Northeast Fall Invitational: 5 Takeaways from Day 3

<p>The final day of the Northeast Fall Invitational concluded with six thrilling games. The showcase event featured some of the top teams and players in the region. Here are five takeaways from the third day of the Northeast Fall Invitational.</p> <p><strong>1. Niels Lane's defense is instrumental to Roselle Catholic's success</strong></p> <p>The showcase's hosts were the most talented team in the field, but that did make them invincible. Roselle Catholic held a 13-point halftime lead over Archbishop Stepinac only to need senior big man Cliff Omoruyi to hit the go-ahead layup with less than 40 seconds to go. AJ Griffin battled cramps in the second half, but carried Archbishop Stepinac throughout the game.</p> <p>Niels Lane defended the five-star junior forward throughout the game and made it tough for him to score. Yes Griffin did score 23 points, but had to work for every point. Lane is a solid all-around player, but his defense will be the X-factor for Roselle Catholic this season.</p> <p><strong>2. Elijah Mckenzie was the biggest winner of day 3</strong></p> <p>Entering the day, many fans had no idea who Elijah Mckenzie was. People will know him now after a great showing against Newark East Side. Mckenzie was everywhere on the court and at times, was the best player on the floor.</p> <p>The Matawan forward dominated on the interior as he gobbled up rebounds, blocked shots and deflected passes. Mckenzie had a team-high 13 points, but it was not enough to pull off the massive upset. His team may not have won the game, but Mckenzie won the day with his play on the court.</p> <p><strong>3. Jahzeer Gaskins and Gabriel Olaniyi are an underrated backcourt</strong></p> <p>Speaking of Newark East Side-Matawan, Mckenzie was not the only winner on the day. Olaniyi had a game-high 20 points, while Gaskins hit clutch three-pointers throughout the game. Their play in the backcourt was huge with Mikah Johnson and David Olaniyi struggling on the day.</p> <p>The Red Raiders lost their top player Anas Amos to graduation and they need someone to step up in the backcourt. Gaskins may only be a sophomore, but he is unafraid to take the big shot. Him and Olaniyi may not have the most recognized names in the state, but the duo should be one of New Jersey's top backcourts.</p> <p><strong>4. Hudson Catholic is more than just Zion Cruz</strong></p> <p>Cruz is clearly the top prospect in the sophomore class and proved it at the Northeast Fall Invitational. The combo guard scored 47 points in his team's two games in a variety of ways. Cruz attacked the basket, shot the ball from behind the arc and excelled in the mid-range.</p> <p>He was not the only standout for Hudson Catholic as Malik Austin, Justin Glover and Isaiah Griffin had strong showings. Despite being only 6'5", Austin proved to be a good interior presence and flashed a solid perimeter game with a trio of triples. Glover and Griffin were shifty guards who can shoot the ball from behind the arc, but also beat their man off the bounce. Cruz is Hudson Catholic's star and he has a supporting cast capable of winning a lot of games in 2019-20.</p> <p><strong>5. Mackenzie Mgbako is New Jersey's most intriguing freshman</strong></p> <p>Gill St. Bernard's had a pair of thrilling games against Philadelphia's top programs. The Knights pulled off an epic 16-point comeback to knock off Roman Catholic on day, only to blow a double-digit lead against Imhotep Charter the next day. Princeton commit Zach Martini is the clear star of the team, but Gill St. Bernard's best college prospect is Mgbako.</p> <p>The 6'6" freshman had a great pair of games for Gill St. Bernard's despite scoring seven total points. Mgbako is an excellent defender with quick feet and superb timing to block shots. The freshman is active on the boards and looks comfortable playing out on the perimeter. Mgbako has yet to play a game in his high school career, but his advanced skillset makes him the most intriguing player in the class of 2023.</p>