GARDENSTATEHOOPS 2017 ALL-BERGEN-PASSAIC TEAM

In a year that saw miraculous runs by Don Bosco Prep and Teaneck and a bigtime scandal with Paterson Eastside Gardenstatehoops has chosen it’s All Bergen -Passaic County Team for this Season! Bergen County, particularly had a big basketball year as the above two teams each reached the New Jersey T.O.C.!

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  JA’QUAYE JAMES–JR.–TEANECK–No one has had as good a Season as Teaneck’s Junior point guard Ja’Quaye James! The 5’8 dynamo carried Teaneck to a 27-7 record, a Group 3 State Title for the second year in a row and another berth to the TOC where they lost to eventual State champ Patrick School! Losing last year’s Player of the Year Jawuan Daniels for the season and with fellow star Leondre Washington missing the first 11 games of the year after having to sit 30 days, James stepped up and carried the Highwaymen! He finished the season scoring more points than any player in the State with 791 points and is 2 points shy of being Teaneck’s alltime leading scorer with 1,827 points in his 3 year career! He averaged 24.7 points a game, 4.1 assists and 2.3 steals! Ja’Quaye scored 40 or more points three times and always stepped up big in big moments as witnessed when he scored all 21 of his points in the 2nd half and overtime to beat West Side in a TOC quarterfinal game and when he scored 25 points in their Group 3 title win over Ewing! James had a year for the ages and for that he is the GARDENSTATEHOOPS PLAYER OF THE YEAR! 

 

 

 

 

 

LEONDRE WASHINGTON  SR.–TEANECK– After sitting 30 days Leondre joined the Teaneck squad and helped take them to a Group 3 Title and a T.O.C. quarterfinal win! Washington who came back to the Highwaymen after transferring to Roselle Catholic formed the top backcourt duo arguably in the State with Ja’Quaye James! He averaged 21 points a game with a high of 41 points against Tenafly

 

 

MARCELLUS EARLINGTON  JR.–DON BOSCO PREP– Marcellus proved to be the toughest player to guard in the interior as he scored on anyone in the paint and was good enough to bring you to the three line and make a bucket! He led Don Bosco Prep to the T.O.C. title game against eventual winner The Patrick School! Marcellus averaged 16 points a game and 11 rebounds!

 

 

GABE STEFANINI  SR.–BERGEN CATHOLIC—One of the most mature games in the area Gabe was a big game player for a very good Bergen Catholic squad! Stefanini has committed to Columbia University which tells you he gets it done on the court and in the classroom! Gabe averaged 17 points a game

 

 

 

JUSTIN MINAYA  SR.–OLD TAPPAN— The 6’6 Division 1 prospect is one of the most versatile players in the area as he can play numerous positions and can guard many spots! Justin was a matchup nightmare as he led Old Tappan to a 19-9 record! Justin averaged 20 points per game and 11 rebounds

 

 

 

CHAUNCEY HAWKINS  SR.–ST.JOSEPH– The 5’9 guard had a spectacular Senior season as he led St.Joseph to a 22-6 year! Chauncey averaged 19 points a game with a high game of 38 against Pascack Valley! Chauncey is the second leading scorer in St.Joseph history!

 

 

TYSON ETIENNE SOPH–DWIGHT-ENGLEWOOD— Tyson took his game to another level this season as he became one of the area’s most prolific scorers! He led Dwight-Englewood to a24-5 record, a Conference championship in the NJIC-Liberty and the Semifinals of the Non-Public A against Hudson Catholic in which he scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds! Scored a season high 40 points against Secaucus and finished the year averaging 22 points a game!

 

JOEY BELLI–JR.–WAYNE HILLS—This feisty guard was one of the best playmakers in the area! Belli averaged 16 points a game and led Wayne Hills to a 20-7 record and a 10-0 mark in winning the Big North-Independence Conference!

