CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - After starting 1–5 last season, John Jay turned things around and captured the league championship. But in high school sports, success is fleeting, and heavy turnover might suggest the Wolves are headed for a step back. Coach Tyler Sayre doesn’t see it that way.
“No one really has varsity experience, but we still have a lot of talented kids,” he said.
Sayre is confident in his guards: Will Green, Jake Knopke and Seth Denker are expected to contribute offensively, while Jacob Gottesfeld will anchor the defense. “They just have to put it together,” he noted.
In the frontcourt, Sayre finally has size to work with. “Alex Palacio and Owen Gitelson — this is the first year I’ve had true big guys who play strong and physical around the rim,” he said.
Both players stand about 6-foot-5 and spent the offseason developing their game. Sayre believes the work will show. “They’re both guys who will finish around the rim.”
Joining them are Marc Fein, Patrick Ryan, Nate Summers, Charlie Sanz and Braydon Gates — a group Sayre calls “wings” more than forwards. “These guys play around the perimeter,” he explained.
As for a spark off the bench, Dion Prelvukaj stands out. “He’s the tallest, longest player on the team,” Sayre said. “A really talented kid who can come in and score. He could play an important bench role.”
With preseason still unfolding, Sayre is evaluating how the pieces fit. “We’re still trying to figure out what our rotation is going to look like,” he said.
But uncertainty isn’t a concern — nor is a difficult schedule. As always, the Wolves are focused on the long view. “Our goal is to become a finished product by the end of the season,” Sayre said.
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