Non-Public A: Top Backcourts

<p>The Non-Public division in New Jersey might not field a lot of teams, but it is loaded with high-end talent. Nine of the top 15 schools in the state compete in the Non-Public with 12 teams comprising the top 20. Non-Public A North has the most teams of any state playoff section with five teams in the top 20. The backcourts are filled with high-end talent as they are some of the top guard tandems in New Jersey. Here are the top backcourts in Non-Public A.</p> <p><strong>Bergen Catholic: [player_tooltip player_id="850662" first="Will" last="Richardson"] 6’1 2022, [player_tooltip player_id="850683" first="Julian" last="Brown"] 5’10 2022 &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="896443" first="Raejon" last="Figures"] 6’2 2020</strong></p> <p>Backcourts are traditionally only two guards, but the Crusaders’ dynamic trio has powered their success this season. Richardson is the engine that drives Bergen Catholic as he is hard to contain off the bounce, can finish at the rim and can knock down three-pointers. Brown is a scoring guard who can get hot in a hurry. Figures is one of the best on-ball defenders in New Jersey, but can also knock down perimeter jumpers. The Crusaders repeated as Non-Public A North champions because of their guards’ ability to take over a game, along with their chemistry with Notre Dame commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850320" first="Matt" last="Zona"]</strong>.</p> <p><strong>St. Peter’s Prep: [player_tooltip player_id="850664" first="Mark" last="Armstrong"] 6’2 2022 &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="900328" first="Rayshawn" last="Ford"] 6’2 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896456" first="Will" last="White"] </strong>has been a steady force for the Marauders all season, but the senior point guard does not have the same impact as Armstrong and Ford. The former has been a high level scorer all season as Armstrong has established himself as one of the top scorers in New Jersey. Ford got off to an uneasy start, but finished out his junior campaign on a high note as he averaged 22 points per game in the state tournament. St. Peter’s Prep lost in the Non-Public A North final to Bergen Catholic, which should fuel Armstrong and Ford for a big season in 2020-21.</p> <p><strong>St. Thomas Aquinas: [player_tooltip player_id="850329" first="Quadry" last="Adams"] 6’3 2020 &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="787644" first="Jaquan" last="Harris"] 6’4 2022</strong></p> <p>The Spartans may have been upset by CBA in the opening round of Non-Public A South, but they still have one of the state’s most talented backcourt. Adams is an athletic combo guard who plays with great body control in the lane and can finish through contact. The Wake Forest commit has good chemistry with junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850510" first="Tristan" last="Jeffries"]</strong> and is an underrated passer. Harris is a lanky point guard prospect who can slash to the basket and knock down three-pointers. St. Thomas Aquinas will sorely miss Adams, but Harris is primed for a huge junior campaign.</p> <p><strong>St. Joseph (Montvale): [player_tooltip player_id="929687" first="Nazir" last="Williams"] 6’0 2020 &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="929692" first="Dyree" last="Rogers"] 5’11 2020</strong></p> <p>The Green Knights may not have the biggest guards in New Jersey, but they are both capable of big performances. Williams had 26 points in both the Bergen County Jamboree semi-finals and finals as St. Joseph (Montvale) won the Jamboree for the first time since 2016. Rogers is a tough point guard who knows how to get into the lane. Juniors <strong>Daniel Lans </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900378" first="Alberto" last="Serrano"]</strong> are also good guards, but Williams and Rogers ran the show for a St. Joseph (Montvale) team that was one of the top teams in North Jersey all season.</p> <p><strong>Paul VI: [player_tooltip player_id="850529" first="Wisler" last="Sanon"] 6’2 2021 &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="900324" first="Jaylen" last="Boyd-Savage"] 6’3 2021</strong></p> <p>The Eagles were upset by St. Augustine in the Non-Public A South semifinals, but they have one of the top backcourts in South Jersey. Sanon is a gritty, two-way guard who can knock down three-pointers and finish around the basket. Boyd-Savage is a tough on-ball defender, but he is also capable of being a go-to scorer. The junior guard duo has a great chemistry together and are good passers. <strong>Jaden Arline </strong>and <strong>Andrew Harrell</strong> have been good for Paul VI this season, but Sanon and Boyd-Savage are the reason Paul VI went 21-7 in 2019-20.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>St. Augustine: [player_tooltip player_id="901944" first="Elmarko" last="Jackson"] 6’3 2022 &amp; Kevin Foreman 6’1 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Seton Hall Prep: [player_tooltip player_id="896633" first="Mike" last="Curran"] 6’4 2020 &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="773397" first="Giye" last="Jenkins"] 6’0 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>Don Bosco Prep: [player_tooltip player_id="850355" first="Myles" last="Ruth"] 6’1 2020 &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="901987" first="Aaron" last="Carter"] 6’0 2022</strong></p>