By Zach Smart
Hailing from Queensbridge, a longtime basketball breeding ground which has churned out the likes of Ron Artest, the late and legendary Ronnie Williams, Vern Fleming, and a plethora of others, there’s one distinct style of basketball Class of 2025 Christ The King (NY) guard Markell Alston is readily accustomed to playing.
“Tough,” said Alston, who has ratcheted up his role on this year’s CTK team as a dish-first facilitating point guard and supplemental three-level scorer.
“You really can’t be soft playing out there or you will get exposed. You have to know what you’re doing and stay composed. Playing there, playing in the Bronx, or playing at Dyckman, basically anywhere there is outdoor basketball, you have to be able to take on the challenge.”
This season, while shouldering a veteran savvy on a team dripping with high-end Division-I bound talent, Alston has taken on the challenge of leading a high powered offensive attack while applying persistent, blanketing on-ball defense.
Flanked by the likes of bulldozing 6-foot-6 Iowa State-bound, high-scoring guard Dwayne Pierce, as well as a deftly skilled and versatile 6-foot-10 forward in Class of 2024 Qin Pang, Alston has adapted to a growing, innovative passing arsenal.
The process has entailed learning his teammates’ tendencies, developing a sheer awareness of locating the hot read.
Class of 2025 guard Jayden Ramirez, who played sparingly last season, has ramped up his role as a shot-maker.
Class of 2025 off guard Cam Zeigler has arrived seemingly out of a tunnel of obscurity, registering his imprint as an outside catch-and-stick threat.
Joe Arbitiello’s team’s power in numbers has made being the operator of the attack an enjoyable hardwood occupation for Alston.
“For me, the advantage is that those guys can go get a bucket most of the time, so I can rely on them to make a play for us,” said Alston. “I know I can always find one of them for a big time play.”
During the Hoophall Classic, Alston found himself calling his own number.
Alston detonated for 24 points on a scintillating 11-for-13 from the floor, helping pioneer the Royals to an end to end 81-52 mauling of East Catholic (CT).
The thoroughness of Alston’s repertoire was evident during this resounding performance.
Alston changed directions, created space, and surged his way into the teeth of the defense for crafty, ambidextrous finishes.
He stuck pull-up jumpers, deep 3-pointers, and converted turnovers into quick transition leak-outs.
“Most of the time (in the East Catholic game) they were denying the wing, so it was easy for me to get downhill and create for myself,” Alston explained. “It was just a matter of me being aggressive.”
Alston has improved drastically as a shooter. He cites long hours in both Gaucho Gym and at Christ The King HS, where he’s fired up a fusillade of shots until his arms felt dead, as the integral ingredient triggering the transformation.
“It’s been constant reps,” Alston said.
“It’s usually me and one of my teammates. We’ll just go to the gym and practice game shots, simulate game situations. Really, I think the best part of my game is defense. Most of the time, I want to guard the opposing team’s top scorer and top player.”
Seton Hall, as Alston explained, has been investing the most consistent effort in his recruitment process. He’s also hearing from schools such as Virginia and Loyola-Chicago.
Alston has established a rapport with Seton Hall head coach Shaheen Holloway, becoming a familiar visitor in the Pirates’ locker room.
“Coach and I have a good relationship,” Alston said.
“I usually see him, because I go to a lot of their games. We just chop it up there. I have a good relationship with a lot of the guys on the team. I really talk to (former Our Savior Lutheran guard) Jaquan Sanders the most. Jaquan is always keeping me posted, he’s telling me about what’s happening on campus. He keeps saying, ‘what’s taking you so long (to commit) bro? Just pull up.”
While he doesn’t have a concrete timetable for his commitment, Alston said he’s angling to arrive at his decision either at the end of this season or the fall of his senior year.
Individual accolades and personal milestones, however, are meaningless to the three-year starter during these current times.
“The goal at Christ The King is always to win that city championship,” Alston said.
“We don’t want to look short term, we always want to look long term. At the big picture. The main goal is just to take home that city title. But, of course, it’s one game at a time.”
