Non-Public A North Semi-Finals: Top X-Factors

<p><em><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Photo by Tim Horak | NJ Advance Media</span></em></p> <p>The Non-Public A North semi-finals will feature the top-four seeds in the bracket. They were all able to move on and keep their dreams of a state tournament alive. To win the final two games, teams will need their best players to step up along with some x-factors. Here are the main ones heading into the action on Monday night.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850662" first="Will" last="Richardson"] (2022) &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="850683" first="Julian" last="Brown"] (2022) | Bergen Catholic</strong></p> <p>We begin the x-factors with two of the youngest super stars in the state. The Class of 2022 has been effective all over New Jersey and these two may lead the pack. Saying Bergen Catholic is in a good position for the future is an under statement. But let’s focus on 2020. Richardson has been an elite scorer all season long and finished with 18 points in the win over Union Catholic.</p> <p>Notre Dame commit [player_tooltip player_id="850320" first="Matt" last="Zona"] is getting hot at the right time. He will show up and dominate down low. Bergen Catholic needs strong play on the outside and that is where Brown comes into play. Brown has stepped up for the Crusaders this season and has been a major impact player. Brown might be the biggest x-factor on the team because he adds a third option with the skill of being a No. 1. </p> <p><strong>Joe Carroll (2021) | Don Bosco</strong></p> <p>Don Bosco cruised in the quarterfinals. Why? Because Brendan Mykalcio scored a game-high 26 points. That is par for the course but the other reason is that Carroll is starting to contribute in a big way. The junior finished with 18 points in the win over Paramus Catholic including two three-pointers. Carroll also scored 14 points in their last game before the state tournament against Fair Lawn. If Carroll becomes a legitimate scoring threat, along with Mykalcio and [player_tooltip player_id="850355" first="Myles" last="Ruth"], Don Bosco will be a tough out against Bergen Catholic.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="929687" first="Nazir" last="Williams"] (2020) | (St. Joe’s Mont.) </strong></p> <p>Sometimes the team’s x-factor is their best player. That is the case for Williams and St. Joe’s. Williams finished with a team-high 14 points in a 49-47 win over Delbarton. Williams is a senior who knows how to make a big play when needed. St. Joe’s will be playing their first game as the lower-seed and will need their leader to continue to turn in strong performances.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900328" first="Rayshawn" last="Ford"] (2021) | St. Peter’s Prep</strong></p> <p>When teams prepare for St. Peter’s Prep, stopping sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="850664" first="Mark" last="Armstrong"] is a huge focal point. Now, opposing teams are realizing that Ford is an elite player. He led the way with 20 points in a win over Seton Hall Prep in the quarterfinals. Ford is a player with good size that can get what he wants offensively using his combination of skill and IQ. [player_tooltip player_id="896456" first="Will" last="White"] is another player to watch for St. Peter’s Prep.</p>