High School Sports with Justin Rodriguez

It was a family affair at New Paltz last season. Brothers Darryl (running back) and Kason (linebacker) Clark played alongside cousin Khariff LaBoy, helping New Paltz to the Section 9 Class B championship.

Well, the family just got bigger. James Scott, the Clarks’ brother, will play for New Paltz this fall. He transferred in from North County (Md.) High over the summer. North County is the equivalent size of a Class AA school.

Scott, who is 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, will likely play linebacker for New Paltz. He could also play safety. According to Scott’s father, Darryl Clark Sr., Scott runs a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash.

“It’s great to have James, we are all going to just click,” said Darryl Clark, who rushed for 850 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. “He’s very good and he’s a hard worker. I think him and Kason are going to have a little competition. It’s going to be a crazy defense.”

Imagine smooth Middletown point guard Kendrick Ray threading passes to 6-foot-5 forward Jonte Rutty next season. It could happen.

Rutty, known for his signature dreadlocks and big inside game, said Wednesday he is transferring from Newburgh Free Academy to rival Middletown. Rutty said his mother, Mary Ann, wanted him to move to Middletown to live with his godmother, Linda Broaddus. Mary Ann Rutty was out of town on Wednesday and couldn’t be reached for comment.

Jonte Rutty will likely have to be cleared to play at Middletown by Section 9’s eligibility committee. Fred Ahart, chairman of the five-person committee, said he can’t comment on individual cases.

“My mom just thinks Middletown is best for me right now, she thinks it’s a better place,” said Rutty, who averaged eight points and seven rebounds for the Section 9 Class AA champion Goldbacks last season. “She wants me to go to college. Middletown gets kids into college.”

Read more about Rutty’s big move in Thursday’s edition of the Times Herald-Record and online at Varsity845.com

Editor’s note: Follow Justin Rodriguez on Twitter at justinrod845

Every one of Middletown point guard Kendrick Ray’s jump shots seemingly hit the net and he scored countless baskets with smooth drives to the basket.

He was on Monday night at a Hoop Group Elite Camp showcase at Albright College in Harrisburg, Pa. For his show, Ray was named one of the top 20 players at the event, which attracted about 300 recruits players from across the country.

He always walked out the gym with a full athletic scholarship offer from Division I Quinnipiac. Quinnipiac has been recruiting Ray and he will make an unofficial visit to the Northeast Conference school on Thursday. A contingent of top 25 coaches converge on Hoop Group events all summer.

“That was definitely one of my best tournament all summer,” said Ray, a Varsity845 first-team all-star last season, who averaged 16.3 points, six assists and two steals. “I was just focused. I think I was a little excited to get the offer, a little surprised. It just shows that all my hard work is paying off.”

Read more about Ray in Tuesday’s edition of the Times Herald-Record online and in print and on Varsity845.com.

Shamari Brodhead kingston
Sianna VanDyke- Kingston
Jenna Wood Cornwall
Morgan McDonald- Cornwall
Olivia Baum- Liberty
Sheryl Pinder Fallsburg
Alex Nouri- Tuxedo
Alex Gundermann- Tuxedo
Emma Weiss-Goshen
DJ Presutti- Burke Catholic
Annie Walker- Burke Catholic
Nicole Episalla- Burke Catholic

BCANY SUMMER HOOPS FESTIVAL
MID-HUDSON BOYS’ TEAM
Head Coach: Rob Gravelle (S.S. Seward)
Assistant Coaches: Matt Donaldson (Washingtonville), Sal Mineo (S.S. Seward), Mike Salvia (Liberty)

