Prospect Spotlight: Emmanuel Ayetigbo (2020)
The Central Jersey Group 3 state playoffs tipped off on Monday night. In seven of the first round games, the higher seed was able to advance. That was not the case when No. 11 Burlington Township upset No. 6 Matawan…
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Continue ReadingThe Central Jersey Group 3 state playoffs tipped off on Monday night. In seven of the first round games, the higher seed was able to advance. That was not the case when No. 11 Burlington Township upset No. 6 Matawan 54-37.
Emmanuel Ayetigbo was the catalyst for Burlington in this one. They gained control of the game immediately by outscoring Matawan 16-9 in the first quarter. After an 8-8 second quarter, Burlington won each of the final two quarters by four points.
Ayetigbo finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the win. He also added four assists, three blocks, and two steals. This has been a trend for the 6’5 senior all season long. Ayetigbo has scored in double-figures in 13 games this season including four of the last five games. Early in the season, he finished with 27 points, six rebounds, and six blocks in a win over Ranney.
Burlington has a dominant big man in the middle. Ayetigbo is a player who knows his role and does not stray away from it. He has only hit three shots from beyond the arc this season but he does not need the three-point line to be successful. Ayetigbo leads his team in scoring and has knocked down 70 free throws. He can score in the post with contact on a regular basis. The ability of Ayetigbo to pass from down low is an underrated part of his game.
Burlington could be a big threat in this bracket. They have already taken down a higher-seed and will face No. 3 Lakewood on Wednesday. The way that they were able to beat Matawan and the dominance that Ayetigbo showed should hint that this is a team on a mission. Ayetigbo has heated up as of late and he will need to keep that momentum for another three games. If he does that, Burlington could shock the Central Jersey Group 3 bracket.