By Rob Centorani
Staff Writer
April 05, 2008 04:00 am A capsule look at The Daily Star All-Stars for the 2007-08 boys basketball season. DAILY STAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR Dan O'Brien, 6-4, sr., swingman, Oneonta Will graduate as the school's all-time leader in points (1,121) and assists (346), and third all-time in rebounds (570). "You're not going to have a conversation about Oneonta High basketball without him being mentioned in the first sentence," OHS coach Jerry Mackey said. ... Averaged 14.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.1 steals in leading the Yellowjackets to a 20-5 record. ... Shot 83 percent from the free throw line. ... Earned First-Team Daily Star honors the past two seasons. ... Inside-outside threat dunked twice and scored a season-high 29 points in a 64-61 home loss to Owego. DAILY STAR COACH OF THE YEAR Jerry Mackey, 11th season, Oneonta Guided Yellowjackets to second straight sectional championship and first state playoff victory in 11 years. ... Earned Daily Star Coach of the Year honors in basketball for the third time and first since 2004. ... Architect of a program that has won four sectional titles over the past six seasons. ... Helped Jackets to 38-10 record over the past two seasons despite not having a true point guard. ... Fiery coach always entertaining to watch from sidelines. ... Spends countless hours during season scouting opposition and a good deal time with team during the offseason. ___ DAILY STAR FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS Justin Harmon, 6-5, sr., forward, Stamford Likely the area's leader in dunks this season, coach Greg O'Connell estimated he had between 10-12. ... "I'm not talking about barely getting over the rim," O'Connell said of Harmon, who averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.9 steals in helping the Indians to a 14-6 record. "He can really put them down. He can really get up off the floor." ... Scored 25 points in leading Stamford to a 71-59 victory over eventual Section Four Class D champion Roxbury. ... Also one of the area's top track athletes, Harmon ran a 50.6-second 400 meters and long jumped more than 20 feet last season. ... Will try to walk-on for basketball next season at Division II Tampa (Fla.). Aaron Laing, 6-3, jr., forward, Laurens Active in the paint and quick off his feet, Laing averaged 12.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in leading the Leopards to the Tri-Valley League championship. ... "More than blocking shots, he alters shots," Laurens coach Andy Carr said. "If you look at how many shots he changes, it's phenomenal." ... Also shot 60 percent from the floor for a Laurens team that finished 19-2. .... "He pretty much was our inside game," Carr said. "Take him out of the mix and we struggle with our inside game." ... Also a standout goalie for Laurens soccer team the past two seasons. Alex Mirabito, 5-11, jr., guard, Oneonta The Yellowjackets' best perimeter defender finished with a team-high 70 steals. ... "I consider him the best defending guard in Section Four," OHS coach Jerry Mackey said. "He has great quickness and the ability to stay in front of guys." ... Averaged 10.3 points and also had 89 rebounds and 74 assists in helping the Jackets to a second straight sectional championship. ... Scored a team-high 13 points in OHS' 44-39 victory over New Paltz in a Class A state first-round game. ... Two-year starter likely will be the Yellowjackets' go-to guy next season as OHS' other four starters this season were seniors. DaVaun Morgan, 6-1, soph., swingman, Roxbury Showed diversity in Section Four Class D championship, scoring 11 of his game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter, when Roxbury rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat South Kortright, 50-46. ... Hit two three-pointers