Under the Radar Teams by Group

<p>The summer is beginning to wind down with September starting in a couple of weeks. Players are getting ready for the start of school after an interesting summer without a true AAU circuit. Teams across the state are looking to have a strong 2020-21 season as they are looking to build upon their success from the previous season. Here are the top sleeper teams in each group.</p> <p><strong>Group 1: Overbrook</strong></p> <p>The Rams may have finished with the top seed in the South Jersey sectional, but they were upset in the quarterfinals by Gloucester. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="926736" first="Davon" last="Thornton"] </strong>will be missed, but leading scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1031004" first="Damian" last="Rawls"]</strong> returns. He is at his best attacking the basket as he can finish through contact and make plays in the lane. <strong>Kenneth Juanico </strong>is a tough forward prospect who does the dirty work down low, while rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933718" first="Devon" last="Johnson"] </strong>is in line for a for breakout season. University and Bound Brook are the top teams in Group 1, but watch out for Overbrook as the Rams could make some noise this season.</p> <p><strong>Group 2: Pascack Hills</strong></p> <p>The Cowboys made the North Jersey 1 Group 2 final and they should be back there again in 2020-21. Leading scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013017" first="Jacob" last="Morales"] </strong>returns and is ready for a big senior season. The 6’4 wing can attack the basket off the bounce,but can also knock down shots from behind the arc. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900363" first="Aidan" last="Kehoe"] </strong>also returns down low and his growth in the offseason has been huge. The 6’10 big man has developed more confidence down low and has the ability to truly dominate the paint on both ends. Pascack Hills’ dynamic duo is good enough to propel the Cowboys deep into the Group 2 tournament.</p> <p><strong>Group 3: Burlington Township</strong></p> <p>The Falcons made a surprise run to the Central Jersey Group 3 semifinals and they should be in the hunt again this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="929681" first="Emmanuel" last="Ayetigbo"] </strong>departs, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="929529" first="Daniel" last="Thomas"] </strong>returns to run the show. The 5’10 guard is tough as nails and is unafraid of challenging shot-blockers around the rim. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013049" first="Jordan" last="Dotson"]</strong> brings athleticism and toughness down low, while rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933050" first="Jordan" last="Poole"] </strong>has the potential to break out this season. Burlington Township has made the sectional semifinals in each of the last two seasons, but the Falcons have the potential to get over the hump in 2020-21.</p> <p><strong>Group 4: Westfield</strong></p> <p>The Blue Devils won 21 games in 2019-20 and they have the potential to duplicate the feat this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013052" first="Logan" last="Howland"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1018553" first="Jack" last="Spellman"]</strong> return down low, creating one of the top forward duos in the Union County Conference. Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1016687" first="Ryan" last="Friedberg"] </strong>is a talented wing who should get more touches on the offensive end. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1033429" first="Pete" last="Meixner"] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1018552" first="Ezra" last="Budashewitz"]</strong> will both get an opportunity to run the offense, while lanky <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1018572" first="Sean" last="Logan"]</strong> will be looking to make his mark on both ends of the floor. Westfield’s combination of skill,athleticism and experience make the Blue Devils a team to watch in Group 4.</p> <p><strong>Non-Public A: St. Joe’s Metuchen</strong></p> <p>The Falcons have always been one of the better teams in Non-Public A over the past couple of seasons and that trend should continue in 2020-21. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933736" first="Amari" last="Campbell"]</strong> returns to run the offense and will get help in the backcourt with Union Catholic transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900327" first="Elijah" last="Barlow"]</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013011" first="Kody" last="Robinson"] </strong>is ready to make an impact on the perimeter as well, while forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013010" first="Miles" last="Whye"] </strong>has breakout potential. Rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013100" first="Khalid" last="Brown"]</strong> may have been on the JV team last season, but the lanky lefty is full of talent.  St. Joe’s Metuchen has the potential to go far in the South Jersey Non-Public A playoffs with its combination of length, athleticism and talent.</p> <p><strong>Non-Public B: Saddle River Day</strong></p> <p>The Rebels were seconds away from making the Non-Public B North semifinals and they have the potential to make it this season. <strong>Richie Machado </strong>had a strong freshman season and is primed to take a big step forward in his second varsity season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="929513" first="Ryan" last="Cassels"] </strong>is a big-time shooter from behind the arc and is capable of knocking down triples in bunches. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013023" first="Sean" last="O’Neill"] </strong>is a skilled wing prospect who is ready for a bigger role on the offensive end with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="896638" first="Connor" last="Cyran"]</strong>’s graduation. Non-Public B North is the toughest group in New Jersey, but Saddle River Day has the talent to make some noise in 2020-21.</p>