Herald News Sports Staff

Bishop Stang and B.M.C. Durfee High School, with three players each, are the leading suppliers of talent to our list of 2018 Herald News Boys’ Basketball All Scholastics. Our list features silky shooters, tough rebounders, gritty defenders, slick ball handlers and fearless attackers of the rim.

 

 

DREW PLANTE, Case: Arguably a five-position player, Plante capped off his stellar career by being named Most Valuable Player of the South Coast Conference. The 6-foot-5 senior averaged 24.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in leading the Cardinals into the Division 3 South Sectional tournament. He was selected to play in the Greater New Bedford Boys and Girls Club All Star game and was case’s nominee for the Dave Cowens Award. He is a 1,000 career points scorer. 

ANDREW CABRAL, Bishop Connolly: One of the area’s premier scorers, the senior swing man averaged 22.3 points per game. He used his 6-foot-2 frame to produce points inside but was most adept from long range. Cabral drilled 81 three-point field goals. Cabral was named the Mayflower Athletic Conference Comprehensive Division Player of the Year. 

NICK COLLINS, Westport: The Wildcats rolled into the season needing Collins to carry a significant scoring load. The senior swing man delivered big time. A Mayflower Athletic Conference all star and the Westport High School Dave Cowens Achievement Award nominee, Collins averaged 22.6 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.

DAMIEN PERRY, Bishop Stang: A three-year starter, the junior guard took his game to a new level this year. Despite intense defensive attention from opponents, the 6-foot guard averaged 20 points, 3 steals and 6 rebounds per game in helping the Spartans reach the Division 3 South semifinals.

CHASE STAFFORD, Somerset Berkley Regional: A senior captain, Stafford capped his outstanding high school basketball career with an all-star season. Playing much bigger than his 5-11, he averaged 14.1 points, six rebounds,, and three steals per game. He was named to the South Coast Conference all-star team and was Somerset Berkley Regional’s nominee for the Dave Cowens Achievement Award.

LIAM McDONALD, Somerset Berkley: The 6-foot junior emerged as one of the better players in the South Coast Conference. A shooting guard and a team captain, McDonald used both his long-range marksmanship and basket-attacking grit to average 14 points per game. He was named to the SCC all-star team.

MICHAEL HRYCIN, Tiverton: A fine player a year ago, Hrycin returned for his senior year leaner and faster. The hustling swing man averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game and was named to the Rhode Island Division II second team. He netted a season-high 32 points against Burrillville.

RYAN MOTTA, Diman Regional: One of the area’s top 3-point shooters, the senior swing man averaged almost 12 points per game while burying 40 3-pointers, the highest single-season total for a Bengal in the past 20 years. Motta played a gritty game as well, grabbing 126 rebounds and making 27 steals. He also averaged almost three assists per game. An honors student in the electronics shop, Motta ranks 53rd out of a class of 336 and boasts a 3.3 GPA. His only missed practice over the past two seasons was to sign his letter to join the U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation.

BRENDAN WHITE, Durfee: The 5-foot-11 senior capped his career by providing the Hilltoppers with a deep shooting threat, by filling the lanes on the fast break and by getting the opposition into foul trouble. White averaged 10.6 points per game and played in all 20 of Durfee’s contests. He hit double figures 11 times.

NILIN NEHRA, Durfee: The 6-foot-3 junior helped the Hilltoppers in just about every way possible, defending inside, scoring inside, hitting the open shots and finding the open man. He averaged 10.5 points per game and willed his way to 10 rebounds a contest. Nehra scored in double figures 10 times.

COOPER CREEK, Bishop Connolly: A transfer student from Australia, the 6-foot-7 junior gave the Cougars a scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking presence in the middle. A Mayflower Athletic Conference all star, Creek averaged 13.7 points, 15.6 rebounds and 7 blocked shots per game.

MALIK MORRIS, Bishop Stang: The true blue-collar player, the 6-foot-1 Morris finished his career with a rock-solid senior season. A force at both ends of the court, he averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds per game while providing intense defense in both the press and half-court.

CARSON HART, Tiverton: The 6-foot-3 junior this season reached the 1,000 career points plateau, in just his second year of varsity ball. A swing man with a feather touch and a big-time catch-and-shoot, he averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds per game. Hart was named Rhode Island Division III first team and the Newport County player of the year.

JUSTIN LOPES, Bishop Stang: A Herald News football All Scholastic last fall, Lopes continued to excel indoors. Part of Bishop Stang’s veteran big three, Lopes averaged 14 points and 6 assists per game in heling the Spartans to a sparkling one-loss regular season and a march to the Division 3 South semifinals.

TYSHAUN LOPES, Durfee: The versatile junior gave the Hilltoppers solid offense and reliable defense. A guard, he averaged 11.1 points per game, playing in all 20 Durfee contests. A threat from 3-point land and an attacker of the rim as well, Lopes scored in double figures 13 times and shot 45 for 59 from the foul line. He also averaged two steals per game.