It's not a given that Wyandanch senior guard Chris Barber will earn Newsday's Suffolk player of the year award once again. Barber is off to a strong start this season one year after leading the Warriors to the state Class B final four. But he has competition.

East Hampton junior point guard Mikey Russell has that same score-from-anywhere mentality, and like a great point guard, makes his teammates play better. I came away from Tuesday's impressive win over Huntington wowed at how good East Hampton looks. But I think the guard play of Russell had a lot to do with it. Everyone seems to feed off his energy.

Playoff time is when great players step up their game. And if Russell helps East Hampton to its first county title in 18 years -- and in the deepest Suffolk Class A field ever -- he'll earn strong considration for player of the year.

What do you think?