Prep Hoops State Review Podcast
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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.…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
The review podcast featured the selections for first team All-State, including freshman guard Dajuan Wagner Jr Dajuan Wagner Jr 6'4" | PG Camden | 2023 State #1 Nation NJ . and Kentucky commit Lance Ware Lance Ware 6'9" | PF Camden | 2020 #42 Nation NJ from Camden. Roselle Catholic was the only other school to have two players on the first team all-state in Xavier commit CJ Wilcher CJ Wilcher 6'5" | SG Roselle Catholic | 2020 #95 Nation NJ and big man Cliff Omoruyi Cliff Omoruyi 6'11" | C Roselle Catholic | 2020 #56 Nation NJ . Junior small forwards Trey Patterson Trey Patterson 6'7" | SF Rutgers Prep | 2021 State #36 Nation NJ and Jonathan Kuminga Jonathan Kuminga 6'8" | SF Patrick School | 2020 #1 Nation NJ filled out the rosters as both players had big seasons for two of the top seven teams in the state.
Sophomore point guard Jayden Pierre Jayden Pierre 6'2" | PG Long Island Lutheran | 2022 State #109 Nation NY 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 Jordan Price Jordan Price 6'4" | SF Elizabeth | 2020 State NJ and Assumption commit DJ Watkins were huge for Elizabeth this season, but Pierre was key for the Minutemen in big situations. Devin Strickland Devin Strickland SG South Brunswick | 2020 State NJ had big performances in the state tournament to propel South Brunswick to the Central Jersey Group 4 title alongside Justin Carbone Justin Carbone 6'4" | SG South Brunswick | 2020 State NJ .
Irvington’s Moses Pierre Moses Pierre 6'0" | PG Irvington | 2020 State NJ was a force for the Blue Knights all season as he led them to their first sectional title since the 1990’s. Demetrius Paynter Demetrius Paynter 6'6" | PF Timber Creek | 2020 State NJ 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. Max Pernetti Max Pernetti 6'5" | SF Ramapo | 2020 State NJ and Quinn Calabrese Quinn Calabrese 6'3" | SG Wall | 2020 State NJ had good years as well as they led their teams to defend their sectional titles.
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 Ben Roy Ben Roy 6'2" | PG Manasquan | 2022 State #218 Nation NJ was the catalyst for the Warriors all season, while Louisville baseball commit Alex Galvan Alex Galvan 6'7" | PF Manasquan | 2020 State NJ held down the paint for head coach Andrew Bilodeau. Montclair State commit Kieren Flanagan was the unsung hero for Manasquan as he gave the Warriors needed toughness on the perimeter.
Burlington City was the only Group 1 team to repeat as champions behind DJ Woodbury DJ Woodbury 6'2" | CG Burlington City | 2020 State NJ ’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.
The 2019-20 New Jersey basketball season was quite memorable, which leaves hope for the 2020-21 season to be equally exciting.