By Dylan Butler
Khaleel, the 2004 TimesLedger PSAL Player of the Year, said he had a variety of reasons for choosing Loyola, including its academics, the ability to play right away and the Greyhounds' up tempo style of play. But the 6-foot-4 Khaleel, who expects to start at small forward next year, especially liked Loyola's first year coach Jimmy Patsos.”He really wants to win,” Khaleel said of Patsos, a former assistant under Gary Williams at Maryland. “I feel we can turn things around right away.”Khaleel is also excited about the players coming in, including fellow Northfield Prep big man Jawaan Wright, as well as Maryland transfers Andre Collins and Hassan Fofana.Khaleel was interested in Vermont, which upset Syracuse in the NCAA tournament two weeks ago. But the Catamounts will lose many of their best players as well as their coach, as Tom Brennan retired after Vermont's second round loss to Michigan State.He also liked Boston University and its coach, Bayside native and former Holy Cross star Dennis Wolff. But Khaleel, who averaged 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, didn't think he fit into the Terriers' style of play.”He'll do well because of his size,” Cardozo coach Ron Naclerio said. “He'll be one of those undersized kids who over achieves.”Khaleel's former Cardozo teammate, Cameron Tyler, made an official visit to Fairleigh Dickinson University over the weekend, according to Naclerio.Sikiric gets his due John Sikiric, a senior on the Queens College men's basketball team, was named to the Division II all-Northeast Region first team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.Sikiric, QC's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1670 points, was one of only 80 student-athletes in eight regions to be selected. The 2005 NYCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player is now eligible for the NABC Division II All-American Team to be announced at the conclusion of the 2004-05 NCAA men's basketball season.SJU earns Lax honorsSt. John's freshman lacrosse player Tom Michaelsen was named ECAC Co-Rookie of the Week Monday. It is the second weekly honor for a Red Storm lacrosse player this year and the first time Michaelsen has taken home this honor in his career. Michaelsen shares the award with freshman Shane Koppens from Loyola College.Against Air Force Saturday, the freshman attackman recorded 3 goals and 2 assists for a team-high 5 points. Michaelsen helped ignite a late game run for the Red Storm, which cut the Falcons led to one with 1:26 left in the fourth quarter before eventually falling 13-11. Michaelsen is currently second on the team in scoring with 9 goals. Midfielder Justin O'Donnell was named to the ECAC Honor Roll for the second time this season. O'Donnell registered 2 goals and 2 assists for the Red Storm against Air Force. The freshman came up big for St. John's in the third quarter, recording all of his points during the 6-goal scoring period for the Red Storm. He currently leads the Red Storm in points with 11 goals, 5 assists for 16 points.A clean sweep, again Brian Leo was named Player of the Week and Billy Almeyda was picked as Rookie of the Week as the Queens College men's tennis team swept the weekly NYCAC awards for the second consecutive week.Leo, a native of Little Neck, won all four of his singles matches at the six spot and was 1-1 in No. 2 doubles to help Queens to wins over St. Thomas Aquinas and Division I Morgan State.Almeyda, who was also picked as Rookie of the Week last week, was undefeated in conference play while picking up wins in No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles against Morgan State.Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
