Shared from the 4/6/2021 Albany Times Union eEdition

H.S. BOYS’ BASKETBALL SMALL-SCHOOL ALL-STARS

A Royal pain for defense

Cohoes’ Brown put up 30.8 points per game during sophomore year

Picture
James Franco / Special to the Times Union

After being selected as a Times Union first-team all-star as a freshman, Cohoes’ Royal Brown was named Athlete of the Year as a sophomore.

Picture

Mechanicville head coach Rian Richardson led the Red Raiders to a 13-1 record and the Saratoga County title. Lori Van Buren / Times Union

Athlete of the Year: Royal Brown, Cohoes

In a season altered by the coronavirus pandemic, there was one aspect Cohoes boys’ basketball coach Jeff Huneau knew he could rely upon when the Tigers finally did take the court for an abbreviated schedule: Royal Brown’s ability to score.

In two varsity seasons, Brown has landed two berths on the Times Union’s first-team all-star list. As a sophomore, the slick 6-foot-1 guard averaged 30.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.3 assists per game.

“I feel good about the season, but I always feel there is much more work to be done,” Brown said. “I had a pretty good season. I want to get even better.”

“I want him to become a more complete player. Still, he is still only a sophomore,” Huneau said. “I tell him he can be as good of a defender as he is already offensively. He has unbelievable ability as an offensive player and I think he can get there as a defensive player.”

Brown, blessed with an explosive first step, has been difficult for Colonial Council opponents to contain from the outset of his varsity career. He pumped in 38 points in a 70-63 victory against Cobleskill, scored 36 points in a 70-61 setback against Voorheesville and tallied 32 points in a contest against La Salle, a Class AA squad.

“He is a nightmare in transition,” Huneau said. “Royal is just so good in the open court. He is going to score and get to the rim.”

“I tried to improve my jump shot and different finishes around the rim,” Brown said. “I couldn’t have put up the big numbers without my teammates passing me the ball. I really go game-by-game (in how I attack the defense). If teams are trying to take away me going to the rim, I will use my jumper. If getting to the rim is there, it is going to be the first option.”

Brown knocked down four 3-pointers in a game twice against Voorheesville and Cobleskill. The sophomore vowed to make the perimeter game a bigger part of his arsenal as a junior. In also listening to what his coach wants, Brown acknowledged wanting to heighten his defensive profile. “The next two years, I am definitely going to key in on my defensive skills,” Brown said.

First team

A Royal Brown, So., G, Cohoes: The standout lefty guard continued to torture Colonial Council foes with his potent scoring skills. Named to the Colonial Council’s first team in 2020, Brown led the league this season in scoring at 30.8 points per game to go along with averages of 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.3 assists per outing for the Tigers. Also named to the Times Union’s first team as a freshman.

A Zaveon Little, Jr., G, Voorheesville: Selected as a Colonial Council first-team all-star in 2020, Little also landed a spot on the Times Union’s first team. Little topped the Blackbirds this season with averages of 19.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. Twice, the junior scored 27 points in wins against Berne-Knox-Westerlo and Mohonasen.

A Rodney Parker, Sr., F, Schalmont: A multi-dimensional threat with the ability to score inside, on the break or from the perimeter, Parker moved into the Colonial Council as a senior after previously playing at Bishop Gibbons and averaged 17.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for the Sabres. Parker, who scored his 1,000th career point against Ravena, pumped in a season-high 33 points in a 72-62 victory over Scotia.

A Brett Richards, Jr., F, Ichabod Crane: The power forward displayed abilities to score inside, rebound, defend, run the floor and handling the ball in leading the Riders with averages of 17.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. The 6-4 standout produced a season-high 36 points in a 76-55 victory against Catholic Central and overall shot 51 percent from the field.

A Ja’Nyve Smith, Sr., G, Bishop Maginn: Named as a Times Union second-team selection in 2020, Smith continued to add elements to an already strong skillset as the lead force for the Golden Griffins. Difficult to defend going to the basket, Smith did a little bit of everything for his team in averaging 20 points, 6.1 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Coach of the Year

A Rian Richardson, Mechanicville: In a season signified by its unusual circumstances, the Red Raiders came ready to play every night and produced a 13-1 record in securing a Saratoga County title. Richardson, who led Mechanicville to the Section II Class B final in 2020, guided a squad that earned three wins in four outings against Schuylerville.

Second team

A Robert Jordan, Jr., F/C, Fort Plain

A TJ Kelley, Sr., G, Waterford

A Zeke Pulliam, Sr., G, Berne-Knox-Westerlo

A Trent Randle, Sr., G, Schalmont

A Tanner Tedesco, Jr., G, Voorheesville

Third team

A Hayden Day, Sr., F, Saratoga Central Catholic

A Blake Decker, Sr., F, Maple Hill

A Devin Garland, Sr., G, Mechanicville

A Anthony Girard, Sr., G, North Warren

A Todd Williamson, Sr., F, Bishop Gibbons

jallen@timesunion.com A 518-454-5062 A @TUSidelines

See this article in the e-Edition Here
Edit Privacy