NEW YORK — If you didn’t know about Ray Salnave before last weekend, you should by now.
The 6-foot-1 Cardozo guard put up 20 points against Bob Hurley’s St. Anthony defense in the SNY Invitational, a game the Friars ended up pulling out, 67-61, before losing to Bishop Loughlin in Saturday’s championship game.
Cardozo ended up winning the consolation game, 76-52, over St. Mary’s of Long Island.
A bouncy guard who can get in the lane, finish at the rim and hit the long-ball, Salnave may well be the best sophomore in New York City.
“If he really works on his strengths and weaknesses, he has a chance to be the face of the PSAL the next two years,” longtime Cardozo coach Ron Naclerio told SNY.tv.
Averaging more than 19 points a game, Salnave holds offers from Fordham and Manhattan, and Fordham associate head coach David Duke was at CCNY on Friday to watch him.
“Fordham, I’ve been there a couple of times, seen a couple of games, I like the way they play,” Salnave said. “Their guard play is really good. They get it down low to their big men, they play really good.”
Manhattan assistant Rasheen Davis watched Salnave on Saturday, but he has yet to visit the campus.
“Manhattan offered but I haven’t seen anything from Manhattan,” he said.
As for whether he prefers to go away or stay local for college, Salnave said, “Whatever has it’s best interests for me.”
In the meantime, he has several more years to grow and develop his game and intrigue still more college coaches.
“I don’t think people realize how good he is and how good he can be,” Naclerio said.
Photo: Marc Levine
