2020 NJSIAA Tournament: Non-Public Dream Matchups

<p><em><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Photo by Steph Cella</span></em></p> <p>Teams have begun focusing on their county and conference tournaments but there is a buzz surrounding early March. New Jersey has released the state tournament brackets and it is officially beginning to feel like championship season. Some of the best talent will be featured in the Non-Public brackets. Here are dream matchups from all four sections of Non-Public basketball. </p> <h2><strong>North Jersey Non- Public A</strong></h2> <p><strong>Finals: 1- Bergen Catholic vs. 2- St. Peter's Prep</strong></p> <p>This was the game envisioned when making up the bracket. Bergen Catholic finished as the No. 2 team in the state last season when they lost to Ranney in the finals of the Tournament of Champions. They have what it takes to make another run. Notre Dame commit <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matt-zona/">Matt Zona</a> has been a monster inside but it has been the emergence of their two sensational sophomores. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-richardson/">Will Richardson</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julian-brown/">Julian Brown</a> have turned into two of the top players in the state. If this game happens, they will have to deal with another top sophomore in <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mark-armstrong/">Mark Armstrong</a> of St. Peter's Prep.</p> <h2><strong>North Jersey Non-Public B</strong></h2> <p><strong>Semi-Finals: 1- Gill St. Bernard's vs. 4- Hudson Catholic</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/zach-martini/">Zach Martini</a> came into his senior season with one thing in mind. He is playing like he wants to accomplish that one thing and it is winning a state title. The Princeton commit is averaging 15.3 points and 13.2 rebounds per game in his senior season. Freshman big man <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mackenzie-mgbako/">Mackenzie Mgbako</a> is next in line at Gill St. Bernard's. He is scoring over 13 points per game in his first season. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-soucie/">Will Soucie</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/denver-anglin/">Denver Anglin</a> complete this team. </p> <p>Hudson Catholic is 16-6 this season behind the No. 1 player in the Class of 2022 rankings for New Jersey. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/zion-cruz/">Zion Cruz</a> is a dynamic player on both ends. Along with <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/phil-brown/">Phil Brown</a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/justin-glover/">Justin Glover</a>, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaiah-griffin/">Isaiah Griffin</a>, Hudson Catholic has a chance to make a run at this thing.</p> <p><strong>Semi-Finals: 2- The Patrick School vs. 3- Roselle Catholic</strong></p> <p>This is a matchup of the No. 1 and 2 teams in the state heading into the regular season. Camden has taken over the top spot but The Patrick School and Roselle Catholic still round out the top three. Xavier commit C.J. Wilcher leads the Lions with 16.2 points per game. Cliff Omoyuri has been a force inside all season long averaging a double-double and 5.1 blocks per game.</p> <p>The Patrick School already has two head-to-head victories over the Lions this season. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jonathan-kuminga/">Jonathan Kuminga</a> is the top-ranked player in the nation for the Class of 2021. He has led the Celtics along with <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/zarique-nutter/">Zarique Nutter</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/adama-sanogo-2/">Adama Sanogo</a>. This is a team that can make some noise in New Jersey and around the country.</p> <h2><strong>South Jersey Non-Public A</strong></h2> <p><strong>Semi-Finals: 2- St. Joe's Metuchen vs. 7- St. Thomas Aquinas</strong></p> <p>What is better than a rivalry matchup on the state's biggest stage? These two GMC powerhouses could meet in the semi-finals if it all goes right. St. Thomas Aquinas has a matchup with CBA in round one and will have to upset No. 2 Camden Catholic in the quarterfinal round. This is not impossible. Wake Forest commit <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/quadry-adams/">Quadry Adams</a> has the Trojans playing their best basketball of the season. The Falcons will have a first round bye in the tournament. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tyree-ford/">Tyree Ford</a> and K-Shawn Schulters make up one of the top backcourts in the game. </p> <h2><strong>South Jersey Non-Public B</strong></h2> <p><strong>Finals: 1- Rutgers Prep vs. 2- Wildwood Catholic</strong></p> <p>This is a game with serious star power. Wildwood Catholic has created a powerhouse behind <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taj-thweatt/">Taj Thweatt</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jahlil-white/">Jahlil White</a>. Thweatt, the West Virginia commit, is leading the team in scoring while White, who is headed to Temple, is right behind him. These two make up what could be the best duo in the state. They would face off with Rutgers Prep and their tremendous junior <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-patterson-2/">Trey Patterson</a>. What Patterson has done on the offensive end this season is hard to put into words. He has completely taken the next step this season and is the reason that Rutgers Prep began the season 20-0 and has just one loss to date.</p>