5 Key Questions After Hudson Catholic vs. CBA
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Hudson Catholic won 21 games a season ago and 13 came in the HCIAL. They are off to another hot start this season after defeating CBA 69-33 on Day 2 of the Hoop Group NJ Tip Off Classic. CBA was…
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Continue ReadingHudson Catholic won 21 games a season ago and 13 came in the HCIAL. They are off to another hot start this season after defeating CBA 69-33 on Day 2 of the Hoop Group NJ Tip Off Classic.
CBA was shorthanded in this one missing sophomore Ryan Mabrey who is their top option on the offensive end. Mabrey’s absence proved costly from the opening tip. CBA scored just 11 points in the first half and the game was over early. Hudson Catholic will be a force once again in the state. Here are five key questions after this game.
How do you stop Zion Cruz?
Cruz proved once again why he is one of the top sophomores in New Jersey. Against CBA, Cruz finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. He already has offers from the likes of Rutgers, St. John’s, Syracuse, and UConn. Cruz is a 6’3 guard who can get to the basket at will or step out and shoot from deep. How do you stop him? It is easier said than done. If you try and pressure Cruz, he is a strong enough ball handler to get around you. If you lay off, he is not afraid to shoot. Cruz is arguably the best player in the HCIAL and he will show it every time he steps on the floor.
What is CBA’s ceiling?
Year in and year out, CBA is one of the top teams in the Shore Conference. They won 20 games a season ago but this seems like a different team. The Mustangs lost their two top scorers who both went over 400 points as seniors. Now they are looking to young players such as Mabrey to step up and be the leaders. CBA has suffered two double-digit losses to begin their season. Their ceiling this season may not be as high as previous seasons. They are well coached and still talented but the Shore Conference is loaded this season with a lot of capable teams.
What level of prospect is Justin Glover?
Glover is a junior this season and it will be an important one. He has offers from Stony Brook and Hartford already. It seems likely that more schools will begin to take notice of the 6’0 guard. Glover finished with 13 points in the win over CBA. When looking into his future, there is no doubt that Glover is a Division I player. He already has two offers and they will not be his final ones.
What is CBA missing?
Well in this game, they were missing their No. 1 option on offense in Mabrey. He played their previous game against Marlboro but there was some clear absences. CBA is in need of a leader to step up. It is not easy to lose two 400 point scorers and leaders. The Mustangs will need a new player to step up. They are also missing an inside presence. CBA is a guard oriented team that use speed to get to the basket. Their guards are also strong shooters but they need that big man down low to give them the option of inside or out.
Is there a better backcourt than Cruz and Glover?
There definitely is not one in the HCIAL. Cruz and Glover have a chance to be a force in the state for the next two years. Cruz is just a sophomore and has time to terrorize opponents for three more seasons. They are both strong ball handlers who do a lot of things well on the court. They are not the best backcourt in the state. Teams like Patrick School and Roselle Catholic have Division I backcourts on their rosters right now but Hudson Catholic is in a good spot for the next two seasons with their guard play.