By Russ Waterman
MaxPreps.com
Judging the talent level in eastern Massachusetts is a chore with so many high-caliber players, teams and coaches.
With that said, we gave it a shot, unveiling the first MaxPreps All-Eastern Regional boys and girls all-star teams. The selections are based primarily on player's offensive and defensive abilities, their respective teams' strength of schedule and level of competition, and the player's consistency of play through the regular season and extending into the playoffs.
First, second and third team team selections were made without regard to position or class. Also included in parentheses are players' college destinations. Many seniors are still undecided or weighing their options.
BOYS
First Team
Adrian Gonzalez, Central Catholic (Bentley College): The 6-5 forward was a formidable force for the Raiders, who captured their first Division 1 state title since 1999. Averaging 18 points and nine rebounds, the high-flying left-hander and co-MVP of the tough Merrimack Valley Conference concluded his high school career in imposing style with an unforgettable 28-point, 12 -rebound performance against St. John's to win the state title.
Jake O'Brien, Boston College High (Boston University): What a resume this 6-8 versatile Eagles' forward and 2008 Catholic Conference MVP compiled, leaving a three-year legacy that included this season's averages of 18 points and nine rebounds, as well as leading the program to such heights as a 2007 state championship, consecutive Division 1 South sectional titles and consistent Eastern Mass. rankings at or near the top.
Gerard Coleman, West Roxbury (Jr.): Averaging 27 points, six rebounds and four assists per game, the 6-3 guard and only junior on this elite squad is attracting lots of attention from several Division I colleges for his scoring prowess and for all-around court excellence, both interscholastically and on the BABC national championship AAU team.
Kyle Gerry, Brockton (Lee Academy): A speedy 5-10 guard who averaged 19 points per game, Gerry was the go-to guy for the Big Three Boxers, who were consistently ranked among the state's top five teams with one of the toughest schedules around while posting an 18-2 season in advancing to the Division 1 South finals.
Greg Hackett, Charlestown: The versatile and athletic 6-2 guard was a quadruple threat (18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 5.4 assists) in contributing to the Townies' 21-game win streak and its meteoric rise to the top of the EMass standings before narrow losses in the Boston City League championship and in overtime in the Division 1 North semifinals to Central Catholic, eventual state champion.
Second Team
Bill Marsden, Central Catholic (Jr.)
Matt Welch, Lowell (New Hampshire, football)
Julian Colarusso, Catholic Memorial (UMass, football)
Ryan O'Connell, St. John's Prep, Danvers (Bowdoin)
Evan Smotrycz, Reading (Jr.)
Third Team
Dartaye Ruffin, Stoughton (Jr.)
Wilfredo Pagan, Central Catholic
Brendan Monteiro, Catholic Memorial
Hanell Velez, Woburn (Jr.)
Fernando Perez, Lowell
Honorable Mention
Rodney Beldo, Scituate (So.)
Jarell Byrd, Lynn Classical (So.)
Jerome Cohen, Everett (Jr.)
Jerry Cohen, Bedford
Tom Deegan, Weymouth
Carson Desrosier, Central Catholic (So.)
Brian Emerson, Arlington (Williams)
Terrance Favors, Bedford
Chris Flores, O’Bryant
Greg Kelley, Newton North (So.)
Justin Mello, Dartmouth
Danny O'Keefe, Lexington
Paul Rose, North Cambridge Catholic
Tyler Patch, Seekonk
Ryan Sharry, Boston College High (Middlebury)
Kyle Stockmal, Watertown
Robert Wesley, Cambridge Rindge and Latin
Akeem Williams, Avon (Jr.)
GIRLS
First team
Kelly Meredith, Franklin (Assumption): For four years, the 5-10 Panthers forward, a four-time Hockomock League All-Star and two-time MVP, made a huge impact for her squad, which captured two
straight league titles and went 18-4 this year, leaning heavily on her contributions of 25 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Ashley Rivera, Lowell: There's not much more the 5-4 MVP point guard and four-time Merrimack Valley Conference member could have done (18.5, five assists and three steals per game) in orchestrating the 19-3 Red Raiders to the Division 1 North semifinal and a share of this year's MVC title.
Caroline Stewart, Masconomet (Boston University): The indomitable 6-foot senior forward and Cape Ann League Player of the Year averaged 17 ppg and 12 rebounds this year, had 1,329 points and 1,089 rebounds in her career and was the centerpiece of a Chieftains program that went 61-6 in her three years there.
Christine Duffy, Archbishop Williams: The contributions that this 5-6 point guard and Central Catholic Conference MVP made were way off the chart: 14.5 points, 8.5 assists and 6 steals per game, and was a major factor in sparking the 24-4 Bishops to their second straight Division 3 state title over Quaboag.
Mary Nwachukwu, Dighton-Rehoboth (Jr.): A 6-2 center-forward with exquisite all-around skills, Nwachukwu, despite constant double and even triple-teaming, has moved to the front and center of the major college recruiting pack after her state-leading averages of 30 points, 18 rebounds and six blocks per game in hoisting the Falcons to a 17-5 record.
Second team
Taryn Johnson, Brockton (Fairfield)
Courtney Finn, Winthrop (Jr.)
Jill Greenberg, Westwood (Williams)
Kathleen King, Framingham (Babson)
Meghan Thomann, Andover (Bentley)
Third Team
Amy Lepley, Bishop Feehan (Jr.)
Laura Renfro, Andover (Williams)
Cori O'Kane, Cardinal Spellman (Stonehill)
Sarah Wetmore, Lincoln Sudbury
Casey Capello, Archbishop Williams
Honorable Mention
Alex Fiola, Durfee (Southern Conn. State)
Erin Baldwin, Fairhaven (Southern New Hampshire)
Nicole Beresford, Marshfield (Fr.)
Shelly Depina, New Bedford (Bridgewater State)
Michelle DeRoma, Mount Alvernia (American International)
Stephanie Houtman, New Bedford (Bridgewater State College)
Mary Louise-Dixon, Wellesley (So.)
Val Driscoll, Archbishop Williams (So.)
Ellery Gould, Sandwich (Bowdoin)
Jill Greenberg, Westwood (Williams)
Morgan Kendrew, Barnstable (Brandeis)
Kathleen King, Framingham (Babson)
Renee Leblanc, (Westfield State)
Amy Lepley, junior guard, Bishop Feehan (Jr.)
Jaclyn Lyons, Reading (Jr.)
Renee LeBlanc, Waltham
Amanda McCarthy, Pope John
Jesse Miller, Wellesley (Jr.)
Lindsay Shorey, Ashland
Amber Smith, Ipswich (Jr.)
Caroline Stedman, Walpole
Lindsay Sydness, Wellesley
Emily Trapp, Whitman-Hanson
Sarah Wetmore, Lincoln-Sudbury
Katie Zenevitch, Central Catholic (So.)
Russ Waterman covers Massachusetts, Rhode Island the New England Preps for MaxPreps.com. He may be reached at rwatchoop3@aol.com.
