighted by his above-average pull-up game. He sticks his nose in to rebound and isn't afraid to lead the fast break. He has good leaping ability for a sophomore and can change the momentum of a game with a big dunk in a second. He has a lot of untapped potential in all aspects of his game and if he works hard in his development, could be a Division I player.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641f1c766148d"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Class C: Randolph</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The section VI school, that is less than a 30 minute drive from the Pennsylvania border in western NY, took home their first boy's basketball state championship. They were led by record performances from their top guys in Jaiden Huntington and Carson Conley.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jaiden Huntington","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Randolph","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Huntington had the best game of his career in the single most important game he has ever played in. The senior hit a NYSPHSAA tournament record tying eight 3's to score a career-high 28 points in the championship game. The big bodied football player played a pivotal role all season with his pretty shooting stroke. He has the green light from beyond the arc and his championship game showed why. He has good hands and uses them to go with his size to snatch up missed shots. Offensive players tend to run into a brick wall when they try to penetrate chest-to-chest with him. Even for his size, he is willing to take a charge which makes him even tougher to attack with his strength.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Carson Conley","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Randolph","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Conley was an instrumental part of Randolph's success as he was named to the class C all-tournament team. Conley is a smart player who stretches defenses with his efficient stroke from behind the arc. He battles in the post and sticks his nose in for the rebounds. He shows a great pump fake on most touches on the wing which gets his defender in the air which allows him to penetrate and find an open teammate.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421bd58d966c"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Class D: Avoca-Prattsburgh</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Avoca-Prattsburgh repeated as class D champions in their steamrolling of their class D competition. They won both of their states games by over 20 points as they were led by a dominant senior class highlighted by Haden Abbott and Sawyer Devoe.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Haden Abbott","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Avoca-Prattsburgh","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The smallest of the school classifications was led by MVP Haden Abbott who snatched the award after scoring a team-high 21 points in the final. Abbott is the motor that makes Avoca-Prattsburgh go. He plays hard all the time and is willing to always do the dirty work to help his team be successful. He gets out on the break often and finishes well with his strong hand. Abbott has very active hands on defense and is extremely vocal leading the charge. He's not afraid to jump into the mix in the paint and looks for a quick outlet when he gets it, leading his teammates to have success in the fast break.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"Sawyer Devoe","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Avoca-Prattsburgh","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Devoe is a complete player who does it all for the repeat champions of class D. He was named to the all-tournament team in part due to his knack for scoring but also his defense and rebounding. The guard compiled over 1,000 points in his illustrious career and stamped his name in the record books with back-to-back state titles. He attacks the rim and gets to the basket while being able to find a rhythm from deep. He runs the floor with a vicious tenacity that allows him to get a lot of easy buckets. The Avoca-Prattsburgh team prides itself on unselfish play and Devoe is a catalyst for finding his open teammates.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421bd58d975f"} /-->