Paterson………. For Passaic Valley, they no longer have do it all guard Dom Coiro or three point shooter Mike Governali to be their leaders due to graduation. So it is time for guard Nick DiCristina(right) and forward Dave Clough(bottom) to finally take the lead! Both were big contributors last year, but now the ball has been put in their hands and it will be up to them to continue the recent success the program has had. DiCristina is a good ball handler who has a nice perimeter game, while Clough is a bruiser who doesn’t mind getting dirty. With help from junior Olumide Olajide and guard Jamir Lennon the Hornets don’t plan on missing a beat this coming season!

Jamaica, New York……………. IS8 Basketball in New York is the ultimate Highschool tournament in the East Coast if not the country, so to win it is hands down a huge accomplishment! So, for the Playaz Basketball Club ran by Jimmy Salmon(in blue) to walk away with the IS8 Championship is a credit to the program and New Jersey basketball as a whole! In a game that featured no less than 5 committed D1 players and a top 5 ranked player in the country in the Junior class,The Playaz, coached by Kyle Anderson Sr.(in black) and The Shooting Stars of New York gave the fans all they could ask for in a back and forth contest that was willed out by The Playaz 77- 73! The Playaz were led by 5’8 standout Myles Mack, who continues to leave a distinguished Highschool and A.A.U. legacy in his own right. The Rutgers commit finished with 24 points and took over the game in winning time! He scored 9 of the last 14 points of the game for the Playaz and was at his best hitting runners in the lane and knocking down a big trey to give them a 70-67 lead. As always, when you mention Mack(pictured left) you will not find 6’8 point forward Kyle Anderson(pictured right) far behind. Anderson, still only a Junior is a top 5 recruit in most publications and also is leaving a scholastic legacy that will be talked about for years.The IS8 regular season Player Of The Year,  Anderson finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks, including a huge one late in the game. They had to bring it though, as Cincinnati recruit Jermaine Sanders of The Shooting Stars refused to give it up without a fight. Sanders was the games leading scorer with 28 points and scored on a 3 point play to cut the score to 2 72-70  and then hit a trey to cut the lead to one 74-73.That’s when The Playaz Chuck(Rifleman) Oliver knocked down two free throws and Will Thompson hit another to clinch the game. Iowa St. recruit Tavon Sledge scored 20 for The Shooting Stars and Rutger’s other recruit Kadeem Jack finished with 12. Oliver finished with 18 for The Playaz.

           Notes:  Anderson will be putting a medical boot on to heal multiple bruises located on the bones of his right foot. He sustained the injuries during the Fab 48 Tournament in Las Vegas in July. He will wear the boot for 3 to 4 weeks. Anderson also is scheduled to make visits Nov. 5th at Xavier and Nov. 12th at U.C.L.A.  Englewood’s Zachary Anderson who is at C.J.E.T.O. prep school contributed big time for The Playaz, scoring 5 straight huge points to keep the game close when The Playaz were struggling! 

Paterson…….. Last season Hoop Journal called Hackensack one of the most disappointing teams of the season! Of course there was extenuating circumstances for that, but judging by their Fall League play The Comets seem ready to make up for all of last season! They again will go as far as Senior’s Tarik Bridgeman(pictured right) and Mensah Bright( left) will take them! Bridgeman’s leg injury last year was the main reason for the problems the team encountered. His health this year will be key to their success. Mensah played up and down last year and his ability to play at a high level is a must! They both possess great athleticism! Watching the games Hackensack will be putting a lot of trust in three Sophomores. Point guard Chris Myers, swingman Eugene Marshall and swingman Rashad Figures who returned home after a stint with Paramus Catholic will all be counted on to do big things for Hackensack. With help from Junior guard Gary Simpson, it will be very interesting to see where they take this up coming season!