GameTimeCT // Boys Basketball
Joe Morelli
The 2023 GameTimeCT All-State Boys Basketball team. Compiled by Joe Morelli.Photos are Hearst Connecticut Media or contributed. Designed by Pete Paguaga.
First Team
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
James Jones, East Catholic, 6-6, Sr., G
Stats: Averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals per game for the CCC and Division I state champions. ... Finished career with 84-9 record.
Honors: Two-time All-CCC and coaches all-state selection. ...GameTimeCT Second Team all-state in 2022. ... HoopHall Classic Team MVP and GHPA Classic game MVP.
Off the court: Honor roll student.
Up next: Considering several Division I schools, including Penn, Siena, St. Peter’s and Columbia. Likely may take a post-graduate season.
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COACH OF THE YEAR
Ronan O’Leary, Waterbury Career
Stats: Led WCA to a 24-3 record and to the program’s first CIAC state championship, defeating Bloomfield 74-58 for the Division III title.... Spartans also won the NVL’s Brass Division and tournament championship for the first time. ... WCA is just in its eighth year as a varsity program. Made the state tournament the seven previous seasons with one trip to the 2017 Class S state semifinals. ... Won his 100th career game against Crosby in January. Currently 113-65.
Off the court: Born and raised in Ireland, O’Leary played for the Irish National Team at the youth and senior level. ... Played at Post University in Waterbury. Previously a JV soccer and softball coach at Sacred Heart, where he also was an assistant boys basketball coach from 2005-12. ... Also teaches social studies at WCA.
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Mekhi Conner, Notre Dame-West Haven, 6-0, Sr., G
Stats: Averaged 19.4 points, 8.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 steals per game for the two-time SCC tournament champions. ... Twice posted triple-doubles. ... Had 29 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and five steals in the SCC tournament semifinals against Fairfield Prep.
Honors: Gatorade Player of the Year finalist. ... Two-time GameTimeCT All-State and coaches all-state selection. ... Three-time All-SCC pick. ... Selected to play in the JCC Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Classic and the CHSCA All-Star Festival.
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Riley Fox, Conard, 6-6, Jr., G
Stats: Averaged 24.5 points 11.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, for the CCC tournament semifinalists for the second straight season. ... Hit an acrobatic putback at the buzzer to help stun Northwest Catholic in the CCC tournament’s opening round, finishing with 28 points. ... Also scored 44 points in the Division II state tournament against Farmington. ... Scored his 1000th point and broke the school's all time scoring record this year. Now has 1,430 career points.
Honors: Three-time All-CCC pick. Two-time GameTimeCT All State selection. Voted team captain for next season.
Off the court: Has a 4.25 GPA. Takes several AP classes. Volunteers at middle school basketball camps.
Up next: Has a handful of Division I scholarship offers in hand.
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Najimi George, Kolbe Cathedral, 6-4 Jr., G/F
Stats: Averaged 18.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.9 steals, 2.8 assists and 2.4 blocks per game for the SWC tournament champions.
Honors: Two-time All-SWC and coaches all-state selection. ... MVP of the SWC tournament final against Notre Dame-Fairfield.
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Christian Jeffers, Danbury, 6-5, Sr., F
Stats: Averaged 19.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game for the reigning FCIAC Tournament champions.
Honors: All FCIAC first team selection. FCIAC Tournament MVP.
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London Jemison, Northwest Catholic, 6-7, Jr., G
Stats: Average 17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game for the Division I state tournament finalists. ... Shot 82 percent from the free-throw line.
Honors: All-CCC First Team selection.
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Christian McClease, Wilbur Cross, 6-4, Sr., G
Stats: Averaged 22.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6 assists for the Governors. ... Scored 30 or more points six times this season, including four straight. Finished career with 1,296 points.
Honors: Two-time GameTimeCT and coaches all-state selection. ... Two-time All-SCC First Team pick. Selected to play in the JCC Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Classic and the CHSCA All-Star Festival.
Up next: Will take a post-graduate season at Choate.
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Anthony Nimani, Platt, 6-4, Sr. G
Stats: Averaged 25.7 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals per game for both the CCC and the Division III state tournament semifinalists. ... Became the school’s all-time leading scorer, passing Jamel Riddle. ... Also city of Meriden’s all-time leading scorer with 1,626 points. Helped complete a program turnaround, Panthers were 1-19 his freshman season.
Honors: All-CCC and coaches all-state selection.
Off the court: All-CCC Academic Team member. Has a 3.5 GPA and takes accelerated AP classes. Volunteers with unified sports, Participates in Community clean ups and a three year member of the cross country team.
