GMC: Top Wings to Watch

<p>The Greater Middlesex Conference has consistently churned out top tier talent, headlined by NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. Current Wake Forest guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850329" first="Quadry" last="Adams"] </strong>was named Conference Player of the Year after being named to Third Team All-State. The conference is still filled with high end talent who can make an impact at the next level. Here are the top wings to watch in GMC this season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850510" first="Tristan" last="Jeffries"], 6’5 SF St. Thomas Aquinas 2021</strong></p> <p>The Trojans are the reigning GMC Tournament champions and should be the top team in the conference again with the the return of Jeffries. The Robert Morris commit is at his best in transition as he uses his combination of athleticism and toughness to get to the basket. Jeffries can finish above the rim with authority and is unafraid of contact. He rips down rebounds on both ends and plays with good instincts on the defensive end. St. Thomas Aquinas has a go-to scorer in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="787644" first="Jaquan" last="Harris"]</strong>, allowing Jeffries to be a solid secondary scorer.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850512" first="Josh" last="Rivera"], 6’7 SF St. Thomas Aquinas 2021</strong></p> <p>The second straight Trojan to start off this list, Rivera has a chance to make an impact right away. The 6’7 forward is a big-time athlete who loves to finish above the rim. Rivera is capable of knocking down open perimeter jumpers and can handle the ball on the perimeter. He is a strong rebounder and uses his athleticism to altar shots on the defensive end. Rivera will be reclassifying into the class of 2022, making him one of the more intriguing available wings in the Garden State.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850522" first="Malik" last="Austin"], 6’6 SF Colonia 2021</strong></p> <p>Colonia got huge additions in the offseason with Austin being one of them. The 6’6 forward has a strong frame which he uses to draw contact around the basket. Austin is not just a presence in the paint as he can put the ball on the floor and knock down jumpers. He fights for rebounds on both ends of the floor and is an underrated shot-blocker. The newcomer quartet of Austin, <strong>Savion Pressley, </strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="901966" first="Mehki" last="Johnson"] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="929522" first="Maurice" last="Johnson"]</strong> makes Colonia one of the top teams in the county with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1017710" first="Jordan" last="Derkack"] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013098" first="Noah" last="Taylor"] </strong>returning.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013072" first="Jalen" last="Pichardo"], 6’4 SF East Brunswick 2023</strong></p> <p>The Bears had an up and down 2019-20 season, but Pichardo was a constant presence for them. The 6’4 forward knows how to create position for himself down low and is unafraid of contact. Pichardo has a nice touch around the basket and is also capable of handling the ball on the perimeter. He is tough to keep off the boards and knows how to move his feet on the defensive end. Pichardo is a skilled wing prospect who should have a breakout sophomore campaign.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013011" first="Kody" last="Robinson"], 6’3 SG St. Joe’s Metuchen 2021</strong></p> <p>The Falcons are always one of the top teams in the GMC and they should be again this season with Robinson getting more touches on the offensive end. The 6’3 guard has a good handle and is capable of making plays off the bounce. Robinson can make opponents pay for giving him space on the perimeter with his nice stroke and range. He is a solid on-ball defender and can run the offense in a pinch. St. Joe’s Metuchen’s guard trio of Robinson, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900327" first="Elijah" last="Barlow"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933736" first="Amari" last="Campbell"]</strong> should carry the Falcons’ offense this season.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Players to Know:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933707" first="Starrell" last="Hearns"], 6’2 SG Carteret 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013016" first="Quacier" last="Cuebas"], 6’4 SF JP Stevens 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1024752" first="Christian" last="Mangrum"], 6’2 SG South Brunswick 2022</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1034375" first="Donovan" last="Crawford"], 6’5 SF/PF North Brunswick 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1037659" first="Chris" last="George"], 6’6 SF/PF Piscataway Tech 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1036182" first="Drew" last="Johnson"], SF Dunellen 2021</strong></p>