Essex County Tournament Semifinal More Notables

The semifinal round of the Essex County Boys Basketball Tournament brought the high-pressure energy that defines postseason play, as the county's premier programs competed for a place in the championship game. In a packed gym, fans witnessed matchups between Shabazz and Seton Hall Prep, along with Arts taking on St. Benedict's. With that stage set, let's take another look at some of the prospects who stood out with impressive performances across both Essex County matchups.    [player_tooltip player_id='2782185' first='Anthony' last='Blackmon'], a strong and instinctive left handed point guard, understands how to impact the game balancing scoring aggression with steady facilitation while taking pride in setting the tone defensively. Running the offense for long stretches, Blackmon showcased a confident handle and steady poise, initiating offensive sets and keeping teammates organized. Blackmon also capitalized on scoring chances himself, flashing his spot up shooting ability from the perimeter and ability to invite contact around the basket and finish with strength in the paint.     Amongst the rotation of versatile guards in Shabazz's backcourt this season, [player_tooltip player_id='1775139' first='Zaim' last='Barnes'] has continued to emerge as a poised and multifaceted scoring option throughout last weekend's semifinal action. Showcasing his value as a seamless offensive fit, Barnes proved effective both with and without the ball— thriving off the catch as a confident three point shooter, displaying a compact release and strong shooting instincts, while also capitalizing on driving lanes off the bounce within the flow of the offense, attacking decisively, getting into the paint and finishing through traffic at the rim.     Operating with clear control and composure, [player_tooltip player_id='2201947' first='Anthony' last='Gonzalez'] served as a true floor general with command of the offense, consistently organizing Seton Hall Prep's actions and proved to be an instinctive decision maker and unselfish playmaker. Fully embracing the traditional point guard role, Gonzalez prioritized putting teammates in optimal scoring positions— spraying the basketball out to open shooters for in rhythm threes, utilizing his strong court vision to find dump offs in the dunker spots, and using passing precision to hit backdoor cutters. While distribution was his primary focus, Gonzalez remained a scoring threat, getting deep in the paint to invite contact and get to the free throw line while also flashing his off the dribble outside shooting ability.     [player_tooltip player_id='2504780' first='Infinite' last='Sincere-AmenRa'], a skilled and aggressive guard, displayed impressive and natural outside shot making touch. His compact shooting release and ultra smooth mechanics translated into dangerous dead eye catch and shoot production, as he connected on three in rhythm threes, particularly over a dynami stretch in the second quarter that really helped Seton Hall Prep's lead balloon open into a substantial margin.     A springy and athletic forward with high energy and a relentless motor, [player_tooltip player_id='2628248' first='Terrance' last='Jamison'] consistently demonstrated how he maximizes his physical tools to constantly apply pressure on the rim. His offensive contributions were highlighted by strong finishing in multiple contexts— cutting with purpose in half court offense, filling the lanes in transition, and even generating second chance opportunities on the offensive glass both for put backs and at the free throw line. An intricate part to his long term development and overall skillset, Jamison also flashed his outside shooting ability, knocking down an in rhythm look as a spot up shooter with comfortability from the outside.     Having taken on a substantial role that ultimately highlights his strong ball handling and smart decision making, [player_tooltip player_id='2887112' first='Idriss' last='Grimsley'] is a point guard who's thrived as an additional reliable playmaker for this Arts group. When tasked with orchestrating the offense with efficiency, Grimsley utilized his quickness off the bounce to generate ample paint touches to collapse the defense and ultimately create clean scoring chances for his teammates. Grimsley also attacked the basket effectively when the offense called for him to score, scoring in multiple ways and frequently seeking contact to convert at the free throw line.     [player_tooltip player_id='3270146' first='Daniel' last='Hinkov'] continues to solidify his standing among the state's elite perimeter marksmen, and showcased much of that outside shooting ability in St. Benedict's matchup against Arts. With deep range and unwavering confidence, he buried threes using his quick and elevated release—thriving both as a movement shooter off pin down screens and as a floor spacing threat as a spot up shooter. Complementing his perimeter impact, Hinkov used his size and strength effectively on the interior, initiating contact and winning battles on the boards while also showcasing an ability to finish strong around the basket catching dump offs.     Operating with impressive poise against opposing ball pressure paired with a tight and confident handle at the point guard position, [player_tooltip player_id='3270158' first='Jack' last='Martinez'] demonstrated a strong ability to balance a seamless scoring punch with natural playmaking instincts. Martinez remained a threat to score and kept the defense honest— converting on soft touch runners in the paint and swift finishes at the basket in transition while also showing glimpses of his perimeter shooting ability. Martinez also displayed advanced playmaking instincts, creating advantages by collapsing the defense and distributing to teammates in optimal scoring positions.

The semifinal round of the Essex County Boys Basketball Tournament brought the high-pressure energy that defines postseason play, as the county's premier programs competed for a place in the championship game. In a packed gym, fans witnessed matchups between Shabazz and Seton Hall Prep, along with Arts taking on St. Benedict's. With that stage set, let's take another look at some of the prospects who stood out with impressive performances across both Essex County matchups.