Biggest Standouts from Opening Day of Buc Classic
Holiday tournaments are always exciting as they provide teams the opportunity to see where they currently are. At times, it is hard to get a full grasp of the team’s overall talent as most transfer students are not eligible to…
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Continue ReadingHoliday tournaments are always exciting as they provide teams the opportunity to see where they currently are. At times, it is hard to get a full grasp of the team’s overall talent as most transfer students are not eligible to play yet. With all that being said, the Buc Classic definitely had some players take advantage of the opportunity. Here are the biggest standouts from the opening day of the Buc Classic.
Quadry Adams, 6’4 PG St. Thomas Aquinas 2020
The Wake Forest commit was unstoppable against Sayreville. Adams lived at the rim and made numerous tough layups through contact. He was a pest on the defensive end as he forced numerous Sayreville turnovers throughout the course of the game. Adams is one of the better guards in New Jersey and he proved it in the opening game of the Buc Classic.
Derrick Grant, 6’5 PF St. Thomas Aquinas 2020
The Southern New Hampshire commit dominated down low as the Bombers could not keep him off the glass. Grant showcased his perimeter with a couple of nice jump shots and had a pair of nice tip-ins off missed free throws. He snatched down defensive rebounds and emphatically blocked a shot in the third quarter to showcase his dominance. Grant may not be the biggest power forward in New Jersey, but he makes plays on both ends of the floor.
Elijah Perkins, 6’2 CG Ranney 2022
Perkins was expected to carry the scoring load as he is the top player to return from last season’s Tournament of Champion team. The sophomore was huge for Ranney as he was basically unstoppable off the bounce. Perkins made a couple of tough layups around the basket and knew when he had to force the issue on the offensive end. Ranney needs Perkins to be its top scorer this season and the sophomore has responded so far this season.
Ryan Zan, 6’5 PF Ranney 2022
The second half of Ranney’s dynamic sophomore duo, Zan was a force down low. The Hunterdon Central transfer got to wherever he wanted on the floor and showcased a soft touch around the basket. Zan also erased several shots around the rim and even brought the ball up the court at times. His ability to get tough baskets around the basket is vital as the Panthers need a complimentary scorer to Perkins.
Daniel Thomas, 5’10 PG Burlington Township 2021
Thomas struggled with his shot early in the game, but he turned it around in the second half. The junior point guard ran the offense to perfection as he did not led Woodbridge’s guards speed him up. Thomas knocked several three-pointers in the game, including one to beat the third quarter buzzer. His chemistry with senior forward Emmanuel Ayetigbo during the game was good, which makes the Falcons a dangerous team in Central Jersey Group 3.
Jordan Dotson, 6’4 F Burlington Township 2022
Ayetigbo may be the more well-known Falcon big man, but Dotson emerged against Woodbridge. The 6’4 sophomore played with great energy on both ends as he rarely took a play off. He made several tough layups in traffic and altered numerous Barrons’ shots around the basket. Dotson did get called for a technical foul in the second half, but his overall good performance makes up for that.
Nick Ferrogine, 5’11 PG Red Bank Regional 2021
Ferrogine was quietly one of the top players of the opening day. The junior point guard lived at the rim as Monmouth Regional was unable to keep him in front. Ferrogine showed off his ability to finish through contact as he knocked down several and-1’s throughout the game. His next game against St. Thomas Aquinas will be much tougher, but Ferrogine deserves a shout-out for his play against Monmouth Regional.
Other Names to Know:
Drew Valentino, 6’1 PF Red Bank Regional 2020
Tommy Giannone, 6’4 SF/PF Middletown North 2022
Daniel Boateng, 6’6 SF Woodbridge 2021
Danny Golzasewzki, 6’0 SG Sayreville 2021
Kiran Desai, 6’2 SG/SF Monmouth Regional 2022
Jaquan Harris, 6’4 PG St. Thomas Aquinas 2022