The Throne National Championship: NJ Prospect Preview

The Throne National Championship— a single elimination, bracket style post season tournament featuring some of the nation's top high school basketball teams hosted by the National Basketball Players Association and Gold Level Sports and Entertainment is returning for another year to American Dream in East Rutherford, NJ. With Rainier Beach (WA) having to withdraw from this year's tournament as a result of too many injuries, this year's field includes two New Jersey programs— Plainfield High School and Bergen Catholic, who are actually set to face off in the first round against each other. With a number of high profile prospects set to headline this postseason invitational, let's dive into those prospects who everyone should have an eye ahead of the action later this week.   [player_tooltip player_id='2344521' first='Micah' last='Gordon'] | 6'0" G 2027 Plainfield   Having quite literally earned the reputation as the best guard in the state of New Jersey, [player_tooltip player_id='2344521' first='Micah' last='Gordon']'s junior season has been nothing short of impressive— having not only taken legitimate strides in his overall skillset as an extremely skilled lead guard but also capturing back to back Group 4, Section 2 titles as well as back to back Group 4 championships all while putting up strong numbers of 24.7 PPG, 5.29 RPG, and 5.13 APG. The savvy playmaking guard has been outstanding so far, firmly establishing himself as one of the top guards in the entire class of 2027 as the four-star point guard has consistently gotten whatever he wants against pretty much anybody this season. Gordon scores with craftiness and creativity at all three levels while also excelling as an unselfish facilitator, consistently putting his teammates in the right spots to succeed. After leading his team to another Group 4 state championship against Montgomery this past weekend at the RAC, look for Gordon to continue his dominant play in a tough matchup against one of New Jersey's deepest teams in Bergen Catholic to kick the action off at this year's Throne National Championship.   [player_tooltip player_id='2342638' first='Jaden' last='Brown'] | 6'3" G 2026 Bergen Catholic   [player_tooltip player_id='2342638' first='Jaden' last='Brown'] is one of the most dynamic guards in the state of New Jersey— bringing a confident and versatile playmaking presence whenever the ball is in his hands. The Fairfield commit who has helped guide his team to not only back to back Bergen County Jamboree titles but also back to back North Jersey Non-Public A and Non-Public A state championships, plays with toughness and physicality, consistently showing strong command of the offense while controlling the tempo of the game. Brown is an effective decision maker who balances scoring from all three levels with the ability to create clean quality opportunities for his teammates, constantly putting pressure on opposing defenses. He's aggressive attacking downhill, using his strength and smooth change of pace to get to the rim and draw fouls. His feel for the game stands out in the way he reads defensive coverages and makes the right play, often finding open teammates when defenses collapse. With a matchup set against another one of New Jersey's most electrifying guards, look for Brown to continue to display the traits you want in a winning lead guard—someone who can manage the game, involve others, and still provide reliable scoring when needed.   [player_tooltip player_id='1595675' first='Julius' last='Avent'] | 6'7" F 2026 Bergen Catholic   A powerfully built forward with massively broad shoulders paired with elite length who's been an extremely pivotal piece to Bergen Catholic capturing back to back Bergen County Jamboree, North Non-Public A, and Non-Public A championships, [player_tooltip player_id='1595675' first='Julius' last='Avent'] has delivered standout performances throughout the course of his senior season that have highlighted his ability to thrive in physical battles around the basket— scoring with force in the paint relentlessly embracing contact and consistently finishing through it. Avent's strong statistical outings have largely been fueled by how effectively he used his physical tools to generate offense from multiple areas on the floor— creating off the bounce in the mid post for strong downhill drives, backing down smaller defenders on the low block, making his presence felt on the offensive glass with tough and timely putbacks that turn second chance opportunities into points, and even capitalizing as a cutter for easy finishes within Bergen Catholic's half court sets. While much of his production comes in the interior, Avent also has strong moments where he's put some guard like ability on display by creating off the bounce from the perimeter, attacking the paint in isolation and finishing through traffic while also flashing his perimeter shooting ability from three point range. Extremely impactful with not only how he leverages his physical tools to impact the game but an also his diverse skillset, look for Avent to be part of the catalyst behind Bergen Catholic's offensive success from different spots on the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='2342647' first='Rashawn' last='Williams'] | 6'3" F 2026 Plainfield   A physically imposing and powerfully built forward with an aggressive downhill mindset who puts an immense amount of pressure on the rim throughout the course of a game, [player_tooltip player_id='2342647' first='Rashawn' last='Williams'] has shown how effective he can be as a scorer within Plainfield's offense by consistently using his strength and physical frame to his advantage. Williams consistently leverages his sturdy frame to establish his presence on the interior and attack the paint, routinely embracing contact and powering through defenders to create and capitalize off quality looks around the basket. He also makes his presence felt on the glass, displaying relentless energy as a rebounder and using his physicality to routinely win battles on the boards. Combining his physicality with a quick second jump, Williams consistently crashed the boards and secured rebounds on both the offensive and defensive ends. An extremely pivotal and reliable piece to the different things this Plainfield offense likes to do, look for Williams to try to establish and maintain much of the same physical presence he has found success doing throughout the season against the size and length of Bergen Catholic's frontcourt.   [player_tooltip player_id='2202019' first='Alex' last='Mazzella'] | 5'8" G 2027 Bergen Catholic   A tough and scrappy guard whose overall skillset translates well to being effective both on and off the ball, [player_tooltip player_id='2202019' first='Alex' last='Mazzella'] has showcased much of that versatility and value he brings to the floor in his first year since transferring to Bergen Catholic. Whenever the offense has called for it, Mazzella has found ways to orchestrate the offense, putting teammates in the right spots on the floor while also remaining a legitimate scoring threat—particularly from the outside with his ability to knock down in rhythm looks from the perimeter while also taking advantage of the defensive rotations that follow a lot of Bergen Catholic's different actions, to attack driving lanes off the bounce. Mazzella rarely forces the action, instead showing a natural feel for the game and making smart reads that keep defenses honest. That approach has been evident in Bergen Catholic's run to winning it all this season, where the different ways he contributes have added important layers to the Crusaders' offensive flow and will look to highlight much of that ability in Bergen Catholic's quest to make a run in this year's Throne National Championship.   [player_tooltip player_id='3273627' first='Devin' last='Thomas'] | 6'2" G 2026 Plainfield   A highly important and reliable contributor to the success of Plainfield's offense, [player_tooltip player_id='3273627' first='Devin' last='Thomas'] has routinely demonstrated his value throughout the course of Plainfield's historic season. Known for being a confident threat off the ball, especially as a perimeter shooter, Thomas has paired compact fluid shooting mechanics with an aggressive shot seeking mentality, to consistently excel as a key spot up shooter. Thomas has demonstrated his ability to be a confident and in rhythm off ball shot maker who thrives as both a spot up shooter as well as a movement shooter. Look for Thomas to continue to display much of that ability as Plainfield looks to make a run in this year's Throne National Championship.   [player_tooltip player_id='2414310' first='Bridgie' last='McMillan'] | 6'5" F 2028 Bergen Catholic   A versatile wing who brings relentless energy and effort and consistently finds ways to impact winning, [player_tooltip player_id='2414310' first='Bridgie' last='McMillan'] has strung together some strong moments standing out as a true difference maker throughout the course of his sophomore season. Offensively, he serves as a strong connective piece—knocking down outside shots, thriving in the open floor running the lanes and finishing in transition, and attacking closeouts to score efficiently at the rim. On the defensive end, McMillan's presence is always felt—pressuring ball handlers, defending multiple positions as a switchable defender, and contributing on the glass. Having remained a key factor in Bergen Catholic's success so far this season, look for him to exude much of the qualities of a true versatile plug and play forward who brings toughness and a team first mentality to this Bergen Catholic group aiming to make a national championship run, consistently elevating those around him.   [player_tooltip player_id='2347952' first='Jahlil' last='Owusu'] | 6'3" G 2027 Bergen Catholic   Having provided a legitimate scoring spark off the bench across multiple instances throughout the course of this season, [player_tooltip player_id='2347952' first='Jahlil' last='Owusu'] has given Bergen Catholic an instant offensive jolt at key moments in different games as the team worked to find its rhythm. Having stepped up big time, Owusu has impressed as a microwave scorer, stepping in confidently and asserting himself as a self assured guard capable of heating up quickly. He's scored efficiently, knocking down open shots from different areas on the floor while also navigating ball screens with patience and poise to generate a mix of tough finishes at the rim and soft touch layups around the basket. If at any point, Bergen Catholic finds themselves in a tight wire to wire battle, look for them to point to Owusu to give them some life offensively and rattle off a few tough buckets, much like he's done in the midst of his junior season.

The Throne National Championship— a single elimination, bracket style post season tournament featuring some of the nation's top high school basketball teams hosted by the National Basketball Players Association and Gold Level Sports and Entertainment is returning for another year to American Dream in East Rutherford, NJ. With Rainier Beach (WA) having to withdraw from this year's tournament as a result of too many injuries, this year's field includes two New Jersey programs— Plainfield High School and Bergen Catholic, who are actually set to face off in the first round against each other. With a number of high profile prospects set to headline this postseason invitational, let's dive into those prospects who everyone should have an eye ahead of the action later this week.