UCC: Dark Horse Player of the Year Contenders

<p>The UCC is one of the deepest conferences in the Garden State with multiple teams capable of making deep postseason runs. UNC commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850752" first="Simeon" last="Wilcher"]</strong> and Davidson signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1018572" first="Sean" last="Logan"]</strong> are the favorites to take home Player of the Year honors, but there are under the radar prospects who can make a run at it. Here are the dark horse player of the year contenders in the UCC.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1147089" first="Etienne" last="Richelieu"], 6’4 SG Elizabeth 2022</strong></p> <p>The Minutemen are always one of the top teams in the UCC and that trend should continue with Richelieu on the perimeter. The 6’4 wing has a smooth release on his jumper and can knock down triples in bunches. Richelieu is more than just a shooter as he can also take the ball to the basket and draw contact. He is a strong rebounder and has the athleticism to defend multiple positions. Richelieu is ready to lead the Minutemen in 2021-22 with his ability to bring it at both ends of the floor.</p> <p><strong>Nigel Merville, 6’0 PG Linden 2022</strong></p> <p>The Tigers are an under the radar team to watch this season and Merville is the one who keys the offense. The 6’0 lead guard has a good shooting form and does not need a lot of space to get his jumper off. Merville has a nice handle and is capable of beating his defender off the bounce. He moves well off the ball and is an underrated passer. Merville’s shooting is something that will help Linden out in a big way as the season progresses.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1150546" first="Michael" last="Pirone"], SG Oratory 2023</strong></p> <p>Oratory has Lehigh-bound big man <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013054" first="Tommy" last="Conniff"]</strong> in the paint, but Pirone is the go-to guy on offense. The junior guard is at his best attacking the basket as he is a good finisher and does not mind drawing contact. Pirone is more than just a slasher as he can hit jumpers from distance and score in the mid-range. He is a good rebounder for a guard and makes good decisions with the ball in his hands. Pirone is a scoring guard prospect who is looking to lead Oratory to a strong 2021-22 season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013069" first="Malachi" last="Johnson"], 6’0 PG Union 2023</strong></p> <p>The Farmers are a team to watch in Union County as Johnson gets more looks on the offensive end. The 6’0 lead guard has a tight handle, which he uses to beat his defender off the bounce and finish around the basket. Johnson has a smooth shooting stroke and is capable of shooting either off the catch or bounce. He is an underrated passer and moves well off the ball. Johnson’s ability to make plays with the ball in his hands is something that will help Union throughout the season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1018571" first="Jaden" last="Carter"], 5’11 PG Scotch Plains-Fanwood 2022</strong></p> <p>Carter’s stock has been quietly on the rise over the past couple of months and it should continue to rise as the season moves on. The 5’11 lead guard has a quick release on his jumper and can get hot from distance in a hurry. Carter is more than just a shooter as he can also put the ball on the floor and finish around the basket. He is a good on-ball defender and is an underrated rebounder. Carter will be the go-to guy for Scotch Plains-Fanwood this season with his ability to knock down jumpers from distance.</p>