We’re unveiling the most extensive and only prep school poll of its kind and on the second day, we’re going to take a look at an up-and-coming group in Holderness School (N.H.).
While Jamie Gallagher hasn’t quite built a power in New Hampshire on the level of New Hampton or Brewster Academy, he has plenty of D-1 talent at his disposal this season.
Harlem, N.Y., native Greg Johnson (a.k.a. Playstation) is the floor general for Gallagher’s troops. The 5-10, 175-pound junior is getting big-time looks already and should be a Big East point guard when it’s all said and done.
Holderness went to the playoffs for the second straight season after posting an 18-5 mark a year ago. Behind Johnson and returning starter Ryon Howard, a 6-6, 220-pound senior wing from the Bronx, these guys should have a chance to improve on their preseason ranking of No. 29.
BU, Hofstra and Lehigh are just a few of the schools keeping tabs on Howard, who has already posted a 990 on the SAT.
``Every shot that goes up, he feels like he’s going to get it,” Gallagher said. “He rebounds very well and is a leader on and off the court.”
Three newcomers will likely round out the starting lineup. The most intriguing of the trio of 6-5, 180-pound junior swingman Martynas Pocius, a smart, athletic scorer who played on the Lithuanian Junior National Team.
Two more New York juniors should contribute right away as well. Gerald Carter, a 6-4, 180-pound combo who hails from Harlem will team with athletic Bronx native Derrell Bias, a 6-3, 185-pound hard-nosed forward.
The bench is where Holderness could be suspect. Senior Jason Lowe is a 6-4 senior wing from Bermuda who defends well and can shoot it, but he’s likely a D-3 player. Senior Freddie Hall is a 6-2 post player, also from Bermuda, who will be playing pro soccer someday. One guy who could surprise is 6-6 sophomore power forward Brian Howard, the younger brother of Ryon.