Central Jersey Group 1: Guards to Watch

<p>Group 1 kicks off on Monday with everyone trying to take down the top dog. Burlington City is the defending Central Jersey Group 1 champions and is looking to make the Tournament of Champions after falling one game short. Bound Brook is the Blue Devils' top competition,while Keyport and South Hunterdon are looking to make some noise. Guard play is always important in tournament play and Central Jersey Group 1 is filled with good guards. Here are the top guards competing in Central Jersey Group 1.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/quadir-harrell/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/quadir-harrell/">Quadir Harrell</a></a>, PG Bound Brook 2022</strong></p> <p>Juniors <strong>Cam'Ron Summers </strong>and <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/justin-hawkins/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/justin-hawkins/">Davie McLarty</a></a> </strong>have been playing at a high level all season, but Harrell is the one who paces the offense. The sophomore guard is hard to contain off the bounce and has a knack for making tough layups around the basket. Harrell can get hot from distance and has a solid mid-range game. He is a good on-ball defender and has a great chemistry with Summers and McLarty. The Crusaders are looking to knock off Burlington City and they will need their guard trio to be at their best.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dj-woodbury/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dj-woodbury/">DJ Woodbury</a></a>, 6'2 CG Burlington City 2020</strong></p> <p>The Blue Devils are looking to repeat as Central Jersey Group 1 and they have a go-to scorer in Woodbury. The Temple football commit is a big-time athlete who knows how to finish around the rim. He can beat his defender off the bounce and is an underrated jump shooter. Woodbury is a good on-ball defender and is capable of running the offense. Sophomores <strong>Jamaal </strong>and <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jameel-morris/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jameel-morris/">Jameel Morris</a></a> </strong>have been good complimentary scorers, but Woodbury is the reason Burlington City repeats as champions.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dj-thomson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dj-thomson/">DJ Thomson</a></a>, 5'10 PG Keyport 2022</strong></p> <p>The Raiders may have lost their last three games, but they have one of the best scorers in the Shore Conference.Thomson has five 30-point games on the season and is capable of scoring point in bunches. The sophomore guard is hard to keep out of the lane and can finish tough shots around the basket. Thomson is a good rebounder and is an underrated passer. Keyport has the potential to win a game or two in Central Jersey Group1, but Thomson needs to be scoring at a high level for that to happen.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/drew-zalescik/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/drew-zalescik/">Drew Zalescik</a></a>, 6'0 PG South Hunterdon 2022</strong></p> <p>South Hunterdon is riding a five game winning streak as Zalescik is reestablishing himself as a go-to scorer. The sophomore guard is averaging 21.2 points per game over the course of the winning streak, including a 39-point performance against Keypot. Zalescik is a good finisher around the basket and can make layups through contact. He is a solid rebounder and an underrated three-point shooter. Zalescik has been good all season long and is looking to continue South Hunterdon's winning streak in the state tournament.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jake-clark/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jake-clark/">Jake Clark</a></a>, 6'0 PG Point Pleasant Beach 2020</strong></p> <p>Freshman <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chris-venturoso/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chris-venturoso/">Chris Venturoso</a></a> </strong>has had a good debut high school season, but Clark runs the show for the Garnet Gulls. The senior guard makes a living at the free throw line as he had made over 100 so far this season. Clark is hard to keep out of the lane and can knock down perimeter jump shots. He has good instincts on the defensive end and is a solid passer. Clark was a part of the last Point Pleasant Beach team to win Central Jersey Group 1 and is looking for a similar result in his final varsity season.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong></span></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jamaal-morris/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jamaal-morris/">Jamaal Morris</a></a>, 5'10 PG Burlington City 2022</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jameel-morris/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jameel-morris/">Jameel Morris</a></a>, 5'10 PG Burlington City 2022</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/justin-hawkins/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/justin-hawkins/">Davie McLarty</a></a>, SG Bound Brook 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>Cam'Ron Summers, CG Bound Brook 2021</strong></p>