during the rally from NBA range and turned a steal into a layup. ... Averaged a team-best 17 points and 9.5 rebounds. ... "He was not afraid to step up and take a big shot," Rockets coach Tom Faraci said. ... Also an accomplished passer, Morgan averaged three assists. ... "He was always unselfish with the basketball," Faraci said. "That was one of the really good qualities he brought to us. Another one was he could get up and court." Greg Mudge, 5-9, sr., guard, Hunter-Tannersville "He's the type of player as a coach you get once in your career," H-T coach Chris Glennon said of Mudge, the Wildcats' all-time leading scorer with 1,549 points and a two-time Daily Star First Team All-Star. ... Speedy guard averaged 23.8 points, six assists, five steals and five rebounds in leading H-T to a 19-3 record and the Delaware League Upper Division title. ... Scored varsity-best 44 points in 73-56 victory over Pine Plains on Dec. 27. ... "His ballhandling and his ability to take someone off the dribble are his best offensive traits," Glennon said. "He's almost unguardable one-on-one." ... Looking to play for Cortland State or Tompkins-Cortland CC next season. Pat O'Brien, 6-2, sr., guard, Walton Heady left-handed point guard did a little bit of everything for the Warriors this season, averaging a team-best 15.9 points, 5.7 assists and 3.9 steals. ... Midstate Athletic Conference's Division I MVP helped Walton to its first conference title in 45 years, scoring 18 points in a 46-42 victory over Oxford on Feb. 16. ... Also averaged 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. ... "He's one of the better players we've had at our school in a long time," Walton coach Gary Williams said. "His ability to see the floor and set other people up really helped us." ... Leaning toward playing for Clinton Community College next season. .... Quarterbacked Walton football to Class D state title in the fall. Raffi Perry, 5-11, sr., guard, Unadilla Valley One of the quicker players in the area, Perry averaged 17 points, six rebounds and two steals for the Storm. ... "He pretty much knew he was going to be our leading scorer and the guy we'd look to late in games," UV coach Matt Osborne said. "He was multi-dimensional. He could take it to the basket and score or get fouled, or dish to a teammate who was open." ... Scored 30 of varsity-best 36 points in the second half, including the winning basket, in a 59-58 defeat of Greene on Jan. 30. ... Broome Community College and Onondaga CC have expressed interest. ... Also a Daily Star First Team All-Star in soccer. Ryan Skipper, 5-11, jr., guard, Roxbury Perhaps Roxbury's most indispensable player and a big reason the Rockets went 20-3 and won its first Section Four Class D title since 1992. ... One of the quickest players in The Daily Star's circulation area, Skipper averaged 4.5 steals. ... "Defensively, he creates an atmosphere that's uncomfortable for a lot of people," Roxbury coach Tom Faraci said of Skipper, who averaged 14 points. ... Missed a span of 6:19 after getting third foul against Section Three's Sackets Harbor and Roxbury was outscored, 12-0, in an eventual, 51-39 state quarterfinal loss. ... "When he's off the floor," Faraci said, "all of a sudden easy baskets start falling for teams." Kody Westcott, 6-3, sr., forward, Sidney With all five starters gone from Sidney's Class C state championship team of 2006-07, Westcott became the Warriors' go-to player and didn't disappoint. ... "He was asked to do an awful lot," Sidney coach Mike Brazee said of Westcott, who averaged team highs of 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds and also made a team-best 46 three-pointers. "He was our secondary ballhandler, provided most of our scoring, he was our best perimeter shooter and best rebounder." ... Saved 22 of his 30 points for the fourth quarter of a 