St. Thomas More men have star power

Montville - He's coached some elite guards during his 34 seasons at St. Thomas More, but even Jere Quinn admits this year's collection is unique.

"We've got two point guards and four (number) two guards, and all six are Division I players," Quinn was saying late Saturday afternoon after his Chancellors had disposed of Maine Central Institute 83-62 to win the annual Founder's Tournament. "They're all good off the dribble, plus they offer the perfect complement with the kids that make shots."

The star on Saturday was A.J. English, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Appoquinimink High School in Middletown, Del. He scored 26 points and added eight rebounds for the Chancellors (17-3), who led 51-35 at halftime, spotted MCI a quick basket to start the second half, and then went on an 8-0 run (English scored four of those points) to open a 59-37 lead that would never get below 18 again.

"What's so great is that one through 11, everybody's interchangeable on this team," said English, who had 28 points and six rebounds a night earlier in T-More's opening-round victory over Bridgton Academy. "If somebody's having a bad game, there's always somebody there to pick the other guy up and eventually he gets going too."

Quinn starts four guards around 7-2 Chier Ajou, an improving big men from Sudan who had 13 points and seven rebounds against MCI, even stepping out to nail a couple of 16-footers.

English, 6-1 point guard Curtis Jones (Chicago), 6-3 Ky Howard (Philadelphia) and 6-4 Rodney Sanders (Linden, N.J.) drew starting nods against MCI, although 6-1 point guard Barrington Stevens (Allen, Tex.) and 6-3 shooting guard Torin Childs-Harris of New London also played quality minutes.

Sanders had 15 points, six rebounds a four assists Saturday to pick up Childs-Harris, who scored 20 points on Friday night, but struggled with his jumper Saturday and was limited to four points.

"I've always had a lot of success with guards," Quinn said. "I was a point guard myself, so I've always been comfortable coaching guards."

The two point guards have already committed to Division I schools, Jones to Manhattan and Stevens to South Alabama.

But if you think the others are worried about their futures, think again.

"I don't even know which schools are recruiting me," English said. "Coach Quinn takes care of all that. All I'm worried about right now is going to school, doing a good job in class, and playing basketball."

Quinn agreed, saying his other kids won't make decisions until the spring signing period anyway.

"You only need one nice scholarship," he said. "It just has to be at the right place, and these kids are all going to end up at very good schools."

c.banning@theday.com