Stars across the state: Final Top 57 players in Delaware high school boys basketball
brad myers, delaware news journal
·3 min read
The Dover Senators came within two points of a perfect season in boys basketball.
Two one-point losses during the regular season – 53-52 to Stephen Decatur (Maryland) at the Governors Challenge in Salisbury and 61-60 at St. Elizabeth – fueled the fire for the Senators to do something they had never done before.
Dover finished the job, rallying past Salesianum for a 56-53 victory in the championship game of the DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament on March 9.
Dover's Denim Perkins celebrates in the final seconds of the Senators' 56-53 victory over Salesianum in the championship game of the DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament on March 9 at the Carpenter Center.
It was the Senators’ sixth appearance in the final. But it was the first time Dover was able to cut down the net afterward at the Carpenter Center.
Dorell Little (31 points, nine rebounds) and Denim Perkins (16 points, eight rebounds, eight assists) led the way for coach Stephen Wilson and the Senators.
It was a fitting climax to an exciting season that saw Salesianum battle back from eight regular-season losses to reach the state final for the third straight year.
St. Elizabeth won its first 18 games before losing to Sanford on Feb. 16, then fell to Sallies in the DIAA semifinals. Middletown reached the semifinals for the second straight season before falling to Dover.
There were a lot of tough calls, especially among the highest spots, but here is our final ranking of the Top 57 players in Delaware high school boys basketball for the 2023-24 season.
Seaford's Vincent Evans III works on defense between Lake Forest's Seth Young (left) and Adam Mudri in Seaford's 65-62 win at Lake Forest High, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
56. Brock Hill, jr., Laurel
55. Khalil Kemp, jr., Caesar Rodney
54. Joshua Obiora, so., St. Georges
53. Steven Nixon Jr., jr., St. Elizabeth
St. Elizabeth's Steven Nixon works on offense in front of Salesianum's Isaiah Hynson in the first half of the Sals' 65-51 win in a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Thursday, March 7, 2024.
52. Bryson Lane, so., Howard
Howard sophomore Bryson Lane (4) handles the ball as William Penn seniors Elin McCoy (0) and Jaylin Horsey (3) defend during the second-round game in the DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament at the William Penn gym in New Castle, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Howard won 54-45.
51. Jaiayre Wright, jr., Dickinson
50. Marquis Newson, fr., Sanford
St. Elizabeth's Steven Nixon, Jr., throws a pass away from Sanford's (from left) Marquis Newson, A'Zir Ellegood and Nico McNeill in Sanford's 58-51 win at the St. E Center, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
49. Jahsir Robertson-Hamilton, jr., Glasgow
48. Elisha Johnson-Dixon, jr., Early College
47. Zy’Aire Gibson, jr., Aspira Academy
46. Jackson Starkey, sr., Lake Forest
Lake Forest's Jackson Starkey (left) is fouled by Seaford's Vincent Evans III in Seaford's 65-62 win at Lake Forest High, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
45. Jordan Spencer, sr., Sanford
Sanford's Jordan Spencer (left) and Delcastle's Jaisir Wright fight for a loose ball in the Warriors' 80-43 win at Sanford, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.
44. Jacob Schell, sr., Cape Henlopen
43. Stephen Conway, jr., Sanford
Sanford's Stephen Conway lets loose after a three-pointer in the second half of Sanford's 58-51 win at the St. E Center, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
42. Riley Buzby, jr., Appoquinimink
Appoquinimink junior Riley Buzby (15) handles the ball against William Penn junior Andy Webb (14) during the boys basketball game at the William Penn gym in New Castle, Monday, Feb.19, 2024. William Penn won 63-58.
41. Miles Kempski, sr., Archmere
40. Jameson Tingle, fr., Cape Henlopen
39. Ryan Tattersall, jr., Wilmington Friends
Friends' Ryan Tattersall (23) shoots against Tower Hill's Marty Coyne in the first half of the Hillers' 70-47 win at Wilmington Friends, Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.
38. Isaiah Ayers, sr., Sussex Tech
Gold's Isaiah Ayers of Sussex Tech snares a rebound in the Blue-Gold All Star high school senior game at Smyrna High School, Saturday, March 16, 2024.
