Dancing with the local stars
HERE IS A LIST of the players from Public, Catholic and Inter-Ac schools whose teams will be competing in the NCAA Tournament:
HERE IS A LIST of the players from Public, Catholic and Inter-Ac schools whose teams will be competing in the NCAA Tournament:
Ryan Ayers, Notre Dame
6-8, G-F, Sophomore
Germantown Academy
The son of ex-76ers coach Randy Ayers is averaging 12 minutes in 29 games (one start). His norms are 3.0 for points and 1.4 for rebounds. Eighteen of his 28 field goals are treys. First-team All-City in '05.
Bilal Benn,
Villanova
6-5, G-F, Sophomore
Cardinal Dougherty/Cherokee/
Hargrave
Averaging 9.3 minutes in 28 appearances, all as a substitute. Scoring 1.9 points and collecting 1.5 rebounds. Shooting 50 percent (17-for-34) from the floor. Also owns 14 assists and 16 steals. Finished high school days at Cherokee in Marlton, N.J., after being dismissed from Dougherty as a senior. Then attended Hargrave Military Academy, in Virginia, along with former Dougherty teammate Shane Clark.
Jason Cain, Virginia
6-10, F, Senior
John Bartram
Has made 27 starts in 30 games while averaging 23 minutes. His averages for scoring (6.7) and rebounding (6.4) are similar and the latter leads the team. Hitting 48 percent of his field-goal attempts. Also owns 25 blocks. First-team All-City in '03.
Shane Clark, Villanova
6-7, F, Sophomore
Cardinal Dougherty/Hargrave
If he could get Dante Cunningham (1-for-1) to take one more and miss, Shane's three-point accuracy (38 percent) would be the best among the Wildcats. Has made 10 starts among 32 appearances while averaging 24 minutes. His scoring average (7.5) ranks fifth, and he's claiming 4.0 rebounds. Third-team All-City in '04.
Wayne Ellington, North Carolina
6-4, G, Freshman
Episcopal Academy
The 2006 Co-City Player of the Year (with Duke's Gerald Henderson) is seeing 24 minutes of action per game and has been a non-starter only once for the ACC champs. His 62 three-pointers by far lead the team. Sniping 84 percent at the line. Third on the team in scoring (12.1) and second in assists (2.1).
Charron Fisher, Niagara
6-3, G-F, Junior
Roman Catholic
His season's start was delayed by an off-court issue, but he's been a terror while averaging 34 minutes in 25 games, all starts. The Pennsauken, N.J., resident is shooting 46 percent from the floor and 76 percent at the line, and his average is a gaudy 21.0. Second among the Purple Eagles in rebounds (8.1). Third-team All-City in '04.
Brian Grandieri, Penn
6-4, G, Junior
Malvern Prep
Boasts 50 percent marksmanship on a decent number of three-point attempts (22-for-44) and his scoring average is 12.0. Plays 31 minutes per game and 29 of his 30 appearances have been starts. Second-team All-Ivy honoree. As always, makes contributions across the stat board - second in rebounding (5.3) and third in assists (2.7). First-team All-City in '04.
Mike Green, Butler
6-1, G, Junior
Franklin Learning Center
Enjoying a tremendous season at point guard after sitting out in '06 as a transfer from Towson. Averaging 35 minutes in 33 games, all starts. Second on the team in scoring (14.1) and shooting 75 percent at the line while averaging a whopping 7.5 attempts. Also boasts team-leading averages of 4.0 for assists and - get this - 5.8 for rebounds. Third-team All-City in '03.
Gerald Henderson, Duke
6-4, G, Freshman
Episcopal Academy
Has made nine starts in 31 appearances for the Blue Devils, yielding an average of 19 minutes. Shooting 45 percent from the floor and his 6.8 scoring norm ranks fifth on the team. Like Wayne Ellington, a first-team All-City honoree in '05 and '06.
Rob Kurz, Notre Dame
6-9, F, Junior
Germantown Academy/
Penn Charter
His 12.6 scoring average is third on the team, but he's first in rebounds (7.9) and his blocked-shot total (45) is triple the runnerup's. Shooting 49 percent from the floor and 80.7 at the line. Has served as a sub only once in 30 outings. Second-team All-City in '04.
Reggie Redding, Villanova
6-5, G, Freshman
St. Joseph's Prep
A strong overall feel for how to play the game correctly has gradually increased his chances to contribute. Now averaging 15.7 minutes and two of his 27 appearances have been starts. Scoring 2.9 points and grabbing 2.4 rebounds. Also has notched 24 assists and 23 steals. Second-team All-City in '06.
Maureece Rice,
George Washington
6-1, G, Junior
Strawberry Mansion/Lutheran Prep
Named the tourney MVP after leading the Colonials to the Atlantic 10 title; earlier named third-team all-league. Averaging a team-leading 16.2 points and shooting 46 percent from the floor, 73 percent from the line. Plays 34.5 minutes per game. Ranks third on the team in assists (2.1). Scored 2,681 career points at Mansion to break Wilt Chamberlain's career city record (2,206). Daily News Co-City Player of the Year in '03 with Mark Zoller (SJ Prep/Penn).
Mustafa Shakur, Arizona
6-3, G, Senior
William Penn/Friends' Central
Known best for his distributing skills, he is averaging a whopping 6.9 assists. Among players on this list, he and Mike Green are the leaders in minutes played at 34.7. Shooting 46 percent from the floor and 79 at the line. His 12.0 scoring average is fourth among the Wildcats. Played two seasons at Friends' Central, the last as a fifth-year senior.
Sean Singletary, Virginia
6-foot, G, Junior
Haverford School/Perkiomen School/ Penn Charter
Earned first-team All-ACC honors for the second consecutive season and was named a third-team All-America by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Averaging 33 minutes and 19 points. Amazingly, he owns matching shooting percentages from the floor overall and three-point land (.396). Also hitting 88 percent at the line. Boasts 137 assists and 37 steals. Played two seasons at Penn Charter, the last as a fifth-year senior. Daily News City Player of the Year in '04.
Ted Skuchas, Vanderbilt
6-11, C, Senior
Germantown Academy
Plays 15 minutes per game as the first frontcourt sub. Fifty-eight percent shooting has helped him average 4.0 points. His 27 rejections are tops on the squad, by far. Third-team All-City in '02.
Mark Zoller, Penn
6-7, F, Senior
St. Joseph's Prep
Garnered first-team All-Ivy honors for the second consecutive season and was a strong contender for Player of the Year along with teammate Ibrahim Jaaber. Led the Ivy in overall scoring (18.2), while placing second in rebounds (7.5) and field-goal percentage (.566). Also shooting 78 percent at line. His 87 assists are No. 2 for the Quakers.
Others
* Joe Gill, a 6-6 junior swingman from Germantown Academy, plays for Penn. He has seen 14 minutes of action over 11 games with three rebounds and two assists.
* Andrew Ott, a 6-10 freshman forward from Germantown Academy, is redshirting at Villanova.
* Maurice Polen, a 6-5 junior forward from West Philadelphia, plays for Pitt. He has turned 13 minutes of action over 10 games into four points and seven rebounds.
* Mike Yocum, a 6-9 freshman forward from Episcopal Academy, plays for Albany. He's averaging 1.8 minutes over 11 appearances. Has six points, nine boards. *