How Binghamton boys reached final four and this team's connection to '80s state champs
Binghamton High School's run to its first boys basketball final four in 39 years featured a midseason wake-up call, a once-a-generation talent, and a King-sized connection to the only two state championship teams in program history.
Those elements will come together 1 mile from the school's campus when the Patriots (18-3) take on Section 1 champion Tappan Zee (23-2) in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA semifinal at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.
The winner will play either Section 5 champion Greece Athena (23-2) or Section 2 champ Niskayuna (19-5) in the final at 6 p.m. Friday at the arena.
"It means a lot because Binghamton hasn't seen that in like 40 years," senior star Zubayr Griffin said after Saturday's 70-63 win over Poughkeepsie Our Lady of Lourdes in the regional final. "It's almost like making history, so it feels good."
The opportunity to play in front of the home fans is not lost on Patriots head coach Duncan Paddick.
"It’s going to be unbelievable," he said. "We already know we’ve got a great opponent in Tappan Zee, who is one of the best teams in New York state. But I don’t think they have any idea what they’re walking into. That arena is going to be a sea of red, white and blue in support of Binghamton."
The King Rice connection
Griffin, who starred at Johnson City before transferring to Binghamton, became the third boys player in Section 4 history to reach 2,000 career points with a 39-point effort in the final game of the regular season. He has added another 101 points in four postseason victories.
He has also made a significant impact with rebounding, passing and defensive play as Griffin has elevated a couple of notches as a senior.
Griffin has committed to play at Division I Monmouth University, where Binghamton High alum King Rice is head coach.
Rice was point guard for Binghamton's back-to-back Class A state champs in 1985 and 1986 – teams that went a combined 48-1 – before going on to play for Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina. The McDonald's high school All-American helped the Tar Heels reach the Final Four in 1991.
Rice watched his alma mater play at Elmira's Josh Palmer tournament and shared some words with the team.
"He gave us a great speech after the game," Paddick said. "At that point, Zubayr had not committed. He just talked about Binghamton kids having grit and a sense of pride.
"After that we did a really good job heeding his advice. He's always had an eye on us all year. It's a cool story and he's been super supportive of our program and our school district."
Griffin interviewed Rice for Black History Month in a piece that appeared on Binghamton High School's website.
Turning adversity into prosperity
Rice's speech came after a 78-65 loss to a Chambersburg (Pennsylvania) team Paddick said might have been the best Binghamton played this season.
The Patriots followed with a 67-62 loss to Elmira the next day, then fell to eventual Section 4 Class A champ Seton Central Catholic, 76-69, in front of a sold-out home gymnasium three days into 2025.
"It was this huge game and everybody saw it. 'OK, Binghamton's not that good,'" Paddick said of outside reaction.
With three losses in four games, Binghamton's record sat at 4-3, not quite the start anticipated for a defending sectional champion that added Griffin, who was praised by Paddick as possibly the best player in Broome County over the last 20 years.
The Patriots have responded by winning their last 14 games, mostly in dominant fashion. Among the highlights was a 91-49 victory over Section 4 Class AAA champ Corning in the Southern Tier Athletic Conference championship game.
Defense has keyed the run, in contrast to what might be expected from a team that averages 78 points per game.
"We kind of went back to the lab and said, 'We’re not switching on defense, we’re getting the matchups right, and just stop your man,'" Paddick said.
"That’s kind of how we play defense. We don’t overhelp and if we get scored on, I don’t want to say we tell the guy it’s their fault, but there’s a lot of responsibility that you need to kind of shut down your guy."
While Griffin is the Patriots' highest-profile player, their success has been a collective effort.
Yusri Razzaq is a high-energy guard, Corien Noble's two dunks against Lourdes raised the roof, 6-foot-6 Shawn Remplet has been an inside force, and Derek Abu Jr. is a leader who can score in bunches and tie up offensive players in knots. Jah-lon Cook came up big off the bench against Lourdes. Remplet, a sophomore, is the only starter who is not a senior.
Abu scored 19 points in the regional final.
"I've coached him since seventh grade," Paddick said of Abu. "He was the quarterback on the football team this year at times by necessity. Mostly because of his moxie, leadership and IQ. He's the captain of the lacrosse team.
"We've probably got about 25 sets in at this time. You can have Derek Abu write up any set and he'll tell you where everybody needs to be. He's a coach on the floor, he's got a lot of grit, he's got a whole bag of finishes, and he's built for the moment."
Scouting, film study a focus for Patriots
Paddick graduated in 2003 from Chenango Valley High School, where he was a STAC East all-star, before earning Liberty League all-academic honors at Hobart College. His staff includes Michael Constantine, Vince Saraceno, Elliot Nelson and Vaughn Labor.
"It's not really a one-coach operation," Paddick said. "We've got four coaches coaching the whole game."
Paddick tries to get eight to 10 game films and extensively scouts opponents and watches film. He pointed out Saraceno also watches a bunch of film and Constantine has been adept at coming up with post-timeout plays.
"We've run something after every dead ball, we run something on every free throw, and we've become a really good execution team," Paddick said.
The other side of the equation is having players who buy in. Paddick pointed to a timeout against Lourdes in which Griffin told his teammates, 'Just listen to the coaches, the game plan's working,'" Paddick said.
Added Paddick: "This is probably one of the easiest teams to coach that I've been around. They listen to us, they love to practice."
Tappan Zee stands in way of state final
Tappan Zee is a noted defensive menace in New York basketball circles. Two years ago the Flying Dutchmen won the Class A state title, 49-36, over Irondequoit. Tappan Zee made it to this year's final four with a 44-38 win over Baldwin.
"Tappan Zee is obviously playing games in the 40s," Paddick said. "That doesn’t intimidate me, I kind of like that, because I’m going to spend the next four days channeling all my inner anxiety and neurosis to watching every possible game on Tappan Zee and we’re going to have a great scout on them."
And keys to getting into the final?
"It’s just keeping the run going, not being afraid of the moment, embracing the moment," Paddick said. "And guys, getting them to know how cool this is, and I think play for that jersey on the front and all those people who are going to be in the stands."
Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: A closer look at Binghamton boys basketball team heading into final 4
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