37. Caleb Starks, jr., Tatnall
Tatnall's Caleb Starks (left) reaches for a loose ball against Sanford's Nico McNeill in the second half of Sanford's 52-35 win at Tatnall, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023.
36. Stephon Stewart, sr., McKean
McKean’s Stephon Stewart scored 29 points in a 92-85 overtime victory over DMA on Monday.
35. R.J. Matthews, sr., Howard
Howard's Rahsaan Matthews, Jr., handles in the ball in front of William Penn's Andy Webb in the second quarter of the Colonials' 55-46 win at William Penn, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024.
34. Robbie Johnson, jr., Salesianum
Salesianum junior Robbie "RJ" Johnson (23) moves the ball against Smyrna sophomore Chase Sullivan (4) during the boys basketball game at the Salesianum gym in Wilmington on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. Salesianum won 78-54.
33. Jordan Earl, sr., Odessa
Odessa's Jordan Earl (left) looks to the basket against Mount Pleasant's Jayden Scott in Mount Pleasant's 48-45 win in the opening round of the DIAA state high school tournament, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 at Odessa.
32. Nick Baysah, so., Howard
Howard sophomore Nicholas Baysah (11) dribbles and strategizes against William Penn senior Jaylin Horsey (3) during the second-round game in the DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament at the William Penn gym in New Castle, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Howard won 54-45.
31. Kenneth Hunter Jr., jr., St. Elizabeth
St. Elizabeth's Kenneth Hunter, Jr., (15) defends between Sanford's Marquis Newsom (left) and Stephen Conway in the second half of Sanford's 58-51 win at the St. E Center, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
30. Istavan Norwood, jr., Dover
Dover's Istavan Norwood (left) defends a drive by Middletown's Zion Mifflin in the first half of a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Thursday, March 7, 2024.
29. Obinna Coleman, sr., Smyrna
Smyrna senior Obinna Coleman (24) blocks a basket attempt by Salesianum junior Robbie "RJ" Johnson (23) during the boys basketball game at the Salesianum gym in Wilmington on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. Salesianum won 78-54.
28. Marice Kilgoe, so., Smyrna
Smyrna's Marice Kilgoe celebrates a three-pointer in the first half of the Eagles' 69-35 win against Milford at Smyrna High School, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.
27. Darnell Lloyd, jr., St. Andrew’s
26. Clarence McBride-Allen, sr., Sussex Central
Blue's Jordan Spencer of Sanford (left) moves for a rebound with Gold's Clarence McBride-Allen of Sussex Central in the Blue-Gold All Star high school senior game at Smyrna High School, Saturday, March 16, 2024. The game benefits the Delaware Safety Council and the Delaware Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (DIBCA) scholarship fund.
25. Daniel Harvey, jr., Appoquinimink
Appoquinimink junior Daniel Harvey (3) moves the ball against William Penn during the boys basketball game at the William Penn gym in New Castle, Monday, Feb.19, 2024. William Penn won 63-58.
24. Tarrance Williams, so., Dover
Middletown's Aviyon Matthews (left) is too late for a rebound grabbed by Dover's Tarrance Williams in the first half of a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Thursday, March 7, 2024.
23. Kaleb Ra’lfa, jr., Appoquinimink
Appoquinimink's Kaleb Ra'lfa taking a free throw at the foul line.
22. Carlton Smith, sr., MOT Charter
Delaware Military's Amir Massey (left) defends as MOT Charter's Carlton Smith shoots in MOT Charter's 77-39 home win, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.
21. Latrell Wright, so., Conrad
Mount Pleasant's Ronnie Potts (left) defends as Conrad's Latrell Wright moves toward the basket in the Green Knights' 69-58 win at Conrad in the opening round of the DIAA boys state tournament, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.
20. Jayden Lawrence, sr., Mount Pleasant
Green Knights Jayden (left) and Justin Lawrence come together as it appears their team will win in the opening round of the DIAA state high school tournament, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 at Odessa.
19. Gabe Swift, sr., DMA
Blue's Gabe Swift of Delaware Military (left) works against Gold's Jackson Starkey of Lake Forest in the Blue-Gold All Star high school senior game at Smyrna High School, Saturday, March 16, 2024. The game benefits the Delaware Safety Council and the Delaware Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (DIBCA) scholarship fund.
