BERGEN-PASSAIC COUNTY PRESEASON TOP 25!

With the 2018-19 Highschool Basketball Season about to begin December 14th, Gardenstatehoops has made it’s Preseason Top 25 to start the Year!

1.) Bergen Catholic(pic)– This should be the Crusaders year as not only will they be the best team in the area, but battling to be the best in the State! B.C. is led by Xavier recruit Zach Freemantle who has turned into one of the best bigs in the State! St.Peters commit guard Doug Edert , Junior forward Matt Zona and Senior wing Jason Earle are all high level players. The key addition is Junior point guard Raejon Figures who is a tremendous floor leader. Senior Justin Regis, Sean Regis, and Senior Jason Larranaga are veterans that should give them a lift. Teams need to be prepared for the dynamic freshman guard William Richardson!

2.) Don Bosco Prep– Don’t think this is going to be as much a downfall as people may think. Despite, the loss of D-1 college players Ron Harper (Rutgers) and Marcellus Earlington (St.Johns) Prep still has a formidable squad. Denver U. commit Owen McGlashen and West Point commit Vic Konopka are the leaders of a team that can go  deep in the rotation! Junior guard Myles Ruth is a great addition for Prep and Junior guard Isaiah Williams is a solid tough guard with Senior Kyle Maurer one of the best shooters in the area! Senior Patrick O’Gorman should be major contributor.     

3.) Kennedy– The Knights are the best team in Passaic County and is a veteran group that has battled top teams every year.! Senior forward Avante Gilbert is the go to guy for Kennedy with help from solid Senior guard Joshuel White and Junior point guard Deishon Harrison. Kennedy is a team with a multitude of players that can go deep into the roster! Senior forwards Jahmir Tyrell and Germir Robinson will provide offensive  options and Robinson is a tenacious defender! Senior forward Dejourn Cook will be a key addition on the inside and Junior Jalen Hargrove is a versatile player who can score inside and knockdown perimeter shots! Junior wing Jaymeer Holton is a very good athlete who can finish around the rim! Sophomore guard Jae’waun Abrams and Freshman guard Jayquan Briggs are a dynamic duo that should cause havoc whenever they are on the floor!

4). Ramapo– Senior K.C. Hunt is one of the best players in the Bergen- Passaic area and Lafayette commit Neal Quinn puts Ramapo in the top 5 teams in the area! Senior guard John Whooley and Junior forward Max Pernetti are very good players, but the key to Rampo’s success will be the play from the point guard spot. Senior Kyle Hroncich will man it, and expect big things from freshman guard Brady Muller. Senior Matt Wingfield, Senior Anthony Valvano, Senior Justin Hu, as well as sophomores Christopher Valvano and Nicholas Estevez will contribute.

5). St. Joseph (Montvale)– Not a shock if St. Joseph ends up in the Bergen Jamboree finals! They are that good but under the radar! Senior Smilth Vilbert will man the middle for Joe’s and he will be surrounded by a strong supporting cast in versatile Senior wing Chris Manon, Junior forward Ansley Almanor, Junior guard Dyree Rogers and Sophomore guard Nazir Williams! 

6.) Hackensack– The Comets will have to overcome the lost of D-1 recruits Atiba Taylor and B.J. Saliba not to mention the loss of Toren Portee and Brandon Hoque-Hicks, but they have talented youth coming up that should make them difficult. Junior wing Seth Brown will be the main catalyst for Hackensack. He has All-County talent and has the ability to take over a leadership role! Senior long-range sharp shooter Jelani Carter has exceptional range and the ability to light it up from deep! The new back court of Juniors Amire Walker and Kevin Mateo must jell quickly and Senior Isa Brown has to be a major contributor down low! Freshman Shawn Taylor is a hot prospect with a load of talent and should be ready Day 1!

7.) Wayne Valley– Seniors Anthony D’Arienzo, Mark Howell and Patrick Cohen are Wayne Valley’s triple threat! D’Arienzo and Howell is one of the best backcourts in the area and compliment each other well! Cohen has developed into a top notch post player who’s an exceptional rebounder.

8.) Teaneck– Senior Nadame Tucker and Senior Vernon Johnson will be the leaders for a revamped Teaneck squad! Sophomore D.J. Simpson Jr, has a big upside and Senior KaiSing Lilavois will be looked to for scoring! Teaneck picked up big addition in Freshman stud Deshawn Lecque!

