In sports, we’re always talking about Mount Rushmore — the top four players ever for a given team, program, or league. We know CHSAA boys’ basketball league in the diocese has seen its fair share of absolute greats, so as another high school hoops season is upon us, here’s a look at the Mount Rushmore of the local Catholic League.
Since the league spans multiple eras, I let some longtime coaches, officials, league administrators, and super-fans submit their top five players in league history and a top coach. Basketball is known for a starting five, so we turn the four heads of Mount Rushmore into five. Naturally, this is bound to spark a debate — but that’s the point.
Sammy Albano, longtime observer, CHSAA basketball fan
- Brian Winters, Archbishop Molloy
- Vern Fleming, Mater Christi
- Kevin Joyce, Archbishop Molloy
- Kenny Anderson, Archbishop Molloy
- Chris Mullin, Xaverian
- Coach: Jack Curran, Archbishop Molloy
Jack Alesi, former Xaverian H.S. head boys’ varsity coach
- Chris Mullin
- Kenny Anderson
- Mark Jackson, Bishop Loughlin
- Rawle Alkins, Christ the Kin
- Sylven Landesberg, Holy Cross
- Coach: Tim Leary, St. Francis Prep
Joe Arbitello, current Christ the King H.S. head boys’ varsity coach
- Lamar Odom, Christ the King
- Omar Cook, Christ the King
- Speedy Claxton, Christ the King
- Reggie Jesse, Bishop Loughlin
- Sylven Landesberg
- Coach: Jack Alesi, Xaverian
Dick Bavetta, former CHSAA and NBA referee, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer
- Chris Mullin
- Mark Jackson
- Kenny Charles, Brooklyn Prep
- Tom Stith, St. Francis Prep
- Mike Dunleavy, Nazareth
- Coach: Jack Curran
Brian Cosgrove, risk manager for Parish Services Corporation, CHSAA superfan
- Kenny Anderson
- Mark Jackson
- Stewie Granger, Nazareth
- Chris Mullin
- Chris Logan, Bishop Ford
- Coach: Tim Leary
John Cosgrove, former Bishop Loughlin boys’ varsity player
- Chris Mullin
- Kenny Anderson
- Kevin Joyce
- Brian Winters
- Kenny Johnson, Brooklyn Prep
- Coach: Pat Quigley, Bishop Loughlin
Jim Gatto, former Mater Christi boys’ varsity coach
- Kevin Joyce
- Kenny Anderson
- Vern Fleming
- Chris Mullin
- Mark Jackson
- Coach: Jack Curran
Pete Gillen, former Brooklyn Prep and Nazareth H.S. coach, CBS Sports college basketball analyst
- Kenny Anderson
- Kevin Joyce
- Chris Mullin
- Sonny Dove, St. Francis Prep
- Mike Dunleavy
- Coach: Jack Curran
Fran Leary, assistant coach to Jack Curran at Archbishop Molloy
- Kenny Anderson
- Robert Phelps, Nazareth
- Sylven Landesberg
- Khalid Reeves, Christ the King
- Cole Anthony, Archbishop Molloy
- Coach: Jack Curran
Bob Leckie, former boys’ varsity coach at Bishop Loughlin
- Kenny Anderson
- Kevin Joyce
- Sonny Dove
- Kenny Smith, Archbishop Molloy
- Mark Jackson
- Coach: Jack Curran
George Bruns, former player at St. Augustine H.S. and coach at Msgr. McClancy H.S.
- Mike Riordan, Holy Cross
- Chris Mullin
- Kenny Anderson
- Mark Jackson
- Bob McIntyre, Holy Cross
- Coach: Herb Hess, St. John’s Prep
Phil McBride, CYO and CHSAA Hall of Fame referee
- Kenny Anderson
- Tony “Red” Bruin, Mater Christi
- Chris Mullin
- Lamar Odom
- Kevin Joyce
- Coach: Jack Curran
Dennis McDermott, former St. Francis College men’s basketball standout
- Tom Stith
- Kevin Joyce
- Kenny Anderson
- Chris Mullin
- Tony “Red” Bruin
- Coach: Jack Curran
Ray Nash, Brooklyn/Queens CHSAA president and former Bishop Ford H.S. boys’ varsity coach
- Tom Stith
- Kenny Anderson
- Kevin Joyce
- Armond Hill, Bishop Ford
- Kenny Smith
- Coach: Jack Curran
Pat Quigley, former boys’ varsity coach at Bishop Loughlin
- Mark Jackson
- Vern Fleming
- Chris Mullin
- Kenny Smith
- Kenny Anderson
- Coach: Jack Curran
Barry “Slice” Rohrssen, Xaverian H.S. graduate and long-time college basketball coach
- Kenny Anderson
- Brian Winters
- Armond Hill
- Mark Jackson
- Mike Dunleavy
- Coach: Jack Curran
Ed Wilkinson, editor emeritus, former Tablet sportswriter
- Chris Mullin
- Kevin Joyce
- Brian Winters
- Kenny Anderson
- Tom Stith
- Coach: Jack Curran
