I was bascially talking about high school player moving on to prep school and schools in other state.
You could create an all-city team with this list:
LeBrent Walker of Bayside is at Montrose Christian School (Rockville, Md.).
Jevon Thomas of Thomas Edison is at Our Savior New American (Centerreach, L.I.).
Jose Rodriguez and Joey Delarosa of St. Raymond’s are at Impact Basketball Academy and attend Trinity International in Las Vegas; Harold McBride is at Impact Academy in Jacksonville, Fla.
Angel Nunez of Cardinal Hayes is at the Winchendon School (Mass.).
Dashaun Wiggins of Wings Academy is at Bridgton Academy (Maine) and former teammate MIke Buffalo is at the South Kent School (Conn.)
Another year goes by with more talented kids leaving the city, further diluting the talent pool.
This isn’t a pattern anymore.
It’s a fact.
The year before, Doron Lamb left Bishop Loughlin for Oak Hill Academy (Va.) and Omari Lawrence and Kevin Parrom – two more St. Ray’s kids – headed to South Kent. Ashton Pankey (Archbishop Molloy) and Devon Collier (All Hallows) headed for St. Anthony of Jersey City, N.J.
Why is this happening?
There is no clear answer. Some kids leave to improve their academic standing, others jet to play a national schedule, to be seen by more colleges coaches. There are those who can’t deal with the distractions of girls and friends and overbearing parents.
Prep school offers a way out for these kids, a structured environment where they have no choice but to hit the books, religiously work out, and become a gym rat. Living on their own, they get used to college life before it even begins.
The allure of winning a city title and being named all-city hasn’t lost its luster, St. Benedict’s (N.J.) junior and Queens native Mike Poole said. But for everyone beyond the obvious blue-chip talents, it’s different.
“If I was promised that, I would stay,†he said. “But nothing’s promised.â€
Is it a sign of immaturity? Some say so.
Kemba Walker, a former Rice standout who helped Connecticut make the Final Four as a freshman, said he noticed those leaving prep school were lacking discipline and patience. Kids unwilling to wait their turn at an established power, and instead seeking immediate gratification and starters minutes.
“Nobody,†Walker said, “wants to wait.â€
New Heights athletic director Kimani Young, who sent Collier and Pankey to St. Anthony, but also was involved in forward Jayvaughn Pinkston remaining at Bishop Loughlin, agreed that as many kids leave for the wrong reasons as the right ones.
He went on to say local coaches, AAU and high school, need to look in the mirror, to see what is lacking locally that is making kids leave so frequently. Pankey, a 6-foot-8 big man receiving significant interest, praised the coaching of legend Bob Hurley. That he failed to mention any city coaches spoke volumes.
Each route works. Walker got to UConn via Rice, Durand Scott, another former Rice star, is a freshman at Miami. Lance Stephenson is at Cincinnati. Lawrence and Parrom are both playing Division I basketball, at St. John’s and Arizona, respectively. Collier and Pankey have plenty of choices.
Nevertheless, the trend is weakening the local landscape.
The defections this year alone will lower the level of play.
LeBrent Walker enjoyed a solid freshman year at Bayside, averaging 18 points per game, and could’ve raised that program to at least contender status in Queens AA. Jevon Thomas of Thomas Edison shined as a pass-first point guard in limited time due to academic ineligibility.
St. Ray’s was poised to challenge for a city title before Rodriguez, Delarosa, and McBride left. The Ravens are still formidable, just not as dangerous. Wings will not be the same without Wiggins, one of the best guards in the PSAL, and the 6-foot-7 Nunez of Cardinal Hayes would be one of the top swingmen in the city had he stayed.
“It’s definitely hurting,†Kemba Walker said. “The competition is lessened.â€
zbraziller@nypost.com