18. Clyde Frasier, sr., Middletown
Blue's Jordan Earl of Odessa (rear) defends as Gold's Clyde Frasier of Middletown works on offense in the Blue-Gold All Star high school senior game at Smyrna High School, Saturday, March 16, 2024. The game benefits the Delaware Safety Council and the Delaware Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (DIBCA) scholarship fund.
17. Jaylen Bernikow, jr., Odessa
Odessa's Jaylen Bernikow brings the ball up court against Mount Pleasant's Cyril Stewart in Mount Pleasant's 48-45 win in the opening round of the DIAA state high school tournament, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 at Odessa.
16. Kashmier Wise, sr., Seaford
Seaford's Kashmier Wise reacts after hitting a three-pointer in the second half of Seaford's 65-62 win at Lake Forest High, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
15. Darius Miller, jr., Lake Forest
Lake Forest's Darius Miller reacts to an early basket in the first half of Seaford's 65-62 win at Lake Forest High, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
14. Justin Hinds, sr., Salesianum
Saelsianum's Justin Hinds shoots over St. Elizabeth's Kenneth Hunter in the first half of the Sals' 65-51 win in a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Thursday, March 7, 2024.
13. Blair Thomas, sr., St. Georges
Middletown's Clyde Frasier (left) and St. Georges' Blair Thomas fight for a rebound in Middletown's 60-40 win at St. Georges, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
12. Emmanuel Vonhm, sr., William Penn
William Penn senior Emmanuel Vonhm (13) moves for a loose ball against Appoquinimink junior Daniel Harvey (3) during the boys basketball game at the William Penn gym in New Castle, Monday, Feb.19, 2024. William Penn won 63-58.
11. Aviyon Matthews, sr., Middletown
Middletown senior Aviyon Matthews (1) throws a pass as Howard senior Robert Kelly (0) defends during the boys basketball game at the Middletown gym, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. Howard won 69-64.
10. Alassan N’Diaye, so., Saint Mark’s
Saint Mark's Alassan N'Diaye shoots over Delaware Military's (from left) Nathan Golden, Gabriel Swift and Jaxon Lennon in Saint Mark's 67-54 win in the SL24 Memorial Classic at the Chase Fieldhouse, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.
9. Julius Wright, sr., St. Elizabeth
Salesianum's Isaiah Hynson shoots in front of St. Elizabeth's Julius Wright in the first half of the Sals' 65-51 win in a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Thursday, March 7, 2024.
8. Zion Mifflin, sr., Middletown
Middletown's Zion Mifflin goes to the basket against Dover's JayVion Denis in the first half of a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Thursday, March 7, 2024.
7. Jayden Taylor, jr., Sanford
Sanford's Jayden Taylor (11) snags a rebound in front of teammate Khareem Hart in the first half of Sanford's 58-51 win at the St. E Center, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
6. Jaylin Horsey, sr., William Penn
William Penn senior Jaylin Horsey (3) dribbles against Howard senior Rahsaan Matthews, Jr. (2) during the second-round game in the DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament at the William Penn gym in New Castle, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Howard won 54-45.
5. Isaiah Hynson, sr., Salesianum
St. Elizabeth's Steven Nixon (left) tries to stop Salesianum's Isaiah Hynson in the first half of the Sals' 65-51 win in a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Thursday, March 7, 2024.
4. Kareem Thomas, sr., Salesianum
Salesianum's Kareem Thomas lines up a three-pointer in the first half of the Sals' 65-51 win in a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Thursday, March 7, 2024.
3. Denim Perkins, sr., Dover
Salesinaum's Isaiah Hynson (left) and Zach Swartout pressure Dover's Denim Perkins in the first half of the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.
2. Dorell Little, sr., Dover
Dover's Dorell Little moves to the basket against Middletown's Eric Mathenge (left) and Aviyon Matthews in the first half of a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Thursday, March 7, 2024.
1. Aiden Tobiason, sr., St. Elizabeth
St. Elizabeth's Aiden Tobiason (left) and Salesianum's Justin Hinds clash in the first half of the Sals' 65-51 win in a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Thursday, March 7, 2024.
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