Union County Tournament: Union Catholic 80, Linden 61

Defending county and state champion Union Catholic began its title defense by marching onto the semifinals over public school power Linden. The Vikings were led by their senior backcourt of lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='1411630' first='AJ' last='Altobelli'] (22 points) and sniper [player_tooltip player_id='1786395' first='Luke' last='Schorr'] (20 points, four 3's). Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1595682' first='Jayden' last='Holman'] paced Linden with 21 points.    One of the top lead guards in the state, Altobelli largely had his way throughout the game. He broke down the Linden defense in both transition and the halfcourt, as both a scorer and a playmaker for others. Known to be a bit of a risk-taker, Altobelli was pristine with his decisionmaking and shot selection. It was a performance that really showcased all of what the unsigned floor general brings to the table for any college coach in attendance or watching on film.     Having proven himself as one of the state's premier shooters, Schorr continued a strong senior year by knocking down four shots from deep as part of a 20-point effort. He mixed it up a bit with some knifing drives to the rim while playing his typically smart and unselfish floor game. With his track record of production, big-game experience, and a translatable plug-and-play skillset, Schorr should be coveted by high-level D3 programs and is worth a look for scholarship programs who prioritize shooting.     Coming off the bench, it took Muntari a bit to feel his way into the game, but his big second half was key to squashing any hope of a Linden comeback. He was most effective using his length and athleticism to convert at and above the rim. Muntari always finds a way to impact games with his motor and mobility at his size. Scholarship-level programs will surely be attracted to the Ghanaian big man down the stretch of his senior year.     Between foul trouble and the score ultimately getting out of hand, Ansong played limited minutes but was impactful in his time on the floor. He controlled the paint on both ends with his size and length, collecting a handful of tough rebounds in traffic on both ends and impacting opponents' shots at the rim. Ansong was effective in keeping things simple offensively as a threat to catch and finish off his teammates' penetration or take advantage of mismatches in the post. One of the top unsigned bigs in the region, with upside left to tap into.     For a Linden team that struggled to score for stretches of the game, Holman was the main bright spot with his downhill punch and perimeter shot-creation. Holman was resilient throughout the game while seeking out paint touches and showing an ability to finish with craft among traffic. He creates nice space for his jumper off the bounce as well. Already firmly on the scholarship radar, it's mostly a matter of consistency for Holman to solidify himself at the D1 level.     It was a bit of a mixed bag performance for Jones, a lanky inside-out forward still in the early stages of his development, but he showed a lot of the long-term appeal that he offers as a prospect. With premium length and movement skills, he impacted the game as a dumpoff threat and rebounder inside. He also flashed a smooth foul-line jumper that could stretch out to the perimeter in time. Jones' biggest issue right now is physicality, but he has plenty of time left to iron things out with some intrinsic tools that merit patience as he grows and develops.     A potential breakout game for the young forward was thwarted by a first half leg injury, but Wicks showed a lot of early promise during his short stint. With good size for a freshman frontcourt prospect, he's shed a good deal of baby fat since the fall with a frame that now looks ripe for development. He showed touch as a finisher along with deft feel as a passer and flashes of shooting potential. Looking forward to tracking Wicks into the grassroots season.     Even in a quiet game, it's hard not to be impressed by Moore's potent ability with the ball in his hands as well as his overall poise for such a young and talented guard. He never had to be too aggressive in search of his own offense, but flashed his dynamic handle to create advantages off the bounce. A natural scorer, he also continues to impress with his vision and skill as a passer. There's plenty to build on here even from one of the freshman's quieter performances of the season.

Defending county and state champion Union Catholic began its title defense by marching onto the semifinals over public school power Linden. The Vikings were led by their senior backcourt of lead guard AJ Altobelli AJ Altobelli 5'11" | PG Union Catholic | 2025 State NJ (22 points) and sniper Luke Schorr Luke Schorr 6'3" | SG Hotchkiss | 2026 State New E (20 points, four 3's). Junior guard Jayden Holman Jayden Holman 6'1" | PG Linden | 2026 State NJ paced Linden with 21 points.