Nazareth is the arguably the best team in the country, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I could be the top league in the nation and for the first time in more than a decade the PSAL is wide open.
This girls basketball season is shaping up to be the best in a long, long time with talent all over the city and absolute studs in the younger grades. Defending NYS Federation Class AA champ Nazareth tops our rankings now, but there will be opportunities for other teams to show their wares.
Here’s how it looks:
1. Nazareth
The defending state Federation Class AA champions are again loaded and favored to repeat. Coach Apache Paschall added transfer Brianna Butler, one of the nation’s best players, to a core that includes West Virginia-bound guard Darius Faulk and Bianca Cuevas.
2. Christ the King
Super sophomore Sierra Calhoun and Rayne Connell and Adelphi-bound Lauren Nuss lead an inexperienced but talented Royals club. Christ the King didn’t win a single championship last season and this group is set on changing that.
3. Murry Bergtraum
UNC Charlotte-bound guard Shequana Harris and guard Dionne Coe are the lone returning regulars for the 13-time defending PSAL city champion. The death of Tayshana (Chicken) Murphy will be tough – on and off the court – for Bergtraum.
4. Mary Louis
This may be the best collection of talent during coach Joe Lewinger’s tenure. George Mason-bound guard Reana Mohamed and junior Jasmine Nwajei will team with talented freshmen Mei-Lyn Bautista and Jordan Agustus to try and get TMLA atop the CHSAA.
5. Bishop Ford
This group of Falcons is deeper and more mature as they try to rebound from an up-and-down season a year ago. Aaliyah Lewis, UTEP-bound Shanice Vaughan and Aaliyah Jones could form one of the city’s toughest and most talented backcourts .
6. South Shore
Senior forwards Jenice Winter and Fannisha Price, who are committed to VCU and Marshall, respectively, have been to the Garden before. The PSAL Class AA city title game is the goal this year again, but only a win won’t be viewed as disappointing.
7. Archbishop Molloy
Early season injuries to Alexa (Weazel) Dietrich and Dallas Pralle will hurt, but new coach Scott Lagas has these Stanners striving for greatness. Juniors Amani Tatum and Carolyn Gallagher form a 1-2 punch that will give most teams fits.
8. John F. Kennedy
Joya McFarland is one of the best shooters in the city and seniors Leshauna Phinazee, Deaisia Acklin and Chelsea Custodio helped lead Kennedy to the PSAL Class AA city title game as sophomores. In their last year, winning that championship is paramount.
9. Moore Catholic
The Mavericks dynamic backcourt of Christina Rubin (Iona) and Jamie O’Hare (Lafayette) will be asked to do a lot, but not everything. Moore, the defending Archdiocesan champion, lack size have has a team that will be hardnosed and shoot with the best of them.
10. Bishop Loughlin
Loughlin lost just two seniors from a team that challenged the city’s best and are in search of respect. Juniors Imani Tate and Jasmine Alston are primed for big seasons, while senior guards Nyree Alston and Ayana Ratliff should provide plenty of leadership.