By Jay Skurski
Jonny Flynn has earned the respect of the basketball world.
He’s Mr. New York State Basketball. He’s set to play in the McDonald’s All-American game. He’s represented his country on the under-18 national team.
It may seem, then, like repeating as the Niagara Gazette boys basketball Player of the Year wouldn’t matter to him, but then you wouldn’t know Flynn at all.
“There’s nothing like getting love from the place you came from,” he said.
There’s plenty of love for Flynn throughout the Cataract City. He sees it at the grocery store, when strangers stop to wish him the best. He recognizes it from his coaching staff.
“It’s a great honor to have a player like Jonny on your team, especially in your first year,” Wolverines rookie coach Giulio Colangelo said.
Most of all, though, Flynn feels the love from parents and children. It might seem strange that an 18-year-old high school senior can be a role model, but that’s exactly what Flynn is.
“That’s the biggest honor of all,” he said.
Flynn’s name will go down alongside those of Paul Harris, Tim Winn and Carlos Bradberry as local legends. His senior season didn’t end the way he had hoped, as the Wolverines were upset in the Section VI Class AA title game by Sweet Home. But that defeat will do little to damper an otherwise spectacular career.
Flynn averaged 26.7 points, six assists and three steals as a senior. He was a member of the 2005 team that won the state and federation titles, and led the Wolverines back to the state title game in 2006 when it was thought they couldn’t get that far.
Flynn is set to play at Syracuse next season, once again teaming with Harris.
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An all-time leading scorer. Two of the best two-sport athletes in the area ... who happened to play on the same team. A guard who brings his best in big games and will be back next year. Oh, and Mr. New York State Basketball. Obviously, these guys are ...
BLUE CHIPPERS
Domonic Cook
• SCHOOL: St. Joe’s
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Guard
• HEIGHT: 5-foot-9
• COLLEGE: University at Buffalo
• STATS: 16.0 points per game, 7.2 assists per game, 3.0 steals per game
• THE DEAL: The engine that kept the Marauders moving, Cook is a lightning-quick point guard who can get to the basket and plays intense defense ... Leadership abilities are as impressive as his stats ... Will attend UB on a football scholarship.
John Greer
• SCHOOL: St. Joe’s
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Forward
• HEIGHT: 6-foot-2
• COLLEGE: New Hampshire
• STATS: 17.1 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, 2.4 steals per game
• THE DEAL: A clutch shooter who plays like a coach on the floor for the Marauders, Greer consistently hit big 3-pointers or completed tough layups ... Scored in double figures in all but two games this past season ... Will attend New Hampshire for football.
Jonny Flynn
• SCHOOL: Niagara Falls
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Guard
• HEIGHT: 6-foot-0
• COLLEGE: Syracuse
• STATS: 26.7 points per game, 6.0 assists per game, 3.0 steals per game
• THE DEAL: A unanimous choice for the first team if there ever was one, Flynn is one of the greatest players to ever come out of Niagara Falls ... Will team with fellow Wolverines alum Paul Harris on the Orange next season.
Rahshon Tabb
• SCHOOL: Niagara Falls
• GRADE: Junior
• POSITION: Guard
• HEIGHT: 6-foot-2
• COLLEGE: Undecided. Considering Duquense, Providence, Niagara and Canisius
• STATS: 16.0 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 3.0 assists per game
• THE DEAL: One of the most clutch players in the area, Tabb brings his best when it matters most ... At 6-foot-2, he rebounds like a forward ... As the only underclassmen on the squad, Tabb will carry the torch as the Wolverines next star.
Shane Canahai
• SCHOOL: Starpoint
• GRADE: 12
• POSITION: Guard
• HEIGHT: 6-foot-3
• COLLEGE: Considering Alfred, D’Youville and Gannon
• STATS: 18.0 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game
• THE DEAL: Leaves Starpoint as the Spartans’ all-time leading scorer ... Put up some monster games at the end of the season, including 29 points in the sectionals ... Also led the team in assists and steals.
Second Team
Darryl King
• SCHOOL: Kenmore East
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Forward
• STATS: 15.6 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game, 50 percent field-goal percentage
Dyrell Dolson
• SCHOOL: Niagara Catholic
• GRADE: Junior
• POSITION: Center
• STATS: 18.5 points per game, 13.5 rebounds per game
Garrison Gross
• SCHOOL: Cardinal O’Hara
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Forward
• STATS: 23.1 points per game, 68 assists, 73 offensive rebounds
Rob Linhart
• SCHOOL: Newfane
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Guard
• STATS: 16.0 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game, 5.0 assists per game
A.J. Roberts
• SCHOOL: Niagara Catholic
• GRADE: Junior
• POSITION: Guard
• STATS: 15.5 points per game, 12.0 rebounds per game, 8.0 assists per game
Third Team
Dominic Fotia
• SCHOOL: Lockport
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Center
• STATS: 10.0 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game
Andrew Passage
• SCHOOL: St. Joe’s
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Guard
• STATS: 11.9 points per game, 2.8 assists per game, 38 percent 3-point shooter (40-of-106)
Mike Maritato
• SCHOOL: Kenmore West
• GRADE: Senior
• POSITION: Guard
• STATS: 13.1 points per game, 45 percent 3-point shooter (57-of-127)
Ethan Baker
• SCHOOL: Wilson
• GRADE: Freshman
• POSITION: Guard
• STATS: 13.2 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, 32 steals
Robby Seyler
• SCHOOL: Lew-Port
• GRADE: Sophomore
• POSITION: Guard
• STATS: 18.1 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game
honorable mention
Ray Paul — Barker
James Ewing — Cardinal O’Hara
Greg Feathers — Grand Island
Anthony Johnson — Kenmore East
Edvin Ramulic — Kenmore West
Dave LaChance — Lewiston-Porter
Derrick Herring — Lockport
Trey Sherrie — Newfane
Jeremiah Jones — Niagara Catholic
Kelvin Agee — Niagara Falls
Josh Gilmore — Niagara-Wheatfield
Aaron Davis — North Tonawanda
Devin Case — Royalton-Hartland
Amir Billups — Starpoint
Phil Scaffidi — St. Joe’s
Eric Davies — Tonawanda
Chris Johnson — Wilson
