Player of the Year: Sylven Landesberg Holy Cross
Mr. New York Basketball. All-time leading scorer at Holy Cross. Two-time Catholic league Player of the Year and three-time scoring champion. McDonald’s All-American. Name the accolade and Landesberg, who averaged 29.4 points per game his senior season, attained it. And he wasn’t just about personal numbers. Actually, the 6-foot-5 wing was team oriented, the best example the CHSAA Class AA semifinal upset of Rice when he passed up the game-winning shot to teammate Blaise Ffrench, who secured the win instead. Landesberg, in addition to all his numbers, finished his career with the most impressive honor of all: a city championship, the first in 40 years at the Flushing school.
Coach of the Year: Paul Gilvary Holy Cross
At his players’ behest, Gilvary compiled a daunting non-league schedule chock full of national powers - Holy Cross faced 10 teams that were ranked at one point - that challenged the senior-laden group to such an extent that when they were pushed in the city playoffs, the Knights were ready to not only face adversity but overcome it. In his 13th year at the helm, Gilvary remained composed and confident even when the losses piled up. Sure, he had great players such as Landesberg - the greatest in school history, Gilvary said - but talented teams like this have fallen short in the past. Not this one. Gilvary deserves much of the credit.
All-Queens First Team
Trinity Fields Cardozo
On a team short of scoring punch, Fields was the one constant. In two years, he led the Judges to back-to-back PSAL quarterfinal finishes and their first borough title in three seasons. However, the Iona-bound guard’s finest moment was in the second round of the postseason when his triple double - 42 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists - keyed a double overtime victory over Canarsie. The home crowd lifted Fields on their shoulders afterwards. Rather fitting considering he did the same in his time there.
Blaise Ffrench Holy Cross
Became the consistent second option behind Landesberg that Holy Cross sorely needed. Not only did his production - Ffrench averaged 13.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and six assists - lead to the first city championship in 40 years, but it landed him a scholarship to Texas El Paso.
Ryan Pearson Christ the King
Most improved player in the city developed into an elite scorer. Close second for Player of the Year honors after averaging 23.2 points per game. He fell short in the city championship to Sylven Landesberg and Holy Cross, but the George Mason-bound southpaw converted a half-hook off the glass at the end of regulation of a thrilling double overtime regular season victory over the Knights, a game he scored 35 while battling a stomach virus, which will not soon be forgotten.
Erving Walker Christ the King
Royals Coach Bob Oliva liked to call Walker his closer. He pulled out games for the Royals with his rainbow 3-pointers and stop-on-a-dime pull-ups. Transition from shooting guard to point guard was seamless for the lightning quick Florida recruit who in three years at the Middle Village powerhouse played in three city championship games.
Russ Smith Archbishop Molloy
Was given the ball and dutifully delivered, leading the Stanners with 24.9 points per game. The explosive guard - the only junior in this group - hurt teams in a variety of ways, as much off the dribble as from the perimeter.
