Breakout Guards: NYC
Jahzir Crawford, Holy Cross--The slick, left handed point guard has been tracking as one of the most underrated guards in the city and beyond.
His play during the B/Q playoffs, when he commandeered a well rounded offensive attack and stuck difficultly contested shots, was largely indicative of this.
A crafty, stealth scorer, the 6-foot Crawford has an innate skill set for hitting shots on the fly.
He can dial in from downtown with reliable outside shooting and also knock it down from mid range with consistency.
Shouldering the onus of play creator, Crawford has shown a purity of vision with his ability to make timely reads with either hand.
A Class of 2026 prospect, Crawford is a scholarship worthy guy who brings a weathered approach having played in the kill or be killed environment of the CHSAA “AA.”
Zach Wasserman, Columbia Prep--A 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard with efficiency as a shot maker and an adequate feel for the game, Wasserman was an integral ingredient in a historic season at Columbia Prep.
The team culminated the season with a 24-1 overall record, with Wasserman turning in multiple games of five 3-pointers or more.
Beyond his shooting, Wasserman was the scoring source on which the program leaned.
He is able to stick shots through tough close outs and takes contact on his thorough rim surges.
As a play creator capable of getting the hockey assist and also firing in dimes with either hand, Wasserman set a loud tone with his cerebral game and how he sees the floor.
Becoming a surefire basketball junkie and letting the game consume him, Wasserman has made it all a 12-month focus.
As he showed this year, when he made a quantum leap from being a supplemental piece to the focal point and a true torch who can bust open critical scoring surges, Wasserman is a mainstay who can impact winning in a handful of ways.
Wasserman turned in a stat sheet stuffing performance of 26 points, six rebounds, and six boards in a victory over SIA in the opening round.
Justin DeSena, St. Francis Prep--A year surely makes quite the difference.
While it was exactly one year ago that the Class of 2028 DeSena broke out as a 3-point trigger man who shot makes at an efficient clip, he has transformed his role during a major jump as a sophomore this season.
While DeSena is still one of the deadliest shooters and averaged 19 PPG during the final four games of the season, it is his defensive focus and grit which grew exponentially this season.
The 6-foot-3 DeSena has become a vital defender both on and off the ball, consistently taking the chore of guarding the opposing team’s best player.
He has an element of positional versatility to him, as he has emerged into a rebounding presence. DeSena triggers possessions and quick hitters offensively wirh his work on the defensive glass.
With upcoming 2026 graduation claiming a 1,000+ point scorer and double double threat in 6-foot-7 Fairfield-bound Oesoemano Sacko, DeSena will be flushed into a leadership role among a promising young core moving forward.
Brice Yancey, Cardinal Hayes--After showing flashes of promise last season as a freshman, Yancey stepped into a more substantial role in Hayes’ deep backcourt this season.
The 6-foot-3 Class of 2028 guard has become a vital presence in the perimeter game, one of multiple guards on Hayes’ roster capable of firing in corner 3-pointers and highly contested 3-pointers.
With his length and attacking on court mannerisms, Yancey has cultivated a crafty finishing presence. He submitted multiple games of 20 points or more this season.
Christian Brown, Cardinal Hayes—A foundational piece as a guy who shot makes at an efficient clip and has proven he can knock down opportunistic 3-pointers, the 6-foot-4 Class of 2027 guard bolsters Hayes as a multi-layered scorer and defender.
He has shown consistent strides in his game with his instinctiveness and athleticism. He has the intangibles to be a volume scorer who can levitate above and around the rim.
Haisi Mayben, The Darrow School—A recent 34-point explosion in a defeat of Vermont Academy has illuminated Mayben's wired to score aptitude.
The slick 6-foot-1 guard has steadily improved and increased his production rate as a shooter, taking it upon himself to stick difficult and tightly contested shots and create space with his shiftiness and handle.
After a year in which he was Section II MVP, Mayben has gauged his grit against major competition on the prep circuit.
He is a guy who can take over sequences of the game when he is feeling it and sticks consecutive shots. He has progressed with his finishing and relishing contact on surges to the rim.
While he is a scoring guard by trade, Mayben has developed multi layered positional traits wirh his ability to rebound out of his area.
The son of former Troy, NY prodigal HS talent Tiki Mayben, Mayben is a play orchestration asset who has piled up multiple games of double digit assists this season.
Donovan Medley, Holy Cross--The 5-foot-11 guard is primarily a hounding, in your jersey one on one defender who takes a significant sense of pride in neutralizing the opposing team's top scoring threat.
During Holy Cross’ run to the Brooklyn/Queens City title, however, Medley was able to pilot the perimeter game.
He stuck corner 3-pointers and displayed a cerebral, highly efficient offensive game.