BY JEREMY FUCHS
NEW YORK — Ray Salnave, the 2016 guard from Cardozo High School in Queens, has already received offers from some pretty good programs like Seton Hall, Rutgers, Dayton, St. John’s and DePaul.
But his play of late has attracted attention from some really big-time programs.
“He’s a high-major [player],” coach Ron Naclerio said. Salnave noted that West Virginia, Indiana and Georgia Tech have been making calls on the junior guard lately.
On Friday at the SNY Invitational, Salnave scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Cardozo beat Long Island Lutheran, 61-50, in an overtime thriller at City College of New York.
Cardozo will play Wings Academy on Saturday at 4 p.m. for the championship. The consolation game between Long Island Lutheran and Cardinal Hayes will start at 2. Wings beat Hayes, 62-54, in the second game behind 29 points and 13 rebounds from Georgetown-bound big man Jessie Govan.
Devonte Green, the younger brother of San Antonio Spurs forward Danny Green, scored nine for Long Island Lutheran, while Marvin Prochet led the team with 12 points and nine rebounds in only 23 minutes of action.
A topsy-turvy game, Cardozo was settled by Salnave’s presence.
“The one great thing about Ray is he’s so unselfish,” Naclerio said. “Ray is a special player. He did something last game that when I say it, when you think of it, you very rarely see it. Ray picked up four charges in that game. He picked up one big one today. Four is a lot. Now he has 13 rebounds.”
Naclerio is talking about a charge that Salnave took with 17.6 seconds left in the fourth, the game tied and the ball in LuHi’s hands.
Salnave was the best player on the court, grabbing rebounds with authority, and confidently directing the offense.
“You gotta be all-around,” Salnave said. “Finding my way around the basket, getting rebounds.”
What was most impressive about Salnave’s game was his quick drive to the basket and his rebounding ability, impressive for a 6-2 guard.
“All the coaches have been telling me to help on the rebounds,” Salnave said.
Salnave is not the only talented player on the Cardozo team. Aaron Walker led all scorers with 19. Naclerio said that Walker needs to be getting more attention.
“If supposedly Ray is my Michael Jordan, [Walker] is certainly my Scottie Pippen.”
In overtime, Tareq Coburn scored eight of Cardozo’s 12 points, finishing with 12 on the night.
The junior guard received an offer from Drexel after the game.
“I didn’t realize how good he was,” Naclerio said. “He fits right in. He’s a Cardozo type kid.
Cardozo, last year’s PSAL champion, has the talent to perhaps pull it off again. Led by Salnave, they will be in contention.
“He has a will not to lose,” Naclerio said of Salnave. “He’s not about me, he’s about we.”
http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=37167999&topic_id=6479520
Cardozo will take on Wings Academy Saturday in the championship of the SNY Invitational, after the Bronx school beat Hayes.
Smooth in the post, Govan looks like he could be the next great Georgetown big man. Cardinal Hayes simply had no answer. Desure Buie, who is headed to Hofstra next year, scored 13 for Wings. Baron Goodridge led Cardinal Hayes with 19 points.
“We’re going to do what we do,” Wings Academy coach Billy Turange said. “We like to get out in transition. In the halfcourt set, we’re going to pound the ball inside.
Cardozo will have a tough time against the 6-foot-11 Govan, given that the tallest player for the Queens team is 6-foot-6. Wings has three players over 6-foot-7 and will likely dominate on the glass.
“I think [Govan is] just touching on how talented he really is,” Turnage said. “I think he picked the perfect school [in Georgetown].”
That said, Cardozo’s trio of Salnave, Walker and Coburn could turn it into a more up-and-down game, in the attempt to limit Govan’s touches.
Regardless, the final of the SNY Invitational will be must-watch action.
http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=37167997&topic_id=6479520
Photo Credit: Marc Levine
Photo Credit: Marc Levine
Photo Credit: Marc Levine