Up next: Likely will take a post-graduate year at prep school.
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Anthony Parker, Xavier, 6-2, Sr., G
Stats: Averaged 27.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game for the Division II state semifinalists. Scored over 30 points several times. Scored his 1,000th career point this year, the 10th player in program history to accomplish the feat. Finished with 1,155 points.
Honors: Selected to play in the JCC Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Classic and the CHSCA All-Star Festival. Two-time All SCC-First Team pick; Art Kohs Christmas Tournament MVP.
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Jack Plesser, Fairfield Warde, 6-4, Sr., G
Stats: Averaged 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals for the Division II tournament semifinalists.
Honors: FCIAC Player of the Year. All-FCIAC selection. ... Named to the All-Tournament Team for Fairfield Holiday Classic. JCC Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Classic participant. ... All-FCIAC second team pick in 2022
Off the court: Member of the National Honor Society, Best Buddies Club, Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and is President of the Business Honor Society. ... Also is a Sacred Heart Book Award recipient, an AP Scholar and a National Honor Merit Scholarship Commended Scholar. ... Volunteers with the SASO service organization, the Special Olympics, Fill in the Blanks and Wakeman Boys and Girls Club.
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Cedrick Similien, St. Bernard, 6-1, Sr., G
Stats: Averaged 17.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 3.1 assists per game for the ECC Division I and Division II state champions.... Surpassed 1,000 career points this year. Finished career with 1,267 points.
Honors: Three-time First Team All ECC selection. Two-time ECC all-tournament team pick. ... Chosen to play in the CHSCA All-Star Festival. Team MVP.
Off the court: High honor roll student has a 3.3 GPA. ... Also competes in outdoor track and field.
Up next: Has committed to play at Mercy College next season.
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Jaysean Williams, Bloomfield 6-0, So., G
Stats: Averaged 23 points and three rebounds per game for the CCC and Division III state tournament finalists. ... Already has scored over 1,000 career points. Scored 52 points in a game that included 13 three-point shots..
Honors: All-CCC and coaches all-state selection.
Second Team
- Yianni Baribeau, Killingly, 6-4, Sr. F
- Badara Diakite, Northwest Catholic 6-9, So. F.
- Quintin Floyd, Windsor, 6-1, Jr., G
- Timaury Gay, Notre Dame-West Haven, 6-3, Sr., G
- Thomas Glover, Hillhouse, 6-2, Jr., G
- Tajae Jones, Notre Dame-West Haven, 6-8, Jr., F
- Jamie Leggett, St. Paul, Sr. 6-2, G
- Finn Miller, Notre Dame-Fairfield, 6-2, Sr., G
- Samson Reilly, East Catholic, 6-2, Jr., G
- Lennox Serrano, Kennedy, 6-4, Sr., G
- Drew Williams, WCA, 5-9, Jr., G
- Chris Zajac, Staples, 6-8, Sr., C
Third Team
- Preston Fowler, East Catholic, 6-6, So., F
- Chase Geremia, Hand, 6-3, So., G
- Eijah Jean-Guillame, Wilbur Cross, 6-1, Sr., G
- Travis Mangual Jr., Windham, 6-3, Sr., F
- Gianni Mirabello, Northwest Catholic 5-8, Jr., G
- Elijah Parker, Holy Cross 6-3, So., G
- Victor Payne, Cromwell, 6-3, Jr., F
- Sonny Pierce, WCA, 6-0, Sr., G
- Howard Simpson, Bloomfield, 6-5, Sr., F
- Nick Sganga, Ridgefield, 6-6, Jr., C
- Devan Williams, New London, 5-10, So. G
- Tyson Wheeler, St. Bernard, 5-8, Sr., G
Honorable Mention
Makhai Anderson, Platt, 6-5, Jr., F; Carmelo Ayala, Notre Dame-Fairfield, 5-9, Sr., G; Jaylen Brown, Norwalk, 5-10, So., G; Tim Coleman, Hillhouse, 6-7, Sr., F; Caden Drezek, Seymour, 6-4, Sr., F; Michael Iannetta, Immaculate, 6-0, Sr., G; Lebron Maurice, Montville, 5-9, Sr., G; Cameron Perkins, Danbury 6-5, Jr., F; Sean Racette, Trumbull, 6-2, Sr., G; Tommy Scholl, Fairfield Prep, 6-3, Sr., F; King Shaw, SMSA, 6-0, Sr., G/F; Rashawn Tibby, Windsor, 6-7, Jr., F