PLAYER SCHOOL YEAR HT WT COACH

Anthony Bailey S.S. Seward Sr. 6’2” 190 Gravelle

Eddie Byrd Liberty Sr. 5’9” 150 Salvia

Brandon Guest Washingtonville Sr. 6’1” 180 Rose

Albert Hall Warwick Sr. 6’5” 225 Folino

Aaron Ray Middletown Fr. 6’1” 175 Kelly

Kendrick Ray Middletown Jr. 6’1” 170 Kelly

Rob Riley Monticello Sr. 6’3” 195 Russo

Justin Robinson Kingston Jr. 5’6” 150 Kelder

Michael Robinson Fallsburg Sr. 6’3” 195 Dworetsky

Garret Roeber Minisink Valley Sr. 5’11” 170 Osczepinski

Jonte Rutty Newburgh Sr. 6’5” 215 Dinnocenzio

Jarrod Scurlock Newburgh Sr. 5’11” 175 Dinnocenzio

Jack Mager was appointed as NFA’s athletic director at a school board meeting Tuesday night.
Mager, 55, takes over Newburgh as the school district’s investigation into preferential treatment of NFA boys’ basketball players and their poor graduation rate over the past two years reaches its fourth month.
“I’m really happy to be an administrator again,” said Mager, a physical education teacher in the district at Vails Gate High Tech Magnet School for the last 10 years, who has coached cross country and track at Newburgh. “There was controversy at Sullivan when I got there, so I haven’t lived a sheltered life. I’m ready to pay back the district for giving me this opportunity.”
Mager replaces Chris Townsend as NFA’s athletic director on Sept. 1. Townsend, who held the position for 11 years, is retiring in August.

Read more about Mager in tomorrow’s editions of the Times Herald-Record and varsity845.com…..Follow Justin Rodriguez on Twitter at justinrod845

Tyree Smallwood’s arrival to Syracuse has been delayed due to grades, but the former Cornwall star running back hopes to be on campus and part of the team this fall.
Smallwood, who earned a full athletic scholarship from Syracuse, recently learned that he didn’t meet NCAA clearinghouse requirements to enroll at the Big East school. The sticking point, Smallwood said, is his math grade. According to Smallwood, he scored a 70 in math as a senior, and needs to raise it up to a 90 to qualify. He is taking math in summer school, which concludes on July 28th.
Smallwood plans on heading off to Syracuse a week later. Read more about Smallwood in Tuesday’s editions of the Times Herald-Record and online at varsity845.com.

Follow Justin Rodriguez on Twitter at justinrod845

Monticello’s football team could be without its best player, quarterback Shane Jackson, this fall.
Jackson, entering his junior season, said he might not play because of a “situation” between him and Monticello coach Matt Buddenhagen. The player declined to elaborate what the issue was with Buddenhagen.
“As of right now, I’m not playing,” said Jackson, a Varsity845 first-team all-star last season. “I’d say it’s 50-50 that I play for Monticello. The situation is just between me and coach, it’s something that started midway through last season and continued on. But I won’t put it out there. I have talked to (Buddenhagen) about playing, but we haven’t spoken in about two months. So I don’t know what will happen.”

Read more about Jackson in Monday’s edition of the Times Herald-Record and online at varsity845.com and th-record.com.

Follow Justin Rodriguez on Twitter at justinrod845 for Section 9 football breaking news, info and commentary

It’s never to early to start the Varsity845 football preview. We are putting together a blowout package (run date to follow) and I have begun to contact coaches and players.

Of course, news and other info will come out of those conversations, and guess where you can find it all? Right here and on my Twitter page (justinrod845). On Twitter, I will be providing daily updates and tidbits.

Check it out and follow me on Twitter. Hope you are all having great summer – Justin

Class AA
Second team: Valley Central junior SS Maggie Cocks. Fourth team: Kingston senior OF Ariana Darcy. Fifth team: Valley Central senior 1B Danielle Bitts.
Class A
First team: Port Jervis senior SS Amber Butenhoff. Second team: Marlboro junior SS Emily McDonough. Fourth team: Port Jervis senior P Sammy Jo Muller. Fifth team: Cornwall sophomore P Alyssa Bua.
Class B
First team: Rhinebeck senior P Megan Michie; Rhinebeck senior OF Paige Albano. Third team: Rhinebeck junior SS Karen Kirker.
Class C
First team: Chester senior C Danielle Gomez. Third team: Millbrook senior P Megan Revay. Fourth team: Chester senior SS Cristie Hipsman.
Class D
Player of the year: Marissa Diescher, Livingston Manor
First team: Livingston Manor senior P Marissa Diescher; Livingston Manor senior C Victoria Taggart; Livingston Manor senior OF Samantha Scott.