Bronx Rankings: #42-#36

<p>For the third installment of the Bronx rankings series, the talent is starting to heavily increase. Here, players go from wanting to do school basketball as an extracurricular to becoming college basketball hopefuls, and with a couple good performances end up finding themselves on a NAIA or DIII roster.</p> <p><strong>Jay Woodward | Junior | Wings Academy</strong></p> <p>Jay Woodward has size, but it’s important to not let that deceive you. Woodward is able to play like a typical forward/center, being a defensive rock and a double-double player. However, Woodward has a great shot for a big, being nearly lights-out inside 15 feet and still being able to drop in the occasional three, making him able to be used on many more offensive schemes.</p> <p><strong>Eric Flowers-Hysaw | Junior | Walton</strong></p> <p>Flowers-Hysaw came into his season at Walton with not much varsity experience, and certainly not much scoring expectations, but he did just that. Flowers-Hysaw proved to be vicious on fastbreaks with him going from defense to offense in a flash. Flowers-Hysaw also has one of the better long distance shots in Bronx, with him being able to shoot both off the dribble and, more importantly, off an off-ball route.</p> <p><strong>Thomas Whelan | Junior | Fordham Prep</strong></p> <p>Thomas Whelan had a dismal season, missing out on everything Fordham Prep related with an injury. However, Whelan has made a full recovery and is projected by coaches to be back better than ever. Before he got injuried, Whelan was a lights out shooter who could run the offense, both on the fastbreak and methodically otherwise, and figures to do the same this season.</p> <p><strong>Michael Ward | Junior | Bronx Leadership Academy</strong></p> <p>Michael Ward has come in night in and night out for Bronx Leadership and played over his initial season expectations. When a player lacks a reliable jump shot, it becomes easier for defenses to guard the player because they know what’s coming. While Ward is working on a jump shot, it still isn’t reliable, but that doesn’t deter him as he is still able to take the ball into the rack where defenses expect and make quality plays, and figures to do so next season as well.</p> <p><strong>Wilfredo Arias | Junior | Alfred E. Smith </strong></p> <p>Wilfredo Arias has stepped up for the Alfred E. Smith team this season to become a key contributor on a daily basis. Arias has been a pure scorer, being able to command the offense and funnel it through lanes to the hoop, using his athleticism and quickness to being able to draw contact or easy views of the basket. Arias has also impressed beyond the arc, combining his height with his release point to create a deadly, unguardable shot for defenders.</p> <p><strong>Koby Mensah | Junior | Samuel Gompers</strong></p> <p>As we move further down the rankings, players start to be seen doing more for their team, and definitely have an increased value to their team, and Koby Mensah is no exception. Koby Mensah has exploded for Samuel Gompers this season, being a textbook guard and scoring with shooting and speed to the rim, as well as setting up his teammates to be in prime positions to score.</p> <p><strong>Keyshawn Jones | Junior | Bronx United</strong></p> <p>Bronx United experienced a mediocre season this year, but if there was a bright spot, it would be Keyshawn Jones. Jones came in and took the team by the reigns, commanding the scoring well with Jones dictating the flow of the game and easily making it to the rim for the score. Jones should be fully taking over the team in his senior season, and is truly ready for a larger role.</p>