By JOSH NEWMAN
Our Savior New American star forward Cheick Diallo and Trenton Catholic standout guard Malachi Richardson were named Gatorade Players of the Year for New York and New Jersey, respectively, on Friday morning.
For Diallo, who is an uncommitted and a consensus top-7 recruit nationally, this his second Gatorade POY honor. As a senior at the Long Island school, he averaged 17.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks for the 22-12 Pioneers. Diallo is Kentucky, Kansas, Iowa State, St. John’s and Pittsburgh and will commit in the spring.
A 6-foot-6 shooting guard bound for Syracuse, Richardson averaged 18.7 points for the Iron Mikes, who advanced to the NJSIAA Non-Public South B final, where it lost to eventual-Non-Public B champion Roselle Catholic, 72-67 on March 11.
Both Diallo and Richardson will play in the McDonald’s All-American Game on April 1 at the United Center in Chicago and the Jordan Brand Classic on April 17 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
