The annual New Years Day showcase in North Jersey is one of the staple events of the high school season. The games which took place this year were as big as any. What did we learn? 1.) Ramapo and Saint…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inThe annual New Years Day showcase in North Jersey is one of the staple events of the high school season. The games which took place this year were as big as any. What did we learn?
1.) Ramapo and Saint Mary’s of Rutherford both have talented junior classes.
Ramapo’s
Peyton Seals
Peyton
Seals
6'4" | SG
Ramapo | 2024
State
NJ
,
Chris Cervino
Chris
Cervino
6'1" | PG
Ramapo | 2024
State
NJ
and
Wyatt Eglinton Manner
Wyatt
Eglinton Manner
6'3" | SG
Ramapo | 2024
State
NJ
led them to a marquee victory over Hudson Catholic. In that contest, the 6’4″ Seals exploded for 23 points and Manner added in10&6. Hudson Catholic was led in defeat by
Omari Moore
Omari
Moore
6'3" | SG
Hudson Catholic | 2025
State
NJ
with 21. Yes, Hudson Catholic is without
Tahaad Pettiford
Tahaad
Pettiford
6'0" | PG
Hudson Catholic | 2024
State
#26
Nation
NJ
and
Elijah Gertrude
Elijah
Gertrude
6'4" | SG
Hudson Catholic | 2023
State
#145
Nation
NJ
, but its still a nice win for a surging Ramapo team. Saint Mary’s defeated Hackensack behind its strong juniors–
Luke Gaccione
Luke
Gaccione
5'10" | PG
St. Mary's (Rutherford) | 2024
State
NJ
led the way with 17 and
Julien Leveille
Julien
Leveille
6'3" | SF
St. Mary's (Rutherford) | 2024
State
NJ
, an unsung 6’3″ forward who hasn’t gotten the attention of Gaccione or
LJ Falconi
LJ
Falconi
6'4" | SG
St. Mary's (Rutherford) | 2024
State
NJ
, had a good day by providing a double-double at 11&11. Both teams remain unbeaten on the season.
2.) Saint Peter’s Senior Big Men are for real.
We spent a lot of time this summer focusing on the potential of Matthew Kinzler and
Jackson Tindall
Jackson
Tindall
6'7" | PF
St. Peter's Prep | 2023
State
NJ
. In the Marauders 63-61 win over a rising Montclair Immaculate team, Kinzler had 23&11 and Tindall added 18&12. The frontcourt duo proved just enough to best IC, who has led in scoring by 6’5″ senior
Tavian Pullock
Tavian
Pullock
6'5" | SF
Montclair Immaculate | 2023
State
NJ
with 14. Promising freshman Kole Grandison added 11 and Louisville commit
TJ Robinson
TJ
Robinson
6'3" | PG
Immaculate Conception | 2024
State
#113
Nation
NJ
added 10 in the loss.
3.) Saint Joe’s of Montvale is a legitimate contender in Bergen County and Parochial A in general.
We knew that 6’6″ senior wing Donovan McKoy Donovan McKoy 6'6" | SF St. Joseph (Mont.) | 2023 State NJ was going to lead the way on offense but some questions lingered as to who would help. Those questions have been answered–It’s a team effort and its led them to several very impressive victories to start the season at 7-1. They downed Gill St.Bernards behind 16 pts from sophomore Anthony Pacciarelli, 15 from senior Christopher Williams and 10 from McKoy. Senior Mario Castro-Sanchez led GSB with 17.
With a host of showcases coming up across the Garden State and divisional play looming, the top teams in North Jersey will collide frequently for the remainder of the season and the New Years Jump is always a catalyst for the month of January.