Section V boys basketball: 17 teams are ranked in state, new coaches are replacing legends

Irondequoit coach Kyle Trevas is up for the challenge ahead.

So is Rush-Henrietta's new bench boss Calvin Betts.

For Trevas, the first-year varsity coach takes over one of Section V's most prestigious boys basketball programs with four of its five Section V championships — and a state crown — since 2011. For Betts, the R-H grad and Section V hall of famer returned home to a program that has won four of its six section crowns between 2004 and 2011, and made a finals appearance two years ago before a down season in 2022-23.

Trevas and Betts both approach their jobs with different philosophies, but with a mix of veteran talent and rising stars, Irondequoit and Rush-Henrietta are well equipped for continued success after their longtime coaches retired last year.

Boys basketball: Section V scores for the 2023-24 season

"The guys are very driven and motivated," said Trevas whose Eagles won four of five games after a 1-2 start. "They've respond well to coach (Donovan) Kemp and myself getting them out of their comfort level."

Coach Calvin Betts

Team: Rush-Henrietta Royal Comets.

Prior coaching experience: Lyons varsity girls basketball.

Current record: 5-4.

Top players: Avery Council, Jalen Taggert.

Previous coach: Chris Reed.

Calvin Betts' career has come full circle.

A two-time All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year when he suited up for Rush-Henrietta, Betts graduated in 2006 as the program's all-time leading scorer and a Section V champion. Betts last coached at R-H in 2021-22 running the boys modified team. After a year in Lyons, many players from Rush's modified team two seasons ago are now on varsity with Betts.

Betts played under coach Chris Reed, who retired in the summer after a 33-year career. Rush is two years removed from a section final appearance, but some maturing may place the Royal Comets in position to contend again sooner than later. R-H was impressive in wins against Webster Schroeder and Spencerport, and suffered tough losses to the likes of Fairport, Hilton and Penfield.

"We're coming around. I think we've shown signs of what we're capable of," Betts said. "We haven't put together a full game. ... We're trying to break some bad habits. By sectionals we'll see what we can truly do."

Sophomore Jalen Taggart is a 6-foot-4 small forward/shooting guard who leads the team in scoring at 15 points per game while averaging 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block. His game is "smooth" as he's able to score inside and outside.

"Jalen has the potential to be one of the best players in Section V. He just needs to mature," Betts said.

Sophomore Avery Council is a "bouncy" 5-foot-11 point guard with similar upside to Taggart. He sees the floor well, but Rush's offense runs best when Council attacks the basket. He has a "tremendous" pull up jumper, and the elevation on Council's jump shot makes him a lethal shooter from the midrange and beyond the 3-point arc. He's averaging 14 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3 assists.

Senior Graylin Strong is a 6-foot-3 senior averaging 9.2 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.6 steals. The left-handed forward is a "gritty" player who defends, passes and can knock down open shots. He "brings it every night" and will be valuable on a college roster, Betts said. Senior Myles Collins-Howard is another high IQ player averaging 12 points.

Jahquin Brown is a "lanky" 6-foot-3 junior who loves playing defense. Amir Abdul-Haqq-Bradford is a 6-foot-7 junior with raw talent, but his athleticism and 4.5 40-yard dash provides great upside. David Johnson is a 6-foot-5 eighth-grader recently called up from JV. He's very skilled with an admirable work ethic. He'll make his varsity debut Friday.

Betts is still implementing defensive sets, but Rush-Henrietta's size, length and athleticism has helped them play man-to-man often.

"I'm just loving it, man. I love being back home in the gym with these guys," Betts said. "It's been a pleasure working with young men who accepts coaching. There's not another group I'd rather be with than Rush."

Coach Kyle Trevas

Team: Irondequoit Eagles.

Prior coaching experience: Irondequoit boys junior varsity basketball.

Current record: 5-4.

Top players: Isaiah Ballard, Quinn VanKerkhove.

Previous coach: Chris Cardon.

Kyle Trevas entered a unique coaching situation at Irondequoit.

Trevas was an assistant under 37-year coach Chris Cardon when the Eagles won the Section V Class A title and advanced to the state championship game in 2023.

