Seton Hall…………… The Hoop Group had their fall Jam Fest this weekend at Seton Hall University and about 110 aau and club squads competed the last few days. The tournament was for 15u, 16u and 17u teams. A  lot of local flavor was in the building competing and they more than held their own! The Playaz basketball club had three teams reach the finals in their respective divisions with only the 15u team falling in the Chip! The 17u team captured the title by beating Izod 86-78. The finals game showcased St. Benedicts forward Tyler Harris who lit it up for 28! The team was led throughout the weekend by St. Anthony’s Kyle Anderson. Anderson, the former Paterson Catholic standout was outstanding quarterbacking the team. A few other locals on the team who played well were Teaneck H.S. trio of Chris Jones, Chris Hargreaves and Joel Hernandez. The play of these three show that Teaneck will still be a threat for the upcoming season. The highlight player of the team was Montclair native Dallas Englin! the Seton Hall Prep player has the” Wow” factor in his game. The athletic 5’10 player can leave you shaking your head  as far as his speed and leaping ability! Not to mention his ball playing skills which also is top level. The Playaz 16u team pulled off their “Chip” by beating Team Final 56-54 after Irvington’s Shacore Edwards won the game on a winning tip. Edwards is a special talent with a very high upside! The 16’s got their local flavor from 6’7 Reggie Cameron and Kavon Stewart who both are now at Hudson Catholic by way of Paterson Catholic and DePaul’s Josh Marquez. As in the summer, these top players continue to be part of one of the top a.a.u. teams in the country. Each had times to shine during the weekend. St. Patrick’s Amir Maddred, Newark Tech’s Jordan Arthur and Jared Hall and St. Mary’s Connor Cucinelli also played well for the 16’s. the 15’s took a tough loss losing to Team Final 68-61 after leading by as much as 18. Playaz got strong play during the weekend by Bergen Catholic’s Nadi Beciri, Union’s Isaiah Briscoe and Newark’s Nassir Barrino. Other local players who participated this weekend were Justin Harris, Elijah Davis, Vaughn Dudley and Tommy Rivera, who all play for Paramus Catholic. David Burgos, Nashian Brimley, Nasir Crawford, Najee Seabrooks, Shaquille Crawford,  Jordan Smith and Quattier Jackson who all plan to be on the Paterson Eastside H.S. squad. Gary Simpson(Hackensack), Christopher Homsi(Wayne Valley), Sammy Singletary(Kennedy H.S.), Christopher Moran (Wayne Hills) and Xavier Nieves(Passaic County Tech) who all played for the Wayne Wolfpack a.a.u. team. Also playing and looking good was Old Tappan’s point guard Shane McLaughlin who played with the New York Falcons a.a.u. squad. Burgos of Eastside was especially good and created a lot of buzz!

Paterson,N.J…………… The beginning of the 2010-11 highschool basketball season is just a few months away but teams are entering fall leagues to prepare. One such league is the fall league sponsored by the Playaz Basketball Club and Paterson Recreation. With many elite players in the area and state, this league has some of the better players and teams around. The league began last Wednesday and will continue through October. They have Monday and Wednesday games at Kennedy Highschool. The Monday teams consist of Paterson Eastside, Passaic County Tech, Hackensack, Paramus Catholic, East Orange Campus, West Milford, Passaic Valley and Elmwood Park. Wednesday night games feature St. Anthony’s, Newark Academy, Nia Prep, Hudson Catholic, Teaneck, Gill St. Bernards, Kennedy and Newark Eastside. That’s an abundance of talent showcasing their ability! This is when established players refine their games, players that have moved to other schools (all the Paterson Catholic players) get accustomed to their new teammates and up and comers prove they will be valuable to their teams for the coming season! Come get a glimpse, as games begin at 7:00pm!

Players To Watch :

Monday :

Paterson Eastside :  DeAndre Noble  jr(pictured), Nassir Crawford  jr, Nashian Brimley sr, Quattier Jackson  soph

Passaic County Tech :  Brandon James sr,(pictured)  Xavier  Nieves sr,

Hackensack :  Bright Mensah sr, Tariq Bridgeman sr, Chris Meyers soph, Rashard Figures soph, Gene Marshall soph

Paramus Catholic :  Justin Harris sr(pictured), Manny Hernandez  sr,  Vaughn Dudley  jr,  Elijah Davis soph, Tommy Riviera  soph,

East Orange Campus : Mario Moody sr(pictured),  Domonique Depts jr

West Milford :  Connor Healy sr

Elmwood Park : Ryan Velez sr.( pictured)

Passaic Valley :   Nick DiCristino sr,   Olumide Olajide  jr

Wednesday :

St. Anthony’s :  Myles Mack sr, Kyle Anderson  jr(pictured together), Lucious Jones  jr, Jerome Fricke  jr

 Newark Academy :  Jordan Arthur soph.(pictured)

Nia Prep : Shaquille Thomas sr

Hudson Catholic :  Reggie Cameron  soph, (pictured) Kavon Stewart  soph (pictured),  Raekwon Kelly  soph,  Travis Flack  soph

Teaneck : Chris Jones  jr, Chris Hargraves  jr,  Aaron Davis sr,

Gill St. Bernard : Dominick Hoffman  jr,  Jaren Sina  jr

Kennedy : Dawon Lighty sr(pictured),  Sammy Singletary  jr,  Jamir White sr

Newark Eastside :  Tariq Carey jr,  Aaron Boddie  jr 

Paterson…….. Myles Mack, St. Anthony’s all everything point guard by way of Paterson Catholic has committed to the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University. The 5’9 guard will join P.C. teammate Derrick Randle for the 2011-12 season. Mack,(pictured right) who transferred to St. Anthony’s after the closing of Paterson Catholic is considered the top guard in his class in the state and ranked the #72 player in the country by Rivals.com. Myles said the difference in Rutgers and the numerous other schools that were offering was the relationship he developed with  Mike Rice, the new Rutgers coach who led Robert Morris University into the N.C.A.A. tournament this past season and his coaching staff. Now he can concentrate on his senior season at Anthony’s and his pursuit of a state” Chip”. Randle,(also pictured) the 6’9 big man who committed earlier in the summer will be at South Kent Prep in Connecticut this upcoming season and also put Rutgers ahead of other teams due to how comfortable he felt with Rice. Mack and Randle’s A.A.U.director Jimmy Salmon of the Playaz Basketball Club said” It’s great that they will be able to spend the next 4 years together and they are very excited! I’m happy for the both of them”