Northeast Fall Invitational: Five Takeaways from Day 2
The second day of the Northeast Fall Invitational was just as exciting as the first. Games started at 8 a.m. as 14 different teams made up the 10-game slate. Here are five takeaways from the day’s slate. 1. Roselle Catholic…
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Continue ReadingThe second day of the Northeast Fall Invitational was just as exciting as the first. Games started at 8 a.m. as 14 different teams made up the 10-game slate. Here are five takeaways from the day’s slate.
1. Roselle Catholic is the best team in New Jersey
The season may not start for almost two months, but the tournament hosts established themselves as one of the favorites to win the Tournament of Champions. The Lions dismantled Roman Catholic 82-46, despite the Philadelphia parochial school touting 2022 five star forward Jalen Duren. All nine players for Roselle Catholic scored with big man Cliff Omoruyi leading the way with 16 points.
Newcomers C.J. Wilcher and Niels Lane give the Lions shooting and playmaking on the perimeter. Josh Rivera and Corey Floyd Jr. rarely saw the court last season, but now look ready to take the state by storm. Roselle Catholic has won the last two Non-Public B North titles and could make it a three-peat this season.
2. Jamir Watkins could lead the state in scoring
Showcase events are always filled with scoring as teams play little defense. Players want to prove to coaches that they can score against anyone, which cold lead to forced shots. While Trenton Catholic’s Jamir Watkins did force shots late in the game, the VCU commit wound up with 34 points in a 57-55 loss to Bergen Catholic.
He scored from everywhere on the court as the Crusaders had no answer for him on defense. Watkins put up over 18 points per game last year and that number should increase in his senior year. The Iron Mikes lost their top scorer Khalif Battle to graduation, so it’s not too much of a stretch to see Watkins leading New Jersey in scoring.
3. New Jersey’s sophomore class is elite
While it may be a while before they’ll be able to step on a college court, but the sophomores at the Northeast Fall Invitational could play. Mark Armstrong again scored 27 points for St. Peter’s Prep, but backcourt mate Alif Bass chipped in 13 points. Bergen Catholic’s dynamic sophomore duo of Will Richardson and Julian Brown were instrumental in the Crusaders’ victories over Trenton Catholic and Archbishop Carroll
Otega Oweh was a menace attacking the basket as he shot 21 free throws in Rutgers Prep’s first game. Jayden Pierre and Denver Anglin made big shots down the stretch to help their teams pull out victories. Sophomores are supposed to take a big step from freshman year, which the ones at the Northeast Fall Invitational have done.
4. Zach Martini is one of the most underrated players in the state
Gill St. Bernard’s is in need of a go-to player with three-time all-state selection Paul Mulcahy. Princeton commit Martini was a solid player for the Knights last season, but proved he was ready for much more at the Northeast Fall Invitational. The senior forward carried Gill St. Bernard’s to a comeback victory over Roman Catholic, including the go-ahead three-pointer.
Martini outplayed Duren during the final 10 minutes and was seemingly unstoppable late in the game. His offensive versatility is huge for the Knights as they do not have a true interior presence. Martini is a talented player that should receive more press than he gets.
5. Elizabeth can upset one of the state’s top teams
Last season, Elizabeth had one of its best years ever as the Minutemen went 26-2 and lost to Newark East Side in the North 2 Group 4 Final. They enter 2019-20 with high expectations as leading scorer Jordan Price returns. The undersized power forward plays bigger than his size, which was highlighted with an emphatic and-1 dunk through traffic against St. Thomas Aquinas.
DJ Watkins and Pierre combined for 29 of the team’s 51 points, while Evan Perez and Pascal Dodard stifled a talented St. Thomas Aquinas backcourt. The Minutemen lack a true interior post presence, but they are a tough team that knows how to protect the paint. Elizabeth may not have the size and flash of some of New Jersey’s top teams, but the Minutemen’s stifling defense could help them beat some of the state’s elite teams.