The buildup to the 1st annual Empire State Takeover Summer Showcase League continues - tonight, it's time to break down a team whose guard play and perimeter shooting looks to make them this summer's version of the Golden State Warriors... the Dave Wadas-led Rising Stars.
Last night, I brought up a team that has a few guys who scored 20+ points per game last winter... let's up the ante, shall we? How does two 30+ point per game scorers sound? What if I told you they're related, too? There's a load of scoring in this backcourt, including Fort Edward rising senior Chris Boucher and Argyle rising junior Kobe Lufkin. The 6'2" Boucher scored his 1,000th point late in the season, and he hung 32.4 points per game this season, good for 2nd in Section II. That included a 53 point game, and though he's a capable shooter (62 threes), his bread & butter is getting to the line. There were only 4 games in which he DIDN'T shoot 10 free throws, three of those being 25+ point wins. 180 of his 648 points this season came from the line. Match that with his cousin, Kobe, who was 3rd in Section II with 31 points per game. He also scored his 1,000th point this year and still has 2 more years to rack 'em up. He also got to the line a lot, and shot a phenomenal 86% from the line in the process, but he's known more for the trey. He hit 77 this season to bring his career total to 168... on pace to just break the state record of 334 made threes. They were 2nd & 3rd team all-state selections, respectively. Both of them play at Class D schools in the Adirondack League and don't get much respect outside of the area - they'll get plenty of opportunity to earn it this summer.
Not enough small guards for you? Want some youth, too? Hey, Joe Girard III. The Glens Falls standout shot 88% from the line, and is the 3rd member of Rising Stars to have knocked down 100+ free throws last winter. He averaged 21.7 per game and hit 70 threes... as an 8th grader! The Class A All-State Honorable Mention selection has been invited to the prestigious CP3 camp for the country's top 75 rising freshman PGs. All this scoring needs a facilitator - Stillwater rising junior Jared D'Aloia can help fill that role. He's also a capable shooter, but his strength is what a team with high octane scoring needs - someone to run the show. Yet another guard under 6'0", making this certainly the smallest backcourt crew in the league, but Jared will make up for it with smarts - he spreads the ball around and makes the right play, whether it's calling someone else's number or his own.
Rising Stars will also have some length and rise at the wings too, led in part by South Glens Falls swingman Matthew Higgins. 6'3", lanky, and above the rim athletic, Matt does a bit of everything on the court. He can hit the trey, pull up from mid-range, get to the rack and finish at/above the rim, has an array of floaters & finishing moves, and is crafty getting to the line. He holds a valuable role with this team, as he's one of only a couple that can really defend multiple positions on the floor. Feel safe with him guarding any spot from the 1 to a stretch 4. There's even more length coming from the other wing in Moriah standout Taylor Slattery. The 6'5" swingman averaged 15 per game, but could've scored much more - shared the spotlight with Moriah big man Adam Jaquish, who is also on this team. Slattery earned 2nd team all-state honors in Class D and is arguably the most explosive player in the state at that level. He's crafty getting to the rim and can put someone on a poster. Slattery also can defend multiple positions. His HS teammate will help man the blocks - Jaquish scored 17.7 per game along with double digit rebounds & 3 blocks - already over 1,000 points, he has potential to finish his high school career with a ridiculous 1,500 points & 1,000 rebounds. Adam was a 1st team all-stater in Class D.
The North Country is represented by more than just the Moriah Vikings. Keep going. When you think you're done driving, keep going some more. We're taking a ride to Canton. The Porter boys will have the longest drive of anyone on Wednesdays this summer. Louden Porter, the older of the two (rising junior), averaged 19.3 in Section X last winter, including a 46 point outburst. At 5'10", he makes 5 guards under 6'0" on the team. Louden has explosiveness like a running back though, which allows him to go up with and finish through bigs. When he gets hot, he gets hot. There aren't many people in the league whose basket gets as wide as Louden's does when he's feeling it. His younger brother, Declan Porter, brings a very different feel. He's still a guard, and he can still light it up from deep, but that's where the similarities end. Like Girard, he's entering his freshman year - they're the only two that young. Declan is already 6'3", and unlike Louden, a lefty. He has a fluid shot that looks good every time with extended range, and he showed great passing ability. I'm expecting my share of 'wait, he's how old?' comments. Although not as North Country, we can add Jerry Willis to the list. Undersized at 5'9" and in an area not exactly revered for hoops, the Carthage rising senior (who will be moving soon) is very much under the radar - but he can play. He averaged 13.3 points per game this year, hitting 37 threes, and he always makes the right play. He's the type of kid that can really blossom when playing with better players around him.