 

 

 

 

TAJ BENNING–SR.–BERGEN CATHOLIC— Benning had an illustrious career at Bergen Catholic which resulted in a Division 1 commitment at Fairfield University! He averaged 18 points a game and led BC to a 22-7 record!

 

 

 

JAYLEN COLON–JR.–KENNEDY—Jaylen established himself as the go to guy for Kennedy this Season! He was one of the best guards in the area, averaging 17 points a game and 5 assists!

 

 

 

CHRIS PAUL–SR–DON BOSCO PREP– The leader of the TOC runner up, Chris was one of the most versatile players in the area Chris was able to guard anyone on the floor and did whatever was needed for his team to succeed and be a 30-2 squad! He averaged 13 a game but his game could not be measured on how many points he scored!

 

 

 

ATIBA TAYLOR–JR–HACKENSACK– Atiba is a matchup nightmare for most teams as his wingspan and improved range made it difficult to defend the 6’3 point guard! He averaged 21 points a game, including dropping 36 against Pascack Valley in a Bergen Jamboree contest and dished out 6 assists a contest!

 

 

 

MARC DADIKA–JR—ST.MARY’S– The 6’6 forward expanded his game to the point where Division 1 schools have taken notice! Marc scored his 1,000th point this Season and joins a family of Dadika’s with that accomplishment! Marc averaged 23 points and 13 rebounds with a 40 point game against River Dell and a 38 point game vs Queen Of Peace!

 

 

NICK GUILLEMAIN–SR.–PASCACK HILLS— Nick was the glue to Pascack Hills success as he led them to a 23-4 record! He averaged over 20 a game and is a two-time All-County player!

 

 

 

DALLAS HOFFMAN–JR–HAWTHORNE–Dallas led Hawthorne to one of their best years in the history of the school! They went 20-5 and won the NJIC-Colonial Conference with a 14-2 record! Dallas averaged 18 points a game and 9 rebounds!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GARDENSTATEHOOPS HONORABLE MENTIONS:  ZION BETHEA, ELIJAH HUTCHINS-EVERETT, EDDIE DAVIS–DEPAUL   QUINCY RUTHERFORD–EASTERN CHRISTIAN   JAHKI CLARKE, RAMIR DAVIS–PATERSON CHARTER    TITO RAMIREZ–PASSAIC VALLEY  ISAAC HIPPOLYTE, JOE RADI–ST. JOSEPH  CHARLIE BAGIN, RON HARPER–DON BOSCO PREP              BJ SALIBA, BRYCE DRAKEFORD –HACKENSACK  BORIS BERIC–LAKELAND  KENDALE BUTLER –HAWTHORNE  ANDREW FINKE–WEST MILFORD  MARK HOWELL, AJ TEDESCO–WAYNE VALLEY  TAMIR WILLIAMS–KENNEDY  JORDAN MCKOY, JUDAH MCINTYRE–DWIGHT-ENGLEWOOD  ALEX LIN, MATT VASEL, LEGEND DOMINGUEZ–PASCACK VALLEY  QUIN PEENE, MICHAEL SCHRETTER, TOMMY CARVER–RIDGEWOOD  MJ SCOTT–PARAMUS CATHOLIC  ADRIAN BAUCOM–TEANECK NIKO REGUS–HASBROUCK HEIGHTS  DOM MIGNONE–RUTHERFORD  JUSTIN HODGE, JASON MODAK–WAYNE HILLS  QUASIM WILSON–PASSAIC   JASON SHILL, MICHAEL MURPHY–PASCACK HILLS  MATT MONAGHAN–RIVER DELL KC HUNT– RAMAPO GEORGE GARRISON–ENGLEWOOD  LAMAR JOHNSON, AL-JUMU JOHNSON, TA’WAN GRIER– PATERSON EASTSIDE  JUSTIN ENSUNCHO–FAIRLAWN  STEVE LAI–BERGEN TECH  HARTON STEPHENSON, DANNY SANTANA–CLIFTON