Chris Jones big senior season has paid big dividends for the 6’5 swingman! Chris waited late to up his offers and it worked out as  Jones has committed to play for the University of Pittsburgh next season! The recruiting got heavy over the last few weeks as Coach Jamie Dixon caught a glimpse of Jones in the Bergen Jamboree Tournament! When asked why he chose Pittsburgh, Jones said” It was a great school and a great Coach and I have a great relationship with assistant Coach Brandin Knight who is a Jersey guy! He also commented that his parents are” happy as hell”! Teaneck Coach Jerome Smart said” CJ is a proven winner! He’ll play two to three positions there before he’s done. CJ is the official blueprint of what we want a Teaneck HS basketball player to be” Jones who is averaging 21 points a game for his undefeated Teaneck team wanted to thank Coach Smart, Jim Salmon,the Director of the Playaz AAU program which Chris was a big part of, his parents and his brother John Jones! Hoop Journal would like to congratulate Chris on his choice and hope for nothing but the best for him and his family!!

Garfield, N.J…….Senior Josh Leclerc felt it a little bit! Not only was he trying to win a Group 3 North State game, but he was also 8 points away from his 1,000th career point! After scoring 2 points in the 1st half, Leclerc scored the first 9 points of the 3rd quarter, including a steal and layup with 3:40 left in the quarter for his 1,000th career point! The run spearheaded the Boilermakers to a 54-49 win over Wayne Hills! Leclerc(pictured right)) scored 11 of his team’s 13 points in the 3rd and finished the game with 22 points and 5 assists! Junior Jahad Pompey(bottom) came off the bench to provide energy and help Leclerc with the scoring as he scored 16 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and finished an alley-oop pass from Leclerc with a two handed dunk! Wayne Hills would not quit as Junior Gesim Usini hit 3″triples” in a row late in the game to cut the lead 50-47 with 30 seconds left! But, Leclerc made two free throws and Junior Isaiah Morales hit another to offset another bucket from Hills for the final score! Usini finished with 16 points and Junior Preston Quinn added 13 points for Hills! Garfield will now host West Milford Wednesday!

St. Peters College, Jersey City, N.J…..For the first time since 1975, Hudson Catholic took home the Hudson County Championship! They did it the right way, defeating the 4 time defending champion St. Peters Prep 67-53 and winning their 19th straight game! Prep strategy was to box and one Junior Reggie Cameron and keep him from getting off! Well Cameron(bottom right) did just enough as he shot 7 for 11 from the floor for 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds! His 11 first half points led the Hawks early and when he got into foul trouble in the second half Junior Mike Young(bottom left) took over, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the 2nd half! He also grabbed 14 boards! Cameron and Young were far from the only Hawks to play well as it started when Junior Kavon Stewart(10pts,10asts) picked up his second foul in the 1st quarter and sat the entire half! Junior Travis Flagg(7asts), Freshman Nassir Barrino and Junior Kyle McLeggan made up for the lost of Stewart! Then wings Raekwon Kelly(11pts) and Grant Ellis(6pts,5asts) put their mark on the contest! Hudson Catholic took a 49-33 lead into the 4th quarter as Stewart came back to ignite them in the 3rd! The last time Hudson Catholic won the County final former pro players Jim Spanarkel and Mike O’Koren were leading the squad! Junior Sean Cummings led St.Peters Prep with 18 points, while Sophomore Austin White had 17 and Junior Trevis Wyche added 11! Senior Tyrone O’Garro was held to a free throw in the game!