Prep Hoops State Review Podcast

<p>https://soundcloud.com/user-969462212/prep-hoops-new-jersey-review</p> <p>The 2019-20 season was full of surprises as milestones, upsets and shocking news occurred almost every week. Unfortunately, the Tournament of Champions did not happen this season, but that does not take away from the excitement generated from the season. The state tournament was littered with upsets, while defending champions triumphed in their defense of their crowns.</p> <p>The review podcast featured the selections for first team All-State, including freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850751" first="Dajuan" last="WagnerJr"].</strong> and Kentucky commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="766063" first="Lance" last="Ware"] </strong>from Camden. Roselle Catholic was the only other school to have two players on the first team all-state in Xavier commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="766099" first="CJ" last="Wilcher"] </strong>and big man <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850316" first="Cliff" last="Omoruyi"]</strong>. Junior small forwards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850499" first="Trey" last="Patterson"] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850498" first="Jonathan" last="Kuminga"] </strong>filled out the rosters as both players had big seasons for two of the top seven teams in the state.</p> <p>Sophomore point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="787655" first="Jayden" last="Pierre"] </strong>was labeled as the Player of the Year for Group 4 after he knocked down the game-winning jumper over Watchung Hills in the North Jersey 2 Group 4 final. New Haven commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850359" first="Jordan" last="Price"] </strong>and Assumption commit <strong>DJ Watkins</strong> were huge for Elizabeth this season, but Pierre was key for the Minutemen in big situations. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933653" first="Devin" last="Strickland"] </strong>had big performances in the state tournament to propel South Brunswick to the Central Jersey Group 4 title alongside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896463" first="Justin" last="Carbone"]</strong>.</p> <p>Irvington’s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896623" first="Moses" last="Pierre"] </strong>was a force for the Blue Knights all season as he led them to their first sectional title since the 1990’s. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896657" first="Demetrius" last="Paynter"]  </strong>of Timber Creek was another option for Group 3 Player of the Year as the 6’6 senior forward was a dominant force down low for the Chargers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850364" first="Max" last="Pernetti"] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896620" first="Quinn" last="Calabrese"] </strong>had good years as well as they led their teams to defend their sectional titles.</p> <p>Camden was not the only dominant team in Group 2 as Manasquan finished with a state-leading 31 wins this season. Shore Conference Player of the Year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="901942" first="Ben" last="Roy"] </strong>was the catalyst for the Warriors all season, while Louisville baseball commit [player_tooltip player_id="850360" first="Alex" last="Galvan"] held down the paint for head coach Andrew Bilodeau. Montclair State commit <strong>Kieren Flanagan </strong>was the unsung hero for Manasquan as he gave the Warriors needed toughness on the perimeter.</p> <p>Burlington City was the only Group 1 team to repeat as champions behind <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850361" first="DJ" last="Woodbury"]</strong>’s dominant run in the state tournament. The Temple football commit put up 85 points in his last three games, including a 40-point performance against Middlesex in the Central Jersey Group 1 semifinals.Paterson Charter and Penns Grove were both senior-laden teams that capped off their season with sectional titles.</p> <p>The 2019-20 New Jersey basketball season was quite memorable, which leaves hope for the 2020-21 season to be equally exciting.</p>