Newark East Side Players To Watch This Summer
In this article:
Over the last two decades, Co-Coaches Anthony Tavares and Bryant Garvin have taken Newark East Side to the top of New Jersey basketball. Their list of all county, all state and college bound players is too numerous to even mention.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOver the last two decades, Co-Coaches Anthony Tavares and Bryant Garvin have taken Newark East Side to the top of New Jersey basketball. Their list of all county, all state and college bound players is too numerous to even mention. Their normal power-player role in Newark and Essex County took a hit last season as their very young squad went through growing pains and finished 13-12.
That learning year sees the overwhelming majority of the roster slated to return this winter and there are some talented players Down Neck. If you’re an NJ Hoops fan and haven’t yet been inside the bowels of the building on Independence Park, make this the winter. They play in the afternoon, so make sure you go with an appetite and stop off at Portugalia, Casa d’ Paco, Tona Da Caneca or any one of the other Spanish or Portuguese restaurants that are in Ironbound.(Yes, we’re Ironbound regulars, for those scoring at home…)
Quatrell Wilson Quatrell Wilson 6'5" | SF Newark East Side | 2023 State NJ | 6’6” | F | Newark East Side
The athletic Wilson played an expanded role for the VERY young Raiders team as a junior. He’s got quick feet and good handle for a bigger player. We saw him most recently at the Pittsburgh Jam Fest playing for Sandy Pyonin’s Roadrunners. He plays the hard nosed defense that North Jersey basketball is known for. He had 22 vs West Essex, 15&12 vs Irvington and 16 vs Newark University as a junior. He will be one of the top frontcourt players in Essex County as a senior and will lead the East Side front line. He’s the type of player that regional D2 and D3s should be tracking very closely. A college coach will put weight on him and he could be a dangerous player at the next level.
Sutan Fitzpatrick Sutan Fitzpatrick 5'10" | PG Covenant College Prep | 2024 State NJ | 5’10” | G | Newark East Side
East Side has always been known for its lead guards and Fitzpatrick is the next in line. He’s got solid ballhandling skills, he cat hit it from deep and also hits the boards well. He attacks the basket well off the dribble. He had 27 vs Columbia, 23 vs Pemberton and 22 vs Caldwell. He’ll have plenty of interest from local colleges. He plays AAU with PPA Elite.
Nasir Wheeler Nasir Wheeler 5'9" | PG Newark East Side | 2023 State NJ | 5’9” | G | Newark East Side
Wheeler is another quick defender who does a little bit of everything for the Ironbound school. He’s got range beyond the arc and also is a tough defender on top of the press. He’s got a high motor. His best game as a junior was 14 vs University. He, like Wilson and Fitzpatrick, will be four year varsity players. D3s should be checking in.
Amir Abdullah Amir Abdullah 5'10" | PG University | 2024 State NJ | 5’10” | G | Newark East Side 2024
Sharpshooting lefty can light it up from deep. He gets after it on defense and can get up and down the floor in a flash. He showed a brilliant flash of his potential by hitting 5 three pointers in the state playoff loss to eventual Group IV State Champ Elizabeth and finishing the game with 20. He’ll have plenty of chances to showcase that sharpshooting ability as a junior. Adbullah has played with the Roadrunners.
David Ekhelar David Ekhelar 6'8" | C Newark East Side | 2025 State NJ | 6’7” | F | Newark East Side 2025
Ekehlar broke into the varsity lineup as a freshman and showed some flashes of what his potential is in the post. He’ll see an expanded role as a sophomore and one of the bigs in the guard heavy East Side rotation. Ekhelar, like many of the East Side crew, plays for the Roadrunners.
Others to Watch
Khasheem Walton (2023)
Alesi Mingo (2024)