GARDENSTATEHOOPS BERGEN-PASSAIC TOP 20

Gardenstatehoops Top 20 is led by the regular perennial powers of the last few years! Here is the list!

 

1.  PATERSON EASTSIDE– With the core players back Eastside is primed to make a big run, not only in the Passaic-Bergen area but throughout the State! Division 1 prospects in 6’6 Asem Johnson and 6’7 Shakur Juiston lead the Ghost, but the play of 6’6 Marquel Sheffield and 5’7 guard Nhazir Smith will be the key to how far this team goes! Eastside is also looking for contributions from Senior Aaryn Abrams, Junior Terrell Griffin, Taj Upshaw and Marlon Eubanks!

 

2.  TEANECK— Teaneck has four new starters, but a Teaneck team can never be counted out and led by Sophomore stud Leondre Washington they will still be the team to be in Bergen County! Electrifying  Freshman Ja’Quaye James will be a major contributor right away! Senior Zach Olukanni will be the key post man and his play will be the key! Junior Geanni Bannerman will have to step up for teaneck to continue it’s Bergen county dominance!

 

3.  BERGEN CATHOLIC— Bergen Catholic looks primed to give Teaneck a run for their money! 6’7 St. Joseph U. commit Pierfrancisco Oliva is a versatile player who can do it all and Senior Anthony Uribe and Senior Justin Salem are both high level players that have big game experience! The key to their season may well be the play of  Junior guard Riley Welsh and Sophomore guard Taj Benning!

 

4. PATERSON KENNEDY–  Kennedy will be ready to compete hard against Eastside this season as they now have size to compete! 6’7 Senior Ahmad Baker and 6’7 Junior Kareem Scott give the Knights formidable front! The Knights strength is their guards as led by Junior Alphonso Gee and Senior’s Jevon Rawls and Alim Jones! Junior Jalaini Morris and Junior transfer Jordan Rodriguez make up one of the best guard combos in the area! Kennedy will also expect contributions from Junior Raekwon Alexander!

 

5.  DON BOSCO PREP— Don Bosco Prep lost Paul Jorgensen, Tom Sweeney and Jack Ely and still have enough to be a major players to be a big factor this season! It is time for 6’6 American U. commit Lonnie Rivera to take his place as Prep’s go to player! Senior Amani Craddock has gotten better and better and is ready to take his place as one of the best guards in the area! Junior guard Brandon Anderson also brings a lot of game to the table! The key for prep may be the play of 6’7 big Will Downing who has improved tremendously!

 

6.   ST.JOSEPH— If St. Joe’s can get any type of inside play they will be a dangerous team! They have four starters back from last year led by Senior’s Sean McKinless, Andrew McGuire and Pat Doherty! Junior guard Nate Garvey and Sophomore guard Chauncey Hawkins bring swag to the Joe’s lineup! Still the play of football Duke commit John Giles-Harris and Junior Isaac Hypolyte will be key!

 

 

7.  WEST MILFORD— West Milford has a chance to really come on this season! Senior Noah Basket is one of the best point guards in the area and 6’9 Senior Pat Burke has become a much better post player with his improvement this summer! With the scoring coming from Senior Tom Pegel and Senior mike Otero the highlanders have a lot of weapons to come at you! Add in young freshman Andrew Finke and West milford will be a fun watch!

 

8. HACKENSACK— The Comets have a renewed squad and look ready to get back on the map! They are a young but talented team that will be a fun watch!  6’5 Junior Edward Emedoh and Sophomore Ahmed Bailey are the key returning starters! The addition of Teaneck transfer M.J. Richardson is a huge addition who should give them a automatic high percentage perimeter shooter! Add the talented Freshmen duo of 6-3 Atiba Taylor and 6’1 B.J. Saliba and the fun is just beginning for a team that will have highs and lows but will be right there at the end! 

 

9. WAYNE HILLS— The backcourt duo of Senior David Torres and Junior Dorian Hodge is as good as it gets in the area! Torres shooting and Hodge’s all around game make them a very hard guard! Senior Joey Kenney and Sophomore Justin Hodge gives Wayne Hills a solid core and a chance to be one of the best teams in Passaic County!

 

10.  NORTHERN HIGHLANDS— The sleeper squad in the top 10! 5’10 Senior Jack Bors can flat out play and 6’4 Richie Holle is a tough player with talent! Senior;s Alex Starr, Chris Bradbury and Tommy Bennewitz to go with Junior Eric Dworkin makes northern Highland a good experienced squad that’s looking to make big noise this season!

 

THE NEXT TEN!

11.  WAYNE VALLEY

12,  PASSAIC COUNTY TECH

13.  RAMAPO

14.  PASCACK HILLS

15.  ENGLEWOOD

16.  CRESSKILL

17.  ST. MARY’S

18. DEPAUL

19.  WESTWOOD

20. MANCHESTER