9.) Dwight- Engelwood– Dwight- Englewood will rely on its Merrimack commit Jordan McKoy and Senior guard Judah McIntyre! The two veteran players are battle tested. Senior Harrison Ruff will be looked at to make shots from the perimeter while Senior Richardo Vega has to be strong in the interior! Juniors Aiden Pink and Noah Pean will be important cogs, as well as Senior Gabe Murphy.

10.) Englewood– High scoring Senior Owen Roberts is the go to player for Dwight Morrow! He can score with the best of them! Senior guard Martini Martin will quarterback the offense and his play will dictate how far they go this season! Senior Jihad Edmond, Miles Barksdale, Daniel Dwyer and Matthew Cho are experienced players who can compliment Roberts and Martin well. Englewood has a nice core coming up this year.

11.) Ridgewood– Senior Ben Geraghty is the leader of this deep Maroon squad! Juniors James Miller, Devin Johnson, Matt Favieri and Davis Oscher should form the starting lineup, with Sam Favieri and J0hn Kearney key components off the bench! Ridgewood will have an early gauge as they see Kennedy, Hackensack, and St. Joseph in 3 of their first 4 matchups! 

12.) Paterson Charter– P.C. goes 10 deep with experience. They are led by Senior Bashir Byrd, who has turned into one of the best players in Passaic County! Senior Rajah Cameron’s play will be key for Charter to go far this year! Senior Joe Collazo, Junior Zaire Robinson, Junior Caleb Ruffin and Sophomore Michael Ferguson will man the interior, while Junior Marquis Harris, Junior Sadiki Miller, Sophomore Jahar Pierce and Junior Troy Medlock will man the backcourt! Keep an eye on Freshman guard Marlon Harris who plays beyond his years.

13.) Paterson Eastside– This is the team that cannot be slept on! After off- the court issues the Ghosts have righted themselves and bring a talented team with experience. Senior Gody Jeannys has the goods to be special! Senior Michael Salvidor is a good perimeter shooter with range! Senior Anthony Dunbar is a do-it all talent with athleticism, while Seniors Demonte Johnson and Kentrell Hodges will be key contributors! They will be helped with the addition of guard Daizon Pauldo, who can knock down the three ball.

14,) Hasbrouck Heights– Heights will go as far as Seniors Jasiah Purdie and Anthony Palmer takes them! They make-up one of the best guard combos in Bergen County! Sophomore Kungh Tsering will be looked at to provide interior play!

15.) Bergen Tech– Senior Marc Martinez is a prolific scorer who is one of the best in the area! Senior’s Brian Ibeabuchi and Howell Nunez are great complimentary players who can each have big games at anytime!

16.) Ramsey– Ramsey will be led by Junior Sean Hansen! Senior’s Kevin Foelsch and Brooks Thompson are important pieces for Ramsey!

17.) West Milford– Senior Josiah Basket is one of the best shooters in the area and can carry a squad with his stroke! Senior’s Chris Gomezand Brian Lecursi! Junior Kevin Raffele is also a strong addition!

18.) DePaul–The Spartans will go on the play of Senior Bryan Henderson! Junior guard John O’Reilly is a knockdown shooter! Junior’s Pat Lundgren and Anthony Corbo must be a presence inside Watch Sophomore Nasir Brown who should be a factor this season!

19.) Fairlawn– Junior Darius Sohikish can score with the best and put it on the floor! Senior Edwin Munizand Junior’s John Burek, Or Sundjyevsky and Jamin Reyes gives the Cutters a legit shot!

20.) Clifton– Senior Armani Brinson and Senior Lazor Jovanich are the leaders of a Clifton team that should be in the County mix, Senior Dallas Strickland and Junior Ian Felix are important cogs!

21.) Westwood– Should be battling at the end with an experienced Senior team, led by Xavier Landers, Dylan Cipella, Steve Riedel and Scott Rosenfeld!

22.) Bogota– Bogota will be led by Seniors Ben Lukabu and Argenis Soriano! Sophomore Ashanti Caviness should have a breakout year!

23.) St. Mary’s– St. Mary’s will ride the back of Senior Nick Boyd who’s coming off a major injury but seems to be 100% back. Senior Rob Carozza is a player!

24.) Rutherford– Seniors Lawson Fisher, Brelyn Jones, and Abelany Mendez will be at the forefront of Rutherford’s success.

25.)  Hawthorne—-Senior T.J. Palmer will lead Hawthorne after the loss of 3 starters, including Dallas Hoffman! Junior Shane Rooney, Junior’s Jalen Palmer and Gio Morel need to be huge contributors!