South Jersey 2027's to watch in state tournament

With the state tournament tipping off on Wednesday across New Jersey, it's a good time to take a look at a handful of juniors who have established themselves as key factors heading into the postseason.    Leading the way for the top seed in SJ Group 4, Abreu has been a catalyst all season long, already matching his scoring production from a year ago while taking huge steps forward in the rest of his game. Abreu has had to step up in a big way down the stretch with East's leading scorer out for the year due to injury and has managed to keep things afloat with his crafty play off the dribble. He has a shifty handle with a quick first step to generate paint touches with consistency, where he can either finish with impressive dexterity or showcase his vision as a playmaker for others. He's a ballhawk defensively who loves to get out and run in transition. Abreu tracks as a scholarship-level talent with a chance to boost his stock significantly if he can show growth as a perimeter shooter.     Steering St. Augustine into the Non-Public A tournament as the eighth seed, Clark continues to prove that it's not wise to judge a book by its cover. Despite being the smallest player on the floor in almost every game, Clark consistently packs a huge punch, having recently eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau as just a junior. The Camden Catholic transfer is an absolute blur with the ball in his hands, blowing by defenders to touch the paint to create for others or finish with touch over lengthier defenders. He shows polish as a pullup shooter in the midrange and is able to keep defenses honest from the perimeter. While his size can be exploited at times defensively, he's one of the most bothersome point-of-attack presences you'll find, routinely getting under opposing ballhandlers to force turnovers and spark transition offense. Clark is likely to pursue football at the next level but in the meantime is one of South Jersey's most exciting backcourt talents.     Emerging as one of the more prolific rebounders and shot-blockers across the state, Johnson is hoping to make Vineland a tough out as the seventh seed in SJ Group 4. Averaging a double-double of 11 points and 12 boards to go with a whopping 5.5 blocks per game, Johnson has authored four triple-doubles this season with points, rebounds, and blocks. He roams the paint with elite length and timing but also shows outstanding mobility to recover out to the perimeter and block opposing jump shooters. He's a work in progress offensively but shows solid hands and awareness with functional footwork and finishing touch using his right hand. Johnson has taken a big step forward from a year ago and should still have his best basketball ahead of him as he adds strength and experience, giving him a real chance to emerge onto scholarship radars in time.     With Lenape suffering key losses from a year ago to both graduation and transfer, Boyd has taken a key step forward as an upperclassman to help the Indians maintain their level and enter the SJ Group 4 bracket as the second seed. Boyd pairs with senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2450726' first='Nolan' last='Barnes'] to form one of South Jersey's most dynamic backcourts, as he's bumped his production up to 14 points, nearly 5 rebounds, and over 3.5 assists per game. He's an electric athlete with a quick first step off the bounce and explosive finishing ability in the lane. He uses his physical tools and motor to make plays on the defensive end and get out in transition while also showing promising flashes as a pullup shooter with range out to the perimeter. He's still improving his feel and decisionmaking as a lead guard but offers clear scholarship-level upside with his natural ability in the backcourt.     Coming back to South Jersey after a year across the river at Archbishop Ryan (PA), Franklin has given the Panthers an immediate boost after having to sit the early portion of the season due to NJ transfer rules. Averaging close to 17 points a game for a new-look Camden group that earned the second seed in SJ Group 2, Franklin is a pure three-level scorer who's shown he can generate offense efficiently from an off-ball role. He's a proficient threat as a spotup shooter, opening up his dribble-drive game to get all the way to the rim or stop and pop in the midrange. Franklin is a smooth, fluid athlete with great length in the backcourt and some explosiveness near the rim. He's coming off arguably his best career game, a 33-point outburst over Woodbury in the Camden County semifinals, and should be a popular name among scholarship-level programs this spring and summer.     The leader for the defending sectional champs, Williams is a big reason why Woodbury figures to be a tough out despite entering SJ Group 1 as the seventh seed. He's taken a slight step back in his raw production with the Thundering Herd sporting a more balanced attack, but has nonetheless shown clear growth in his game from a year ago. Previously more of an off-ball player who was somewhat reliant on others to get him going as a shooting threat, Williams has taken key steps forward as a ballhandler to open things up for more potent ability as a rim attacker off the dribble. His growth as a dribble-drive threat and playmaker for others should move him onto scholarship radars heading into the grassroots season.

With the state tournament tipping off on Wednesday across New Jersey, it's a good time to take a look at a handful of juniors who have established themselves as key factors heading into the postseason.