2022 Duos Set to Dominate the State

<p>The Garden State is filled with big-time talent from all over the state. The 2021 class is solid, but the 2022 group may have a stronger collection of talent. The dynamic duos in the 2022 class are extremely enticing as they should wreck havoc on the Garden State basketball scene this season. Here are the top 2022 duos to watch in the 2020-21 season.</p> <p><strong>Patrick School: Zion Cruz &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="901943" first="Dionte" last="Johnson"]</strong></p> <p>The Celtics lost a bunch of talented players to graduation, but they reloaded in a big way with the addition of Cruz from Hudson Catholic/Oak Hill Academy. The athletic 6’3 guard is hard to keep out of the lane and knows how to finish around the basket. Cruz’s ability to score compliments Johnson’s game perfectly as the team captain is a heady floor general who rarely makes mistakes. Both players are capable of running the offense and Johnson has experience playing off the ball. The Patrick School should be one of the top teams in the Garden State again with its dynamic 2022 backcourt of Cruz and Johnson.</p> <p><strong>Blair Academy: [player_tooltip player_id="850672" first="Kyle" last="Cuffee Jr."] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="850671" first="Otega" last="Oweh"]</strong></p> <p>The Buccaneers have been one of the top teams in the Garden State over the past couple of seasons and that should not change this year. Cuffee Jr. is a talented combo guard who can finish over the top of defenders around the basket and does not mind contact. He is tough to contain off the bounce and is an underrated passer. Oweh is a big-time athlete who is at his best attacking the basket in transition and is one of the top defenders in the class. Cuffee Jr. and Oweh are both talented athletes who should help Blair Academy have a strong 2020-21 season.</p> <p><strong>Life Center Academy: [player_tooltip player_id="990936" first="Quadir" last="Copeland"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="901963" first="Justin" last="Hawkins"]</strong></p> <p>The Warriors have had a big offseason as they added <strong>Shawn Simmons </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="990936" first="Quadir" last="Copeland"]</strong>. The latter is a skilled lead guard who uses his 6’5 frame to scan over the defense. Copeland is a good passer and is dangerous once he gets into the lane. Hawkins can handle the ball on the perimeter as well and uses his strong frame to finish through contact around the basket. The unselfish play of both Copeland and Hawkins makes Life Center Academy a team to watch in 2020-21.</p> <p><strong>Bergen Catholic: [player_tooltip player_id="850662" first="Will" last="Richardson"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="850683" first="Julian" last="Brown"]</strong></p> <p>The Crusaders have won the last two Non-Public B North titles and they should be one of the top teams again with a dynamic backcourt duo. Brown is an absolute microwave on the perimeter as he can get hot from distance in a hurry and is capable of scoring points in bunches. Richardson is a dynamic lead guard who is unafraid of attacking the basket and finishing in traffic. They have a great chemistry together as they know exactly how to play off each other in the halfcourt. Richardson and Brown dominated Bergen County backcourts last season and they should continue to do so until they graduate.</p> <p><strong>Dwight Englewood: [player_tooltip player_id="901957" first="Jayden" last="Lemond"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="901956" first="David" last="Mager"]</strong></p> <p>Dwight Englewood had a solid 2019-20 season and should have a good year again with the return of Lemond and Mager. The former is a skilled lead guard who plays under control in the halfcourt. Lemond is capable of beating his defender off the bounce, but can also knock down perimeter jumpers. Mager is at his best attacking the basket as the lefty is a good finisher around the basket. Dwight Englewood has the potential to be a breakout team in 2020-21 with Lemond and Mager patrolling the backcourt.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Roselle Catholic: [player_tooltip player_id="787669" first="Corey" last="Floyd Jr"]. &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="1025905" first="Jamarques" last="Lawrence"]</strong></p> <p><strong>Newark East Side: [player_tooltip player_id="850674" first="David" last="Olaniyi"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="901950" first="Jahzeer" last="Gaskin"]</strong></p> <p><strong>St. Benedict’s: [player_tooltip player_id="850675" first="Isaiah" last="Griffin"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="933737" first="Everton" last="Browne"]</strong></p> <p><strong>Westfield: [player_tooltip player_id="1013052" first="Logan" last="Howland"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="1018572" first="Sean" last="Logan"]</strong></p> <p><strong>Pennington: [player_tooltip player_id="901962" first="Ethan" last="Pires"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="900305" first="Philip" last="Urban"]</strong></p>