Group 4 Preview

<p>Outside of Non-Public A and B, Group 4 is the toughest group in New Jersey. The competition between the biggest public schools in the state is fierce with numerous teams ending the season in the top 50 of NJ.com's final poll. Newark East Side was the Group 4 representative in the Tournament of Champions last season. The Red Raiders are in a good position to repeat as Group 4 champs, but has to get through Elizabeth in the North 2 Group 4 final. Here is a preview for Group 4.</p> <p><strong>Top Team: Newark East Side</strong></p> <p>The Red Raiders will have to replace Anas Amos, but they have the talent to make a deep run. Monmouth commit <strong>Mikah Johnson Jr. </strong>is an elite defender who can finish around the basket. <strong>Gabriel Olaniyi </strong>is a solid perimeter scorer, while <strong>David Olaniyi </strong>looks to replace Amos in the backcourt. The Red Raiders lack size on the interior, so <strong>Jordan Ortiz </strong>needs to make an impact inside. Newark East Side is a gritty team that should wind up as the Group 4 representative in the Tournament of Champions for the second straight season.</p> <p><strong>Team with the best shot at taking out Newark East Side: Elizabeth</strong></p> <p>It's a shame that Elizabeth and Newark East Side are in the same group as they are the clear top teams in Group 4. New Haven commit <strong>Jordan Price</strong> is a gritty forward who knows how to score inside and grab rebounds against bigger defenders. Patrick School transfer <strong>Jayden Pierre </strong>is a lightning-quick point guard who gives the Minutemen an elite playmaker. <strong>D.J. Watkins </strong>provides Elizabeth with a smart combo guard who can knock three-pointers. Sophomore forward <strong>Zy'ree Beverly</strong>  gives Elizabeth the interior presence it needs to contend for a deep run. The Minutemen are the team with the best chance to knock off Newark East Side in Group 4.</p> <p><strong>Dark Horse teams: Toms River North, Hackensack</strong></p> <p>Toms River North and Hackensack may not have enough talent to beat either Newark East Side or Elizabeth, but they are solid squads capable of making a deep run. <strong>Seth Sharif-Brown </strong>is a terrific small forward who dominates on the glass. He had 12 double-doubles as a junior and could average over 10 boards a game as a senior. <strong>Kevin Mateo </strong>is an electric guard who can put up points in bunches for the Comets. Hackensack went 17-13 last season, but the Comets should easily eclipse 20 wins in 2019-20.</p> <p><strong>Jakari Spence </strong>may only be 5'10, but he can play with anyone. The senior guard can attack the paint, shoot the ball from deep and make the proper pass in transition. He is also an elite on-ball defender with over 100 steals in his career. Big man <strong>Najae Hallenbeck </strong>has a soft touch around the basket and moves his feet well. The Mariners have won at least 21 games in each of the past five seasons and should do that again in 2019-20.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Group 4 Preseason First Team:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Mikah Johnson Jr., 6'4 SG Newark East Side 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Jordan Price, 6'4 SF Elizabeth 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Seth Sharif-Brown, 6'5 SF Hackensack 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Gabriel Olaniyi, 6'3 SG Newark East Side 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Jakari Spence, 5'10 PG Toms River North 2020</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Group 4 Preseason Second Team:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Jayden Pierre, 6'0 PG Elizabeth 2022</strong></p> <p><strong>Amir Williams, 6'3 SG Linden 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Derek Simpson, 6'0 PG Lenape 2022</strong></p> <p><strong>Chris Rubayo, 6'8 PF Montgomery 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>D.J. Watkins, 6'1 CG Elizabeth 2020</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Justin Carbone, 6'4 SG South Brunswick 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Kevin Mateo, 6'0 SG Hackensack 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Najae Hallenbeck, 6'6 PF Toms River North 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Noah Klinewski, 6'2 PG Eastern 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Aidan Anderson, 6'2 SG Lenape 2022</strong></p> <p><strong>Brian Johannsson, 6'5 SG/SF Hunterdon Central 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>Or Sundjyvsky, 6'4 SG Fair Lawn 2020</strong></p>