2024-25 SEC Backcourt Season Standouts: Liberty Division Part I

The 2024-25 season was full of competitive matchups and impressive individual performances, and the Super Essex Conference provided much of that throughout the course of the regular season. With the regular season fully wrapped up and postseason play past the finish line, let's take a look at some guys, in the backcourt, that had strong regular seasons in the Super Essex Conference's Liberty Division.    Operating as the primarily ball handler for Newark Tech's offense en route to a sectional championship, [player_tooltip player_id='2623169' first='Rodney' last='Tullis Jr.'] shined in the ways he able to be an aggressive and effective playmaker both in the halfcourt and in transition. Often times making the right read, Tullis Jr. excelled at creating advantageous scoring opportunities not only for himself, by using his quick first step to get in the paint but also attracting help defense and getting the guys around him involved. Tullis Jr. also excelled as an outside shot maker, consistently knocking down open shots from three point range. Tullis Jr. averaged 13.6 PPG and 5.5 APG on the season.     An aggressive shot maker, [player_tooltip player_id='1411664' first='Malcolm' last='Bragg'] thrived in the ways he was able to score the basketball from multiple spots on the court. Whether it was showcasing his quick and compact release and knocking down open shots from the perimeter, with range, or using his strong and physical frame to attack the basket and finish well through contact, Bragg was able to showcase his versatility as a scorer both in transition and in the halfcourt. Bragg also showcased his ability to find his in between game when defenses closed out on him and knock down mid range pull ups. Showcasing the different ways he can be effective as a scorer, Bragg averaged 18 PPG.     Mejwad Dixon was a super effective in his role as a connective piece for this year's Newark Collegiate Academy roster. Dixon excelled in the ways he was able to knock down open perimeter shots, attack closeouts and play off ball reversals, finish plays in transition, and pressure the ball on defense. Dixon averaged 13.5 PPG and just over 1 SPG.     Alieu Kelleh showcased much of what makes him a strong and effective 3 and D wing as the season went along. Kelleh was effective in the ways he was able to knock down open shots from three point range, attack closeouts and not only get to the rim but finish through contact and around defenders as well as be a disruptive defender in the open floor. Kelleh averaged 12.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 2.4 SPG.     In a breakout season that saw the junior combo guard erupt for multiple explosive scoring performances, [player_tooltip player_id='2763494' first='Jayden' last='Solomon'] bursted out onto the scene as a guy capable of shouldering a lot of the offensive load for this year's Newark Collegiate Academy squad. Solomon showcased not only his ability to get pretty much wherever he wanted on the court, using his quick first step and generating an immense amount of rim pressure but also create his own shot off the dribble. Solomon also took a big leap as a playmaker this year, showcasing an improved ability to hit the look ahead in transition as well as draw help defense on drives and hit open guys either in the dunker spot or kick out on the perimeter. Solomon averaged 15.9 PPG and 4.1 APG.

The 2024-25 season was full of competitive matchups and impressive individual performances, and the Super Essex Conference provided much of that throughout the course of the regular season. With the regular season fully wrapped up and postseason play past the finish line, let's take a look at some guys, in the backcourt, that had strong regular seasons in the Super Essex Conference's Liberty Division.