Trenton, New Jersey………. The 8th annual Eddie Griffin Showcase didn’t turn out quite the way New Jersey wanted as the Philadelphia sophomore, junior and senior classes all came away with wins this year!

                                             Senior Game: Philadelphia 90     New Jersey 87

  Georgetown recruit Jabril Trawick scored 21 points in an entertaining senior game. Trawick came up big late in the game as he took home M.V.P. honors, but he got plenty of help from Pittsburgh University recruits John Johnson and Jalen Bond. Johnson was quiet early but went off in the 2nd half, scoring all 16 of his points after intermission. Bond started off strong for Philly, scoring 14 of his 18 points before the half. Jersey was led by Maryland recruit Sterling Gibbs. The Seton Hall Prep player was the best player on the floor this day for the Jersey crew, scoring 21 points and helping keep the game close by knocking down a 3 late to cut the lead to one 88-87. Trawick hit two free throws to make it the final score, after a desperate three fell short for Jersey. Ohio State recruit Laquinton Ross finished with 11 pointsThe local players contributing in the game was Rutgers recruit Myles Mack who finished with 7 points, St. Benedicts Vaughn Gray( 9 points) and Tyler Harris(5 points), St. Patrick Derrick Gordon( 4 points ) and East Orange Campus Mario Moody who finished with 7.

                                            Junior Game: Philadelphia 87     New Jersey 83

     Philadelphia’s Amile Jefferson of Friends Center H.S. and New Jersey’s Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony’s H.S. both proved why they are considered two of the best Juniors in the country! Jefferson, the game M.V.P. led Philly with 23 points and 7 rebounds and inspired them to the win late! Anderson( Jersey player of game) is a true stats guy who puts numbers up in all categories. He finished with 10 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds and 5 steals. The game was close the entire way, but Philly always seemed to be holding on to lead. They got strong play from 6’3 guard Ryan Arciadano(11pts, 3asts), 5’9 Maurice Watson( 8pts, 2asts) and a big trey from behind the arc from Constitution’s Daiquan Walker. Jersey got strong support from St. Anthony’s Jerome Frink who scored 17 points and pulled down 6 rebounds and 6’0 Seton Hall Prep guard Dallas Englin(12pts, 3asts) who electrified the crowd with his hops, throwing down 4 dunks in the contest. Dom Hoffman of Gill St. Bernards  added 6 points, while Newark Eastside’s Tariq Carey(6pts) and St. Benedict’s Neville Fincher(4 pts) were locals who contributed. 

                                   Sophomore Game:   Philadelphia 86              New Jersey 75

               Brandon Austin and Britton Lee were co M.V.P.’s for Philly as both teams showed that neither state is lacking for talent in the upcoming years. Austin finished with 14 points, while Lee added 11 and 3 assists. Jersey’s player of the game Kavon Stewart had 16 points and 3 assists in the contest. Philly’s Yosef Yacoub scored 11 points, while Johnny Davis added 9. St. Anthony’s 6’3 Josh Brown and Hudson Catholic’s 6’6 Reggie Cameron each finished with 12 points while Irvington’s 6’3  Shacore Edwards and St. Benedict’s 6’8 Michael Young added 8 points apiece. Gill St. Bernard’s Jaren Sina played a good floor game with 7 points and 4 assists. 

Trenton……….. St. Benedict’s 6’4 swingman Vaughn Gray verbally committed to George Mason University! Gray who played his first three highschool years at Don Bosco Prep Highschool in Ramsey, N.J. said” Everything about the school was perfect and is very comfortable with the decision” Hoops Journal wishes nothing but the best for Gray and his family and as his father Virgil Gray said ” Its finally over”

            The 2010 Eddie Griffin Challenge is set for this Sunday October 17th. The three game showcase will be held at Trenton Catholic Highschool at 175 Leonard Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey. The event opens at 3:00pm with the sophomore game! The coach for New Jersey will be Team Izod’s Carlos Cuetos, while Philly will be coached by Warren Greene of Team Philly. The junior game will sart at 4:30pm. NJ Hotshots Mike Keller will patrol the sidelines for Jersey and Philly will be coached by Gene Rice of Philadelphia Playas and Cedric Jones of Philly’s Finest. The senior game will conclude the event and is scheduled for a 6:00 start. The Jersey team will be coached by C.J.E.T.O. Academy’s Ian Turnbull and former Paterson Catholic head coach Damon Wright, while Philly will be led by Rodney Westcott of Philly Assault and Paul Gripper of Team Phenom of Philadelphia. Admission for the event is $8 for adults and $5 for students and children        New Jersey has a lot of local flavor in the games!  The senior team has Myles Mack( St. Anthony’s)(pictured top), Sterling Gibbs( Seton Hall Prep),Vaughn Gray( St. Benedict’s) and Mario Moody(East Orange), also joining them will be Ohio State recruit Laquinton Ross(Life Center Academy), Desmond Hubert(New Egypt), Jarelle Reischel(Point Pleasant),  Derrick Gordon(St. Patrick’s),Tyler Harris(St. Benedict’s), Khalid Lewis-El(Trenton Catholic) with Rob Poole(Paul XI) an alternate.The junior team consists of local players Kyle Anderson( St. Anthony’s)(pictured middle), Rashad Andrews( St. Anthony’s), Jerome Fricke( St. Anthony’s), Dallas Englin( Seton Hall Prep), Dom Hoffman( Gill St. Bernard), Tariq Carey(Newark Eastside) and Neville Fincher( St. Benedict’s) to go along with Jaylen Beckham(St. Benedict’s),Brandon Taylor( Trenton Catholic)and Jameel Warney(Roselle Catholic) with Da’shawn Suber( St. Patrick) as an alternate. The sophomore game also has Josh Brown( St. Anthony’s), Mike Young( St. Benedict’s), Reggie Cameron( Hudson Catholic), Kavon Stewart( Hudson Catholic), Jaren Sina( Gill St. Bernard), Tyler Roberson( Union), Spencer Weicz( Seton Hall Prep), Shacore Edwards( Irvington), Austin Colbert( St. Patrick)(pictured bottom) and Jordan Forehand(St. Anthony’s) and Jarrett Hall( Newark Tech) as alternates.