BERGEN-PASSAIC TOP 20!

GARDENSTATEHOOPS PRE-SEASON TOP 20!1.) DON BOSCO PREP– Prep is coming back still loaded and ready to make more noise and hoping to finish where they left off..In the T.O.C. Championship! Led by Rutgers commit Ron Harper and 1st team All-State Forward Marcellus Earlington Prep will look to Senior Matt Herasme and Junior Vic Konopka to fill the void left from the lost of Chris Paul, Charlie Babin, Manley Dorme and Chris Lovisolo to graduation! Senior Mike Concannon will man the point guard spot! Three St.Anthony transfers (Joshua Cash, Isaiah Williams and Wilton Sylvestre), a Cherokee H.S. transfer(Owen McGlashen) and California transfer ( Jordan Harper) will provide depth!

2.)  TEANECK— The Highwaymen bring back the most dynamic player in the area in Senior Ja’Quaye James! James should surpass the 2,000 point plateau this year! Senior Jayden Dawson and Senior Corey Gordon(coming off injury) should have expanded roles, but the big help should come from Junior Nadame Tucker and Seniors Aaron Sanchez and Sage Robinson! Senior Darius Ashby will also provide help off the bench!

3.) BERGEN CATHOLIC— Bergen is a young squad, but still experienced! They are led by Junior Guard Doug Edert and Junior Guard Jason Earle in the backcourt with Sophomore Matt Zona, Junior Zach Fremantle, Junior Myles Wilmouth and Senior Mike Koch up front! This team has been through a lot of tough battles and are more than ready to take on any challenge!

4.) HACKENSACK— The Comets are deep! Youngstown commit Atiba Taylor and Senior B.J. Saliba will be the catalyst for Hackensack’s squad! Senior’s Razeyah Surrell, Chandler Williams, Junior Isa Brown and newcomer Senior Branden Hogue-Hicks will make up the frontcourt! Senior Toren Portee is a top returning player in the backcourt, while Sophomore Seth Brown,  Amire Walker, Junior Jelani Bowden will provide needed fire power off the bench!

5.) KENNEDY— Senior Jaylen Colon is one of the top players in the area and will lead the Knights! Senior backcourt mate Jamir Lattimore is the defensive stopper, while Junior Avante Gilbert, Junior Joshual White, Sophomore’s Deishon Harrison and Jalen Hargrove are all factors to Kennedy’s attack! Kennedy hopes Junior Gemir Robinson can come back from injuries and be a factor! Senior Zhimiar Canty is a true threat from the three line and Freshman Jae’waun Abrams will be a fun watch!

6.) WAYNE HILLs—-This could easily be a flip-flop with Kennedy as Wayne Hills brings back 4 of last years 5 starters!  They are led by Senior Guard Joey Belli! Senior Justin Wills, Senior Jason Modak and Senior Patrick Gilmore are the other returning starters from last years team that came off a 20-7 season!  Wayne Hills hope they can get help from Junior Jake Belli or Junior Pulast Thaker for that next option!

7.)  ST. JOSEPH—- After losing Chauncey Hawkins, Joe Radi and Isaac Hippolyte to graduation, St. Joe’s wil be regrouping! Senior Smith Vilbert will be looked upon to put up numbers, along with Senior Justin Sykes!

8.) DWIGHT-ENGLEWOOD— Junior Jordan McKoy is one of the best in the area and he will be the catalyst for D.E.! Junior Guard Judah McIntyre and Senior Tony DeBellis are also tough players who will have to make up the lost of Tyson Etienne(transfer)! Sophomore Aiden Pink will provide perimeter shooting!

9.) RIDGEWOOD—-Senior Michael Schretter, Senior Tommy Carver and Junior Ben Geraghty come back from a team that was one game away from a Group 4 North championship!

10.)  RAMAPO—-Senior Jason Oppler and Junior K.C. Hunt will lead Ramapo as the one thing that can be counted on is Ramapo will play hard!Ramapo needs a strong Season from 6’6 Sophomore Max Pernetti!

11.) WAYNE VALLEY— Junior Mark Howell is a bigtime scorer and Seniors A.J. Tedesco, Tom Santaniello and Zaid Hussein give Valley an experienced team that should battle for a League and possible County title!

12.)  ST. MARY—- F.D.U. commit Marc Dadika is as skilled a big man as there is in the state! He will be the focal point for opposing defenses so Senior Colin Hyland, Alex May and Don Bosco Prep transfer Junior Nick Boyd will have to take the load off!

13.) NORTHERN VALLEY/DEMAREST—- Senior Jake Runyon leads a balanced Northern Valley squad! Senior guard Joe Rotunde, Zach Stimmel and Austin Alberici will be looked upon to have big years!

14.) OLD TAPPAN—- Senior’s Bryce Nash, Bryan Baker and Sal DeBenedetto are the key players to the success of Old Tappan!

15,)  PASCACK VALLEY— Senior Alex Lin is an adept scorer who can put up big numbers! His play will dictate the kind of season P.V. has !  Senior’s Justin Schaumberger and Matt Harris  will also be key contributors!

16.) WEST MILFORD— Senior Andrew Finke and Junior Josiah Basket are the top returning scorers, but Chris Gomez and Zack Licursi will also be needed for West Milford to improve on it’s record from a year ago!

 17.) ENGLEWOOD— Senior George Garrison is a stud as Englewood May be sleeper squad! Junior Martini Martin and Senior Marcus Robinson can put up numbers and the return of Senior Macio Robinson could be the missing piece for them to make a League championship run!

18.) PATERSON CHARTER— Charter has improved on it’s depth as they can go eight to ten deep now! The addition of Junior Rajah Cameron and Bashir Byrd helps them overcome the lost of Ramir Davis, Jahki Clarke and Dazmir Staton! Junior Joe Collazo, Sophomore Sadiki Miller also will be key players for the Lions!

19.) RIVER DELL—- Probably ranked lower than they should be River Dell always plays hard nose tough basketball! Senior’s David Estevez, Jack Capasso, Alex Rivera and Sal Albanese are the leaders of this squad!

20.)  EASTSIDE— The Ghost still have good athletes that should come together as the season goes on! Senior Lamar Johnson is an outstanding long range shooter who should again lead Passaic county in scoring!

NEXT: GARDENSTATEHOOPS TOP 20 STATE TEAMS  AND GARDENSATEHOOPS 1ST BERGEN-PASSAIC TOP 25 SENIOR RANKINGS!