This is the first PSAL poll of the season. So far the season has started off with few surprises. FDA has the top spot because they are playing with a great amount of confidence. They already have a big win this season, easily beating Bishop Loughlin. They return all their key players from last year and are deserving of the top spot.

Lincoln finally has Kevin White Jr. in uniform. He will make the team a better team. Even with Sebastian Telfair going to the NBA, Lincoln has a great chance of winning an unprecedented 4^th straight PSAL title. It isn’t surprising because Tiny Morton is one of the best coaches in the city.

Game of the week: Robeson and Midwood will play this week for the Brooklyn III-A league lead. Both teams are undefeated going into the week, but each has to play a game before the showdown on Friday. Both teams are 4-0.

Player of the week: Even though he didn’t do it last week, it is Amaury Fermin from Kennedy. He had back-to-back 40-point games. Since this is our first poll of the season, we’ve got to give it to him. It’s very impressive when you score 40 points in a 32-minute game.

Honorable Mention (from unranked team): Paul Scotland from Urban Peace has averaged 24 points a game in league play this season. Urban Peace is 3-0 and has a big game against Wadleigh.

The Top 10 takes into account the teams overall record, but PSAL games weigh more heavily than non-league games. Of course, big victories over good teams are important also. Plus a bad loss to anyone will drop the team down or even out of the rankings. This list gives everyone an idea of who are the city’s best PSAL teams. The team record (in parenthesis) are LEAGUE RECORDS ONLY, not the team’s overall record.

If there is a team you think has been overlooked, send an e-mail and let us know. If it’s a team that hasn’t gotten a lot of publicity, we will try and get a look at that team and consider them for the PSAL rankings. Also, if you have any comments, you can send them to ravirozier@nyhoops.com.

1. FDA (2-0) – Talented team made up of seniors. Experienced group includes Corey Lyons and Stephen McKoy Jr. Should win easily against Thurgood Marshall and George Washington.
2. Banneker (4-0) – Anthony Stukes is eligible this season and playing with confidence. Transfer Mike Davis gives them a strong inside presence. Team excels on defense as always. Grand Street and Erasmus up next.
3. Lincoln (4-0) – Grady transfer Kevin White Jr. steps in as the new point guard. White one of the best point guards in the city. Jamel Jackson is a capable scorer. Still missing Nyan Boateng. Sheepshead Bay and Telecommunication are Railsplitters next opponents.
4. Cardozo (4-0) – Vic Morris is a candidate for all-city. Nationally recruited 6’10 center Theo Davis is ineligible, so the Judges don’t have any size. Transfer heavy team has to learn to play with each other. Bad loss against CHSAA power Rice. They only scored 39 points. Should rebound against Hillcrest and a good Jamaica team.
5. Wings (2-0) – Bigger than last year, so they will be able to compete with the elite teams. Andre Tarver and Rasheem Jenkins are one of the best guard combos in the PSAL. Team is deep and filled with shooters. Wings plays Stevenson and Truman this week.
6. Kennedy (5-0) – Deep athletic team who are making a rebound after a sub-par season last year. Amaury Fermin was tremendous this early season, with two 40-point games and a triple-double in another. High scoring Knights play Bronx Science and have a rematch with Clinton, who they beat handily last week.
7. Grady (5-0) – Kevin White Jr. transferred this season to rival Lincoln. Derek Echols tried to transfer too, but was denied and stayed at Grady. Now Echols is ineligible, but Saiquon Kirkland returned to the Falcons. Still one of the best teams in the PSAL. New Utrecht visits Grady this week.
8. Robeson (4-0) –Malcolm Grant is one of the city’s best players. Grant hit the game winning shot against South Shore last week. Tough match-ups with Canarsie and Midwood. Midwood is only other undefeated team in Brooklyn III-A.
9. Manhattan Center (4-0) - Joe Edwards and John Pressley can both light it up. Darren Townes is an active big man and the Rams are a tough squad this year. Games against undefeated Bergtraum and Norman Thomas
10. Wadleigh (4-0)- Tigers have a new coach but still score tons of points. Jarrell Mills will add a potent scoring option to a team that can already put the ball in the basket. Dominique Jones and Christopher Noel are vets. Big game against Urban Peace on Friday.