When the city’s top sophomores are discussed, the names you usually hear are Isaiah Whitehead, Khadeen Carrington and C.J. Davis.
Shavar Newkirk should be in the conversation, particularly after this weekend. The Cardinal Hayes guard led Team SCAN to the Rumble in the Bronx 16U title and garnered MVP honors after the program’s fifth title this spring.
“I think he’s second behind Whitehead,” Team SCAN coach Terrence (Munch) Williams said. “I think he’s the No. 1 point guard in 2014. I don’t think it’s a race. That kid wins, he wins at every level. He wins in high school, he wins in AAU. When it’s all said and done, he’ll be between a top 50 and a top 100 kid in the country.”
Denis Gostev
Cardinal Hayes' Shavar Newkirk led Team SCAN to the Rumble in the Bronx 16U crown over the weekend.
Newkirk has played so well this spring, Williams said, he’s been the team’s most valuable player, and the group includes nationally ranked sophomore Chris McCullough.
“He runs a team, he rarely turns the ball over, he gets a few points, assists, steals rebounds,” Williams said of the 5-foot-11 Newkirk, who has scholarship offers from Providence, Seton Hall, Manhattan, Iona and Iowa State. “He’s having a wonderful [AAU] season.”
Newkirk stood out in the loaded event, but he was not alone. McCullough, an uber-talented 6-foot-9 Bronx native, played well at both ends of the floor, especially on defense, an area of his game he has looked to improve upon, Williams said. He also excelled offensively, as expected, hitting 3-pointers and throwing down emphatic dunks.
“Chris is at times a man amongst boys,” Williams said. “He dominated at times. He’s everyone’s focal point every time he steps on the court.”
Williams also singled out the play of Conrad Chambers, Quincy McKnight and Cheick Diallo. In fact, SCAN had 14 players for the event, a first this spring, and each one had a hand in the title.
“Each kid was able to play an important role, whether it was starting or coming off the bench,” Williams said.
Team SCAN had to earn the crown, going through Canada powerhouse CIA Bounce and Texas Select in the playoffs just to get to the finals. In the championship, they took down The City, 59-38, and defeated King Street Kings, Kendall Madison Playaz and Brooklyn Leaders in pool play.
Williams played down the significance of the tournament title – his team’s goal is to win every time it takes the court and to leave each tournament with hardware. He was happy to see his team perform so well locally in front of friends and family because it is so often on the road.
“Us playing this weekend here allowed people to see us in action, good bad or indifferent,” Williams said. “We showed we’re a talented group with kids who play together.”
Williams does think his team proved one thing over the weekend: it is the premier program in New York City. Not only did the 16s win a title, the 15s reached the championship, losing to the New Jersey Playaz Club, and the weekend before, the 14s made it to the finals as well.
“While New York is quote-unquote down, Team SCAN is not down – we’re up,” he said. “We’re having a great season. Some would say what we’re doing is unprecedented.”
zbraziller@nypost.com
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