The New York State version of March Madness is going on in Albany and there were a few highlights on Friday night.
**With Kentucky coach John Calipari sitting courtside, Christ the King senior guard Jon Severe went off for a career-high 40 points as the Royals beat Bishop Kearney 68-55 in the New York State Federation Class AA semifinals. The 6-foot-2 Severe went 12-of-18 from the field, 4-of-7 from 3-point range and 12-of-13 from the foul line, as MSGVarsity.com’s Dylan Butler reported.
Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello was reportedly upset that Severe did not win Gatorade New York Player of the Year honors, which instead went to UConn-bound big man Kentan Facey of Long Island Lutheran.
Facey was named the Gatorade winner on Thursday, while Severe became the first player in the storied history of Christ The King to claim Mr. New York Basketball late Saturday evening.
“I was annoyed he didn’t get Gatorade Player of the Year,” Arbitello told Butler. “I think he’s the best player in New York State. At this point you’re going to try to find anything that’s going to motivate your guys to play.”
Severe is set to cut his list tonight (Saturday) and is considering Rutgers, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, George Washington, Duquesne, Fordham and St. Bonaventure.
**Calipari is involved with Lincoln junior guard Isaiah Whitehead and also checked out Christ the King’s super-frosh, 6-4 Rawle Atkins (13 points). Whitehead went for 21 points, but Lincoln lost to LuHi 73-55.
**The UConn-bound Facey, meantime, had a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocks for LuHi, which will face Christ the King Saturday night for the Federation Class AA title. The Royals are seeking their third such crown.
