Group 3: Senior Stars

<p>Group 3 was one of the most competitive sections in New Jersey this season as it contains some of the top public school in the state. Moorestown, Timber Creek, West Morris and Irvington have all spent time around the top 15 this season. Those teams are led by big-time seniors as they are looking to end their varsity careers with a state title. Here are the top senior stars in Group 3 this season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896657" first="Demetrius" last="Paynter"], 6’6 PF Timber Creek 2020</strong></p> <p>Guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896689" first="Eric" last="Benjamin"]</strong> and <strong>Justin Bladen </strong>are also options here, but Paynter has been a rock down low for the Chargers. The 6’6 forward has a soft touch around the basket and is hard to move out of the paint. Paynter is a good rebounder and shot-blocker for a player who does not rely on athleticism. He averaged 18 points per game in his final two games is proof of how important Paynter was to South Jersey Group 3 champions Timber Creek.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896623" first="Moses" last="Pierre"], 6’0 SG Irvington 2020</strong></p> <p>Simply put, Pierre did it all for the Blue Knights as teams could not stop him from stuffing the stat sheet. The 6’0 guard was impossible to keep out of the lane and knew how to draw contact around the rim. Pierre had a solid mid-range game and is an elite rebounder as he ripped down 25 rebounds in a game against North Star Academy this season. Irvington was one of the top teams in Group 3 all season because of Pierre’s ability to impact the game on both ends.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850364" first="Max" last="Pernetti"], 6’6 SF Ramapo 2020</strong></p> <p>The Raiders defended their North 1 Group 3 title behind Pernetti’s strong senior season. The Gettysburg commit is one of the most versatile swingmen in New Jersey as he can attack the basket strong, knock down jumpers and defend taller opponents. Pernetti skies for rebounds on both ends of the floor and is an underrated shot-blocker. His presence on the court will be missed as Ramapo won consecutive North 1 Group titles with Pernetti on the floor.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896620" first="Quinn" last="Calabrese"], 6’3 SG Wall 2020</strong></p> <p>Calabrese had his ups and downs during his senior season, but he was integral to Wall’s defense of its Central Jersey Group 3 title. The 6’3 shooting guard has a smooth jumper and is not afraid to pull the trigger when he crosses halfcourt. Calabrese is tough to contain off the bounce and has the ability to finish tough layups around the basket. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900360" first="Pat" last="Lacey"] </strong>was clutch for the Crimson Knights in the state tournament, but Calabrese was Wall’s top scoring option throughout the season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="929683" first="Tyrese" last="Myrick"], 6’2 SG Westampton Tech 2020</strong></p> <p>Westampton Tech fell to Timber Creek in the South Jersey Group 3 semifinals, ending Myrick’s storied varsity career. The 6’2 guard uses his strong frame to finish through contact around the basket, but he is more than just a slasher. Myrick is capable of getting hot from behind the arc as buried five three-pointers in a game against Trenton Catholic in January. He is a tough rebounder and an underrated passer who just makes plays with the ball in his hands. Westampton Tech will struggle to replace Myrick’s scoring and rebounding in 2020-21 as he is one of the top players in South Jersey.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Players to Know:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="926737" first="RJ" last="Weise"], 6’0 PG Allentown 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="929897" first="Luke" last="Mazur"], 5’9 PG Mainland 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896659" first="Ryan" last="Savoy"], 6’4 SF Lakewood 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="929532" first="Andres" last="Fulgencio"], 6’0 CG Dwight-Morrow 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Daniel Oravbiere, 6’6 PF Payne Tech 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="929700" first="Eric" last="Baier"], 6’3 SG Summit 2020</strong></p>