NJAC Returnees To Watch This Winter

The NJAC is sometimes overlooked by media and college coaches, especially outside of Morris County. Today we look at several players to keep an eye on for this coming season.

Zion Baitey | 5’11” | G | Morristown 2023

Baitey is a smooth backcourt leader. He has solid ballhandling skills and good court vision. He combines his basketball IQ, crafty footwork and athleticism with the ball in his hands to be a versatile guard. He’s got the ability to finish around the rim and also from beyond the arc. He’s also capable of crashing the boards and plays tough on ball defense. He’s a multi sport athlete who also competes in football and track. Started his junior year with two double doubles and kept on chugging. He had 24 vs Morris Knolls, 19 vs Mount Olive and 16 vs Montville. He’ll be given the keys to the bus as a senior and college coaches should take notice.

Justin Clawson | 5’9” | G | Morris Hills 2023

Clawson is a lefty guard with range beyond the three point line but can also use his ballhandling skills to get to the basket and finish through contact in spite of being a bit undersized. He’s got a good basketball IQ and it shows in the open court and when he’s also attacking the rim against larger players. He had 22 vs Montville, 18 vs Wallkill Valley and wen over 15 on eight occasions.

Joe Sluck | 5’9” | G | Mountain Lakes 2023

Sluck is a multi sport athlete and his toughness translated well to the basketball court as a junior. Unafraid to attack the rim, he’s effective at breaking down defenders, has a good first step to the bucket and has a solid understanding of the guard position and the intricacies that come with it.  Mountain Lakes may have struggled a bit during the 21-22 season, but Sluck carried them through their victories, including dropping 32 on Kinnelon.  He also had 26 in a win over Dover and led them by Manchester Regional with 18.

Finn Powers Finn Powers 6'0" | PG Pequannock Township | 2023 State NJ  | G | Pequannock 2023

Karson Culuko Karson Culuko 6'2" | SG Pequannock | 2024 State NJ has a very capable partner in the backcourt for the Golden Panthers and Powers is also a multi sport athlete. He played a support role to Culuko but came on as a key performer offensively as the season went on. He’s a sharpshooting guard who made 40 threes as a junior. He’ll be asked to team with Culuko to keep Pequannock at a high level.  He had a season high of 21 vs Madison, and also added in 18 vs Mahwah and Kinnelon. He had 15 in a close state loss to Ramsey.

Jason Eisele Jason Eisele 6'2" | SG Jefferson | 2023 State NJ  | 6’2” | G | Jefferson

Eisele was an all county selection as a junior and is another multi sport athlete. Eisele is an athletic scorer with a good pull up in the mid range game. Moves well without the ball, can put it on the floor and can hit it from deep. He had 26 vs Wayne Hills, 29 vs Wallkill Valley and 22 vs Pequannock.

Chris Ross Chris Ross 5'9" | PG Wallkill Valley | 2023 State NJ | G | Wallkill Valley

Crafty lefty guard with above average dribbling skills who can also light it up from deep and score at all levels. He’s probably one of the better players nobody’s talking about because of his location in Northwestern New Jersye, but he’s a player colleges should have their eyes on. He had 30 vs Par Hills, 27 vs Newton, 30 vs Vernon and 32 vs Pope John.