Midweek Performers, History Lesson and Trivia!
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The county tournament scene is starting to take shape and some late season battles to decide divisional titles are coming down the pipeline. Who played well at the midweek? It’s very easy to say “Everyone” in the Don Bosco Prep-Roselle…
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Continue ReadingThe county tournament scene is starting to take shape and some late season battles to decide divisional titles are coming down the pipeline. Who played well at the midweek?
It’s very easy to say “Everyone” in the Don Bosco Prep-Roselle Catholic matchup played well because every player on the floor is a college prospect at the scholarship level…That said, the elite recruits delivered on the hype as Bosco’s 5 star junior guard Dylan Harper Dylan Harper 6'6" | SG Don Bosco Prep | 2024 State #3 Nation NJ proved his worth as a national recruit once again by slicing apart the Lions for 27 points to lead all scorers. UNC commit Simeon Wilcher Simeon Wilcher 6'4" | PG Roselle Catholic | 2023 State #17 Nation NJ led Roselle Catholic to victory with 20 and got help from the frontcourt with Arizona State bound senior Akil Watson Akil Watson 6'7" | SF Roselle Catholic | 2023 State #105 Nation NJ delivered the knockout blow in a 20 point performance and a 68-60 win. Duke commit Mackenzie Mgbako Mackenzie Mgbako 6'8" | SF Roselle Catholic | 2023 State #5 Nation NJ had a double double of 10 and 17.
Junior guard Deuce Jones Deuce Jones 6'1" | PG College Achieve | 2024 State #221 Nation NJ came to St Thomas Aquinas from Trenton Catholic with big expectations and delivered on them against Saint Peter’s Prep in a midweek tilt, with the Trojans escaping 61-56. Jones, who has a handful of mid-major offers, exploded for 23 in the win. Heralded freshman guard Richie Rosa Richie Rosa 6'0" | PG St. Peter's Prep | 2026 State NJ went shot for shot from Prep, hitting for 19. Junior guard Nico Pena also added 10 in the loss. The Trojans final four games all line up as elite showcase matches with West Nottingham(MD), Colonia, Trenton Central and Saddle River Day. Plenty of opportunities for Jones and company to make more noise on an 18-1 start.
Unsigned senior guard Josh Ingram went off on a tear in a losing effort against Seton Hall Prep, hitting the Pirates for 36 points. St Joe’s played without junior guard Jeremy Clayville Jeremy Clayville 6'1" | CG St. Joe's Metuchen | 2024 State NJ in the loss but Ingram more than kept them in the game. Another unsigned senior guard with D1 interest, Jackson Bleeker Jackson Bleeker 6'3" | SG Seton Hall Prep | 2024 NLG , led the Pirates with 20. SHP also got 20 from senior guard Ethan Maynard, who is having an absolutely fantastic season and is pushing for All County honors as one of the unsung heroes of NJ Basketball.
Mount Saint Vincent commit Dylan Csik Dylan Csik 5'10" | PG Middletown South | 2023 State NJ dropped 18 as Middletown South inched closer to locking up a potential top 4 seed in the Shore Conference tournament by outdueling Kenyon commit Nick Valentino Nick Valentino 6'0" | PG Red Bank Regional | 2023 State NJ and RBR 62-59 in OT. Two of the top three( Jack O’Leary Jack O’Leary 6'1" | CG Raritan | 2023 State NJ of Raritan being the other) guards at the Bayshore didn’t disappoint as Valentino also scored 18 in the loss.
Elizabeth and Linden put on another defensive slugfest for the ages with the Minutemen coming away with a 38-35 win. Some might call it an upset, but when it’s Elizabeth, is it ever really an upset? Jordan Torres Jordan Torres 6'4" | SF Elizabeth | 2025 State NJ led the school formerly known as”Jeff” with 13 and Linden was paced by 6’2″ junior guard Hashim Nadir Hashim Nadir 6'4" | PF Linden | 2024 State NJ with 10..
History lesson for you youngsters reading this--before there was Elizabeth High, there was Thomas Jefferson, right across from City Hall. Jeff’ still stands, go take a look at it! A regal building! TJ won several state championships in hoops before the new EHS opened and was home to All American football players Richard Wood and Gil Chapman…At the same time…
Now, do your Elizabeth homework:
Who was the greatest basketball player in Thomas Jefferson HS history?
What was the name of girls high, opened in 1889 and was named after a President of the Elizabethtown Water company?
The Technical HS, once home to a feared boys soccer team, in Elizabeth is named after what famous inventor?
The name of a famous pizza place located on the 600 block of South Broad Street is?(No watching Portnoy!)
Elizabeth once had FOUR Catholic High Schools…What were their names?
Which former championship winning Elizabeth High and Saint Mary’s coach is now the Athletic Director at EHS?
A famous US Naval Admiral called Elizabeth home. Who is he?
The Gym at Elizabeth High is named after Thomas Dunn. Who was he?
A New Jersey signer of the Declaration of Independence, who has a nearby High School named after him, was born in Elizabeth. Who was it?
Two Brothers–A Chef and a Coach…Who are they?
Who’s the Mayor?
Answers on the PODCAST!