Thursday, October 1, 2026
Elmont entered its season as a quadruple champion last year, defending titles in Conference AA5, Nassau County, Long Island and State Class AA.
This year, it has shed much of that burden – repeating as AA5 champion last season, but falling in the semifinals to eventual Long Island champ Baldwin.
For a second straight autumn, Elmont returns just one starter – the honor this time going to senior Aiden Barnes (7.0 points per game), one of two remainders from the Spartans’ state-champion squad, along with junior Aaron Kelly (5.0 ppg), who joins Barnes in Elmont’s starting backcourt.
In his fourth year at the helm, head coach Ryan Straub said that, all things considered, he likes this season’s initial conditions as Elmont looks to extend its reign in AA5.
“Last year there was so much hype,” Straub said. “Everyone asking if we could run it back. That feeling’s not around us this year. It’s kind of nice, to be honest.
“What’s similar is we have one returning starter,” he added. “Aiden’s going to play a big role. He’s an elite defender. On offense he can get into the paint. He’s someone we rely on to do everything.”
“Aaron’s another one who gets after it on defense,” Straub added. “And like Aiden he gets to the paint. Those two will be big contributors.”
Six-foot-five senior Tarique McDonald takes over at center for Elmont, which figures to shift to a five-out style, or “offense by committee,” said Straub, as McDonald – a third-year varsity member – will be his team’s lone big.
“Tarique does a lot,” Straub said. “Clogs the paint, protects the rim, scores with both hands. He’ll have some dunks this year.”
Senior Jayden Johnson (season-high 13 points in a league win over Clarke) becomes a starter at guard, while junior Kayden Cyrus has the inside track to fill Elmont’s open fifth slot.
“Not worried about our starter situation,” Straub said. “All our new starters faced state champions in practice last year. I think we’ll be fine.”
Kayla Latiff debuted at midseason off the injured list and made an immediate impact – her pair of late three-pointers sparking the Spartans’ comeback win over league rival Manhasset, the second in a skein of eight straight wins with which Elmont (15-7 overall) wrapped its regular season.
Latiff, whose first-half absence last year hastened promotion of eighth-grade standouts Madison Edwards and Madison Calvin to Elmont’s varsity, starts her senior season healthy, though without last winter’s playmaking partners.
With Edwards and Calvin having transferred out, as well as center Carrington Barrett, Latiff – whose six three-pointers in a win at Bethpage marked a team season-high – takes on a heavy mantle as Elmont’s team leader, the fourth-year varsity veteran asked to shepherd a crew that welcomes four first-year starters, fresh from JV.
“I’ve never had a season like this, where we take JV players and say, ‘You’re now all varsity starters,’” said head coach Pete Lawson, whose club starts its Conference AA3 slate hosting South Side. “It’s a challenge.”
“But,” Lawson added, “we’ve got a potent weapon, a girl who can carry us. Kayla knows we expect her to do a lot. We know she can light up the long ball, which started us on our winning streak. If she just stays herself, she’ll inspire the younger girls.”
The eldest of Elmont’s new additions are junior guards Louis Jeane Desir and Kianna Young. While Desir offers flexibility at swing, Young – a true point guard – can combo with Latiff, the pair sharing ballhandling chores, with Latiff primarily shooting from the two and Young distributing at point.
Elmont sophomores Essence Saunds and Kiara Paulino will start at forward and guard, respectively, with junior Tamia Ximines in the mix for minutes at either spot. The five-foot-10 Saunds looks to work inside anchoring Elmont’s constellation of shooters.
“(Essence) is a nice presence inside,” said Lawson. “She’s young, but she could be tremendous.”
“Last year, eighth-graders came up and gave us a reprieve,” added Lawson. “This year’s almost the same thing. We’re excited to see what we can do.”
Dec. 12: @ South Side, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 16: Sewanhaka, 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 19: Bethpage, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 5: @ Division, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 8: @ Manhasset, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 14: Carey, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 16: Clarke, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 24: South Side, 12:00 p.m.
Jan. 27: @ Sewanhaka, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 30: @ Bethpage, 12:00 p.m.
Feb. 2: Division, 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 5: Manhasset, 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 11: @ Carey, 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 14: @ Clarke, 11:45 a.m.
Dec. 12: @ South Side, 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 16: @ Sewanhaka, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 5: Division, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 8: Manhasset, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 12: @ Bethpage, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 14: @ Carey, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 17: @ Clarke, 11:45 a.m.
Jan. 24: @ South Side, 11:45 a.m.
Jan. 27: Sewanhaka, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 30: @ Bethpage, 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 2: @ Division, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 5: @ Manhasset, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 7: Carey, 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 11: Clarke, 10:00 a.m.
