By Zach Smart
Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens was once a nationally reputable heavy hitter.
The program churned out first rate NYC talent during the illustrious heyday of the late and legendary Jack Curran.
Slick, left handed point guard Kenny Anderson was a transcendent playmaker during Curran’s time at the helm.
Under a monstrous microscope in the city and gaining national notoriety as a teenager, Anderson helped architect New York’s then-reputation as a city synonymous with dazzling, gritty point guards.
Kenny Smith, Brian Winters, and Kevin Joyce, among others, were noble notables who thrived under Curran during an era of prosperity at the athletically enriched school.
Also the head baseball coach at Molloy, Curran was instrumental in the development of numerous high caliber players, including former New York Mets outfielder Mike Baxter.
Since Curran’s passing at age 82 in 2013, replicating the prominence of his unparalleled era of prosperity hasn’t been as simple.
Molloy’s notoriety as a guard factory was prolonged to an extent with Russ Smith (Louisville) and current NBA guard Cole Anthony.
A 7-foot-2, 245-pound behemoth Center in Moses Brown, who is currently with the Los Angeles Clippers, also came out of Molloy.
There’s been flashes of the eminence Molloy once possessed as a traditional hotbed.
Still, sustainable success and an upper hand on the hyper competitive, pressure spiked environment that is New York’s vaunted CHSAA conference has been hard to come by.
This season, Molloy will tap into a fountain of youth while simultaneously returning a foundational core.
At 6-foot-4, rising senior Jayden James brings a high scoring mentality.
The athletic, hard attacking wing will shoulder the onus of focal point.
An above rim finisher with a pull up game and crafty finishes on his through-traffic surges to the rim, James brings a critical veteran presence which teammates tend to eat off.
Senior Cuba Kwalina is primed for a bigger role as an off the ball scorer.
A catch and stick threat with a knack for corner 3-pointers, Kwalina is a kickout trigger man with range.
Kwalina has displayed spurt-ability to trigger scoring runs. This was evident during a 19-point (5-for-7 3FG) performance against Xavierian last year.
The program also has depth with another double digit scorer in 6-foot-4 Emmanuel Ikioda, a hard driving and well built senior guard.
The frontline returns 6-foot-8 Jahmere Brewer, a hustle heavy forward who is an active presence on the glass. Brewer is a traditional big and is also a sufficient rim protector with his length and instinctive, bruising style.
Eli Small, who is coming off an injury which shelved him during a significant stretch of the season, brings size and versatility as a 6-foot-8 guard/wing with a reliable outside stroke. Small currently holds offers from Texas A & M, St. Bonaventure, St. Francis Brooklyn, and Robert Morris.
“With the returning players we have, who played a lot last year, and also some exciting new talent coming into the building, I think we have a great chance to compete with the best teams in the CHSAA,” said head coach Mike McCleary.
Of course, that arduous CHSAA schedule intensifies this season, making for a hothouse environment. Christ The King has added to a lineup teeming with talent with incoming transfers in 6-foot-7 Brandon Gardner (who has committed to St. John’s University) and 6-foot-10 high major target Qin Pang Fang.
Stepinac returns a proven young core with five star recruit and electrifying Class of 2024 point guard Boogie Fland. Reigning CHSAA champion Cardinal Hayes restocks a wealth of talent with 6-foot-5 five star guard Ian Jackson and a deadeye shooter and all around scoring threat in 6-foot-5 2024 prospect Elijah Moore.
Tapping into the local grassroots market has bolstered Molloy’s overall roster.
The transition to the youth movement begins with a prodigious young point guard in Sincere Folk.
As a cerebral passer who can deliver darts with either hand, Folk has been on McCleary’s radar since he was a smurf-sized nine-year-old possessing a prodigal, advanced skill set.
Folk attacks the transition game, triggers an uptempo attack, and has solidified his status as a three level scoring piece with a toolset complete with corner 3-pointers, mid range pull ups, and a first step.
He enters high school as an intriguing young offensive tone setter, one emblematic of this sudden injection of new blood. Conventional wisdom indicates that the staff will take the training wheels off Folk from the very beginning.
Another neophyte, 6-foot-5 Joshua Powell, will add scoring depth.
A three level Class of 2026 scoring threat, Powell has a tremendous feel for the game. His awareness in picking his spots and shot creation are beyond his time.
He’s a rugged two way piece with his tenacious on ball defense and versatility in that department as well.
“We’re going to be able a round out a solid rotation that’s going to be able to keep us in any game against anyone in the city,” Molloy assistant John Magna.
“We’re looking to make some noise this year.”