Irondequoit returned just two starters from that magical run in seniors Isaiah Ballard and Quinn VanKerkhove. Senior Drew Kogler is the only other returner on a team full of previous JV players. They showed promise in a 68-64 loss to Victor on Friday after leading much of the game.

"We've had peaks and valleys," Trevas said. "We're going to be OK. (Victor) is a great team. They showed us we can compete with anybody."

Irondequoit's offense runs through Ballard. The 6-foot-2 forward is menacing in the paint, but his jump shot is money, and he's a great passer out of double teams — he threw touchdowns playing Wildcat quarterback during the football season. Ballard has the skills of a guard but Trevas called him a "warrior" and "basketball player." The senior guarded Victor "horse" Nick Leonard well on Friday. Victor used a 1-3-1 to put as many bodies as possible on Ballard that night.

"With his size and skillset he presents problems for other teams," Trevas said. "We really try to emphasis playing inside-out and get him the ball. Once he gets going it opens everything else for other guys."

VanKerkhove is one of Section V's best shooters but is now in a different role. He played shooting guard beside AGR Player of the Year Ryan Heath last year, but VanKerkhove is the point guard now. He's shown improvement in his handles, passing, defense and finishing contested drives.

"Quinn just gives you every ounce and then some," Trevas said. "He leaves it all on the court, and that's Irondequoit basketball. Quinn is Irondequoit basketball. ... I've been overall pleased with his development, but I wouldn't want anybody else (to run the point)."

Junior Donovan Kemp is dangerous from outside. He made three fourth quarter 3s Friday. Myles Wynn is another effective guard. Defensively, Trevas' base appears to be a zone to untrained eyes, but his players man up for a majority of the possession. Junior Nikki Yudin was praised for guarding Victor star Garrett Clar, who Trevas called one of the best "two or three" players in Section V. VanKerkhove guarded star guard Griffen Hopkins.

"It's a challenge me and my assistant coach Kemp are up for," Trevas said. "In the offseason we were in the gym everyday. In the fall we were in the gym at 6:45-7:45 a.m. every morning, sometimes six days a week, to get guys up to speed. But there's no better experience than playing. The guys are getting better every game and feeling more confident."

Section V boys basketball in NYS rankings

NYSSWA rankings and records through Jan. 7.

Just because your team is ranked in the state doesn't make you safe.

Just ask Aquinas and Victor. Jadeir Breedlove's 27 points helped Aquinas remain unbeaten by squeaking past Monroe in a state-ranked battle Thursday. Clar's 25 points helped Victor climb out of of 20-9 first quarter hole to drop Irondequoit after falling to Fairport the previous game.

"Our focus is just improving," Victor coach Tyler Roberts said. "We're not looking at the results, we're just process oriented, showing up for practice everyday and working hard, doing our best and putting the team first."

Class AAA

No. 10 Aquinas (10-0). HM: Fairport (8-2), Franklin (5-3), UPrep (5-3).

Class AA

No. 2 Greece Athena (9-0), No. 23 Victor (5-2). HM: Canandaigua (7-2), Hilton (7-2), Penfield (8-2), Pittsford Mendon (6-2), Webster Schroeder (6-3).

Class A

No. 2 East (7-0), No. 15 Monroe (5-2), No. 26 Wayne (8-2), No. 29 Newark (9-1). HM: Geneva (5-1), Pittsford Sutherland (7-2).

Class B

No. 6 Avon (9-0), No. 7 Hornell (8-1), No. 17 Canisteo-Greenwood (9-1). HM: Attica (6-2), LeRoy (7-2), Marcus Whitman (6-3).

Class C

No. 3 Lyons (8-1), No. 6 York (10-2), No. 10 Pembroke (5-2), No. 11 Bolivar Richburg (8-1), No. 17 Byron-Bergen (8-1), No. 23 Alexander (8-2). HM: Arkport-Canaseraga (8-1), Batavia Notre Dame (7-1), Gananda (8-3), Harley Allendale Columbia (8-1), Sodus (5-2), Wheatfield-Chili (7-2).

Class D

No. 4 Avoca/Prattsburgh 5-4. HM: Andover/Whitesville (4-3), Elba (3-6), Houghton (3-2).

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V basketball: New coaches of big-time programs up for challenge