<p>The state tournament is right around the corner with the first games tipping off on Monday. Group 4 should be an exciting tournament to watch as two of the four sectional finals were decided at the buzzer. Here are the under the radar prospects to watch in Group 4 during the state tournament.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1045716" first="EJ" last="Matthews-Spratley"], 6’2 SG Cherry Hill East 2022</strong></p>
<p>Matthews-Spratley has had a big senior season for the Cougars as he is the team’s top scorer. The 6’2 guard is at his best attacking the basket as he is a good finisher and does not mind drawing contact. Matthew-Spratley is more than just a slasher as he can also score in the mid-range and knock down open jumpers from distance. He is a good defender and has a good chemistry with Muhlenberg commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="931022" first="Drew" last="Greene"]</strong>. Matthews-Spratley is a tough guard prospect who should have big games in the state tournament for Cherry Hill East.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933696" first="Yasen" last="Crawford"], 5’11 PG Paterson Kennedy 2022</strong></p>
<p>The Knights are looking to retain their sectional title and Crawford will be a reason they repeat. The 5’11 guard has a good handle, which he uses to beat his defender off the bounce and finish around the basket. Crawford has a nice release on his jumper and can make opponents pay for giving him space on the perimeter. He plays with quick hands on the defensive end and gets his teammates involved in the half court. Crawford is a quick floor general prospect who will set the tone for Paterson Kennedy during the state tournament.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1146391" first="Zander" last="Barraza"], 6’0 PG Westfield 2022</strong></p>
<p>Davidson signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1018572" first="Sean" last="Logan"] </strong>has been a force all season for the Blue Devils, which should create open opportunities for Barraza on the perimeter. The 6’0 guard is a sniper from distance as he has smooth shooting stroke and can bury triples in bunches. Barraza moves exceptionally well off the ball, creating open jumpers and layups for himself. He is a good rebounder for a guard and gets deflections on the defensive end. Barraza is a sharpshooting guard who should hit big shots for Westfield during the state tournament.</p>
<p><strong>Jon Okocha, 6’3 G/F Monroe 2022</strong></p>
<p>The Okocha triplets have been huge for Monroe over the course of the season with Jon leading the team in scoring. The 6’3 wing has a nice release on his jumper and shoots the ball with confidence from distance. Okocha is more than just a shooter as he can also get to the rim and finish through contact. He is a strong rebounder and can defend multiple positions on the floor. Okocha is looking to lead Monroe to a deep run in the Central Jersey Group 4 tournament.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="901968" first="Aidan" last="Anderson"], 6’2 SG Lenape 2022</strong></p>
<p>Anderson has been the perfect complement to Rutgers signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850667" first="Derek" last="Simpson"]</strong> as he is capable of putting up big numbers on the perimeter. The 6’2 guard attacks the basket with a purpose as he does not mind drawing contact and is a strong finisher around the rim. Anderson can also score in the mid-range and moves well off the ball. He is an underrated passer and is a solid on-ball defender. Anderson is a gritty guard prospect who should have big games for Lenape in the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Prospects to Watch:</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Nigel Merville, 6’0 PG Linden 2022</strong></p>
<p><strong>Nick Crane, 6’2 SG Ridgewood 2022</strong></p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1025355" first="Keith" last="Adame"], 6’1 CG Jackson Memorial 2023</strong></p>
<p><strong>Bryce Stokes, 6’3 SG Paterson Eastside 2023</strong></p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1017198" first="DJ" last="Germann"], 5’11 PG Egg Harbor 2023</strong></p>
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading
Already a subscriber?
Log in