PSAL Semifinals: Jefferson 81, Thurgood Marshall 54

With a spirited crowd looking on, top-seeded Jefferson came out on a mission with sights set on St. John's and the PSAL title game. The Orange Wave ran up almost a 30-point lead in the first half and coasted to the win behind the dynamic play of junior swingman [player_tooltip player_id='2466505' first='Jahda' last='Swann'], who scored 37 points in a dominant two-way effort. Jefferson will look to finish the job with a PSAL championship on Thursday against Eagle Academy Bronx.    The best player in the PSAL this year, Swann made Queens College his personal playground with an effortless 37 points while impacting every facet of the game and showcasing his biggest areas of improvement. Known previously as more of a slasher, Swann showed his improved confidence and mechanics while knocking down six 3s. He protected the rim as Jefferson's biggest player with at least five blocks, also cleaning the glass to kickstart the Orange Wave's vaunted transition attack. Swann dominated the game but did so without ever hijacking the offense or forcing any decisions, in what's become somewhat of a normal occurrence for the budding star. The sky is the limit for the versatile big guard, who's firmly on national breakout watch heading into EYBL play.     Despite the lopsided score, Mazou-Tahirou showed tantalizing flashes throughout the game that offered a clear window into his alluring long-term upside. He stands out immediately with his enormous length and striking agility, covering ground with a grace that few his size can match. A pogo-stick leaper near the rim, he's a consistent factor as a rim protector but with the movement skills to hold up in perimeter situations as well. Offensively, while still raw in his decisionmaking, Mazou-Tahirou showcases a soft touch out to the arc with quick-twitch finishing ability inside and flashes of ball skills. Perhaps most importantly, he competed hard from start to finish. He'll need a lot of time to build up his body to compete with D1 bigs on a nightly basis, with a prep year being very much in play, but the upside here is obvious.     While the game didn't call for the 50-plus points that Sprattley has been known to erupt for, the dynamic guard showed glimpses of the potent offensive ability that's attracted a flurry of D1 attention over the course of his senior year. With eight points in a dominant opening quarter and 10 of his 14 before half, he came out firing with a barrage of rainbow jumpers from long range. Sprattley would go on to show his burst getting downhill for strong finishes. He also showed keen vision and unselfishness as a passer, key for his translation to the next level at the lead guard spot. Still just 17, Sprattley figures to be a popular name among college and prep school coaches in the spring recruiting period.     The head of the snake for a high-octane Jefferson attack, Wilson came out aggressive with 10 of his 12 points in the opening half. He would maintain his impact throughout the game, using his blinding speed to bother opposing ballhandlers into turnovers and knife past defenders into the paint. While undersized, Wilson is deceptively long with a strong upper body to offset what he lacks in height. A willing passer who plays with his head up and a reliable shooter with his feet set from range, Wilson brings a tough-nosed approach and winning pedigree to whichever college program secures his services.     The other bright spot for TMA in the loss was the aggressive two-way play of Harris. The junior guard went on a scoring binge in the second half to help secure some of the only Panther momentum of the game. He was a consistent presence near the front of the rim, working his way to his spots off the bounce both in the halfcourt and the open floor. Quick on his feet with good instincts for the ball, Harris was also effective in forcing turnovers to kickstart transition. We'll look forward to seeing more from him over the spring and summer as he figures to start gaining traction on the recruiting front.

With a spirited crowd looking on, top-seeded Jefferson came out on a mission with sights set on St. John's and the PSAL title game. The Orange Wave ran up almost a 30-point lead in the first half and coasted to the win behind the dynamic play of junior swingman Jahda Swann Jahda Swann 6'4" | CG Thomas Jefferson | 2026 State #84 Nation NY , who scored 37 points in a dominant two-way effort. Jefferson will look to finish the job with a PSAL championship on Thursday against Eagle Academy Bronx.