After helping lead the English boys basketball team to its second consecutive Division 1 state championship this winter, Bulldogs star guard Jarnel Guzman has been named the Item Player of the Year for the 2019-2020 season.
Guzman, who was also this year’s Northeastern Conference MVP (he’s now a two-time winner), averaged over 25 points per game in his senior campaign at English. He averaged over 22 points per game during his high school career and scored over 1,000 career points. He recently committed to play basketball at the next level with Franklin Pierce University.
Five players have also been named to the All-Item team, with Joe Abate-Walsh (St. Mary’s), Ademide Badmus (English), Christian Correia (Saugus), Joangel Lugo (Peabody) and Clayton Marengi (Lynnfield) earning All-Item honors.
Abate-Walsh had a huge season as a senior for the Spartans, averaging a double-double en route to Catholic Central League Large MVP honors. He scored his 1,000th career point in a 29-point outburst on Senior Night and played a key role throughout the Spartans’ run to the Division 3 state semifinal.
Badmus was a force in the paint all season long during English’s championship run. He averaged an impressive 18 points and 14 rebounds in his junior season, earning All-NEC honors. He was also a defensive force inside, forcing tough shots and keeping opposing teams from getting any second opportunities.
Correia was the lynchpin for the Saugus boys basketball team in 2019-2020, pacing the offense and leading the team off the court as well. The multi-sport athlete also netted his 1,000th career point in 2020, exploding for a 43-point double-double in a win over Northeast back in February.
Lugo was Peabody’s leading scorer in 2019-2020, averaging 13 points, three assists and three steals per game at the point guard position. He topped the 20-point milestone four different times during the season, and his strong defensive abilities nearly helped the Tanners to an upset win over powerhouse Cambridge in the first round of the Division 1 tournament.
Marengi was a star on both the gridiron and the court for the Pioneers in 2019-2020, and he had plans to star on the baseball diamond as well before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside fellow all-star Jack Ford, Marengi — a senior captain — helped lead Lynnfield during a disappointing season that saw the Pioneers miss the postseason.
Also earning Item All-Star honors for the 2019-2020 season were Jack Rodriguez, Mason Jean-Baptiste and Jean-Baptiste Mukeba (English); Jeff Barbosa, Jeff Hill Jr. and Jayden Thornton (Classical); Lee Pacheco, Josh Perez and Sammy Batista (St. Mary’s); Adam Zamansky and Sean McCarthy (Marblehead); Myles Manalaysay (Saugus); Andrew Augustin and Oscar Hale (Swampscott); Tyler Joyce and Chioke Onwuogu (Peabody); Jack Ford (Lynnfield); Alex Gonzalez and Jason Romans (Bishop Fenwick); Bobby Jellison and Ethan Doyle (Salem); Aidan Callahan and Rollie Castineyra (St. John’s Prep).