57-49 victory over eventual Midstate Athletic Conference champion Walton on Jan. 29. ... Herkimer County CC and Tompkins-Cortland CC are among choices for next season. Bryant Winans, 5-11, sr., guard, Afton Four-year varsity player averaged area-best 25.2 points and hit 85 three-pointers en route to earning Daily Star First Team All-Star honors for the second straight season. ... Also averaged five assists and five rebounds. ... Won second consecutive Midstate Athletic Conference's Division II MVP award. ... "The last 10 seconds of the shot clock, the ball would go to him and he knew what to do with it," said Afton coach Dick Winans, Bryant's father. "You love to have a person like that. He knew what to do with it and came through for us." ... Cazenovia College is among the schools that have expressed interest in Winans, whose 1,351 points are second all-time in school history. ___ DAILY STAR SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS Year, Player, School Sr. Alex VanDeusen, Oneonta High Sr. Brendan Harder, Oneonta High Sr. Brandon Butts, Davenport Sr. Drew Hammond, Walton Sr. Brian Edelstein, Milford Year, Player, School Sr. Kyle Falkenmeyer, Unatego Sr. Mason Wyman, Unadilla Valley Jr. Dan Bloomfield, Richfield Springs Jr. Eric Burns, South Kortright Sr. Quinn Snyder, Cooperstown ___ DAILY STAR HONORABLE MENTIONS Brad Ashford, Cooperstown Anthony Brant, Cherry Valley-Springfield Luke Burns, Delhi Andrew Camillone, Roxbury Ryan Davine, Cooperstown Drew Hammond, Walton Zach Harlem, Oneonta High Alex Hendrickson, Unatego Eric Jederlinic, Cooperstown Derek Legg, Hunter-Tannersville Chris McGinnis, Bainbridge-Guilford Joe Nelson, Worcester Kyle Ray, Unatego Monte Richardson, Oneonta High Fred Russ, Richfield Springs Scott Seeley, Milford Jacob Snyder, Afton Alex Sovocool, Richfield Springs Toby Stay, Worcester Loukas Vogiatzis, Gilboa ___ DAILY STAR AWARDS HISTORY DAILY STAR PLAYERS OF THE YEAR YearPlayer, TeamPPG 2008Dan O'Brien, Oneonta14.4 2007Andy Foote, Sidney11.9 2006Zack Thomsen, Unadilla Valley21.2 2005Chris Garcia, Oneonta18.0 2004Mike Konstanty, Oneonta19.0 2003Shane Connolly, Cooperstown14.1 TIEJeremy Holmes, Cooperstown12.9 2002Kevin Reed, Downsville20.9 2001Michael Graham, Sidney23.7 2000Aaron Hornstra, Oneonta19.2 TIEEric Miley, Sidney20.1 1999Seth Petronis, Milford22.1 TIEEric Miley, Sidney19.5 1998Jason Dorsey, Sidney16.0 1997Josh Brown, Oneonta18.1 TIEQuame Patterson, Oneonta15.1 1996Josh Brown, Oneonta14.4 1995Quame Patterson, Oneonta13.2 1994Seth Schaffer, Cooperstown26.9 TIEJason Ronovech, Oneonta19.0 1993Seth Schaffer, Cooperstown30.6 1992Alan Lewis, Cooperstown20.4 1991Darell Fisher, Oneonta17.6 1990Ken Fetterman, Cooperstown18.0 1989Alex Hills, Afton25.8 1988Tom Dye, New Berlin17.4 1987Steve Downey, Oneonta16.8 1986Mike Nelson, Cooperstown21.4 1985Keith Thompson, Cherry Valley29.7 1984Tom Hendricks, Unatego25.0 DAILY STAR COACHES OF THE YEAR YearCoach, TeamRecord 2008Jerry Mackey, Oneonta20-5 2007Mike Brazee, Sidney24-2 2006Lee Fisher, Davenport24-1 2005David Bertram, Cooperstown20-4 2004Jerry Mackey, Oneonta18-4 2003David Bertram, Cooperstown26-1 2002Jerry Mackey, Oneonta21-2 TIEJeff Baier, Downsville23-1 2001Dan Wagner, Delhi15-8 2000Mike Brazee, Sidney20-5 1999Bill Crowley, Milford20-5 1998Mike Brazee, Sidney26-2 1997Bob Zeh, Oneonta17-4 TIEBill Crowley, Milford21-1 1996Bob VanValkenburgh, S. Kortright22-1 1995Mike Brazee, Sidney19-4 1994Bob Zeh, Oneonta17-4 1993Jim Kenyon, Worcester17-4 TIEPete Somich, Unatego15-7 1992Dick White, Cooperstown21-2 1991Duane Ely, Roxbury22-2 1990Greg Waters, Stamford16-7 1989Steve Rudloff, Andes17-6 1988Tom Dixon, New Berlin19-6 1987Lee Fisher, Davenport25-2 TIEBob Zeh, Oneonta20-2 1986Dick White, Cooperstown24-2 1985Stubb Smith, Cherry Valley20-5 1984Lee Fisher, Davenport18-5
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