It's not ALL about the small schools on this team. Troy's in the house too. Looking forward to watching 6'1" guard Darius Holmes-Hines and 6'6" faceup post Anthony DeBonis with this group. Darius fits nearly any role you give him. As a combo guard, he can score in a variety of ways and does a good job setting up others. He can play uptempo or in the half-court, isolation or pick and roll. Whatever style they're playing, Darius can handle. DeBonis will be fun to watch in this setting. He's an athletic, new-school big - not so much of a back to basket post-up guy, but he's great at feeding off of the guards' activity. Making the right cut or flash, catching & finishing, or working through the pick & roll game is where he's at his best. Deceptively athletic and lanky, he can also finish above the rim and is a great shot blocker, especially coming from the weak side.
Outlook - This team is going to be an interesting group to watch through the season. It's a guard heavy group that is going to have to dig in sometimes to get boards and make up for size disadvantages, but they have athletic wings who can fill in and a couple rim-protecting, shot blocking bigs. With three players hitting 60+ threes this past winter, this team can light it up and get points on the board in a real hurry when things are clicking. That can make it much easier for Higgins, Holmes-Hines & Slattery to get to the rim and Jaquish & DeBonis to have room to work. You wonder about how they will handle some of these matchups defensively, but if they turn games into shootouts, they could beat anyone on any given day.
Roster
Chris Boucher (Fort Edward; 2016) - 32.4 PPG (season high 53), 62 threes, 180/268 FT, 5 RPG, 6 APG; '14-'15 All-Adirondack League 1st Team, NYSSWA Class D All-State 2nd Team, Post Star All-Area 1st Team
Anthony DeBonis (Troy; 2016) - 4 PPG (season high 12)
Matthew Higgins (South Glens Falls; 2016) - 14.8 PPG (season high 35), 5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 27 threes, 80.5% FT; '14-'15 Saratoga Catholic Invitational All-Tournament Team, Saratogian Large School All-Area 2nd Team, Post Star All-Area Honorable Mention; member of NHS
Darius Holmes-Hines (Troy; 2016) - 3.8 PPG (season high 9)
Adam Jaquish (Moriah; 2016) - 17.7 PPG, 12 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2 SPG, 2.8 BPG; '14-'15 All-NBL Division II 1st Team, NYSSWA Class D All-State 1st Team, Times-Enterprise All-Area 1st Team, currently has 1,143 career points and 805 career rebounds
Taylor Slattery (Moriah; 2016) - 14.7 PPG; '14-'15 All-NBL Division II 1st Team, NYSPHSAA Class D All-Tournament Team, NYSSWA Class D All-State 2nd Team, Times-Enterprise All-Area 1st Team
Jared D'Aloia (Stillwater; 2017) - 8 PPG, 5.2 APG, 33 threes; '14-'15 All-Wasaren League Honorable Mention, The Saratogian Small School All-Area Honorable Mention
Kobe Lufkin (Argyle; 2017) - 31.0 PPG (season high 43, 40+ points 5 times), 77 threes, 163/190 (85.8%) FT; '14-'15 All-Adirondack League 1st Team, NYSSWA Class D All-State 3rd Team, Times Union Small School All-Area 3rd Team, Post Star All-Area 1st Team
Louden Porter (Canton; 2017) - 19.3 PPG (season high 46), 6.5 RPG, 4 APG, 75% FT; '14-'15 Burkman Classic MVP, Darcy Tournament All-Tournament Team, All-North Honorable Mention, Section X All-Northern 2nd Team
Joe Girard III (Glens Falls; 2019) - 21.7 PPG (season high 41), 70 threes, 88% FT; '14-'15 All-Foothills Council 2nd Team, All-Post Star 2nd Team (1st 8th grader ever for both), NYSSWA Class A All-State Honorable Mention (only 8th grader on ANY boys basketball all-state list), invited to prestigious CP3 camp in August 2015
Jerry Willis (Carthage; 2016) - 13.3 PPG (season high 21), 37 3s
Declan Porter (Canton; 2019)
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