Counting Down The Top 10 Current Athletes From Long Island
By Daniel Friedman
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It's an exciting time for Long Island sports.
Steven Matz grew up a Mets fan in the region and pitched for the team in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday night. Marcus Stroman, another LI native, will be on the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays in their decisive ALDS Game 5.
They are among the top athletes to come out of the area in recent years. Here are the rest of the best current pro sports players from Long Island:
10. Keith Kinkaid
The Farmingville native is now Cory Schneider's backup with the New Jersey Devils.
9. Kyle Palmieri
Palmieri is another LI-bred hockey player -- you'll see quite a few on this list-- who found his way to New Jersey after failing to gain traction with the Anaheim Ducks. He has potential, but is inconsistent. He's from Smithtown
8. Tobias Harris
The Islip native was a force in college, and is now a reliable ballplayer off the bench at the pro level.
7. Eric Nystrom
He's Bob Nystrom's son. It doesn't get more "Long Island" than that. He's from Syosset.
6. Chris Higgins
A capable goal scorer who grew up in Smithtown, Higgins has played in Montreal and Vancouver, but he also spent some time with the Rangers.
5. Rob Scuderi
Twice a Stanley Cup champ, the Sysosset product has been a defensive stalwart throughout his career. However, his best days are behind him.
4. Danny Green
The Spurs' sharpshooter hails from North Babylon. He played extremely well in the 2013 and 2014 NBA Finals. He holds the franchise record for most three-pointers in a season with 191, a mark he set in 2015.
3. Steven Matz
He grew up in Stony Brook, and rockets fire from both the mound and the plate. He looks to be a key part of the Mets' pitching rotation down the road.
2. Marcus Stroman
Also from Stony Brook, Stroman's been very effective when healthy. He should be an excellent MLB pitcher for years to come.
1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson
A Pro Bowler on the Jets' offensive line, Ferguson's play has tailed off the past few seasons. But if we're talking about accomplishments, there's no current LI-born athlete who has done more. He's from Freeport.
