Sledge, Blackman Take All-State Honors

The boys basketball team had a few doubters entering the 2011 season. 

It had lost the state's player of the year, Tobias Harris, who is now projected as a first round NBA draft pick if he decides to remain in the draft come Sunday's deadline. 

Harris was a huge loss, but the Colts had plenty of firepower left this season, making a run to state championship once again, before falling in the semifinals. 

The two players most responsible for taking the Colts back to Albany--Tavon Sledge and Emile Blackman--were recently named all-state by the New York State Sportswriters Association. 

"Both players are well deserving of this honor due to their teamwork and dedication to our program," Hills West coach Bill Mitaritonna told Patch of Sledge and Blackman.

Sledge, a 5-foot-9 guard headed to Iowa State in fall, was named all-state first team. He was named to the all-state third team last year. Sledge averaged 25.9 points this year, with his biggest perfomance coming in the Class AA Long Island championship game, where he 46 points in a double-overtime win over Elmont.

Blackman, a 6-foot-4 junior, was named all-state third team. The forward averaged 16.3 points this year. Blackman had 25 points and 11 rebounds in the against Mt. Vernon. 

"They are wonderful basketball players who should be congratulated for putting their team first instead of individual achievements," Mitaritonna said of his dynamic duo. "That is the reason why we went to the state championship for the second year in a row."

With Blackman on his way back for another year, Albany may very well become a familiar destination for the Colts.