Kennedy H.S. Paterson, N.J…….. A great way to start the season! In a hard fought contest Passaic County Tech behind Senior Shackquiel Scott’s(right) double-double and  Senior Aazaad Hinton’s(left) play late overcame an 18 point deficit to defeat Kennedy H.S. 69-65! Kennedy got off to a fast start as Senior Gary Simpson led the Knights to a 25-10 1st quarter lead! Tech was struggling making a basket and turning the ball over! Kennedy also introduced freshman point guard Aalim Jones to the lineup! The 5’7 Jones ran the show efficiently as the Knights took a 43-36 lead into the 2nd half! Kennedy again came out fast in the 3rd as Senior Sammy Singletary took over the scoring as they again went ahead by double figures! Then Tech woke up at the end of the 3rd! Senior Jarred Sykes put back closed the gap to a 56-50 to end the stanza! P.C.T. finally tied the score on a Isaac Williams to Scott alley-oop! Seconds later,Hinton’s steal gave them their first lead of the game 62-60 with 4:44 left in the game! After Simpson tied the game Williams and Hinton made plays to seal it! Tech had five players in double figures as Scott finished with 12 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, Kori Haggie came off the bench to score 12 points and grab 9 rebounds, Hinton scored 11 points with 6 steals, Sykes finished with 10 points and 9 rebounds and Williams scored 10 points with 3 assists and 2 steals! Kennedy was led by Singletary with 21 points and Simpson with 20! Jones finished the game with 9 dimes and Shaquille Brewington finished with 9 points for Kennedy!

Wayne, N.J……….Senior Davon Jacobs (right)scored 19 of his 21 points in the 2nd half and Junior Josh Marquez scored 18 points and dished 5 dimes as DePaul beat an out manned Paramus Catholic 73-57! Jacobs added 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots to his total! Junior Sanders Green came off the bench to score 11 points and Sophomore Kiy Hester added 10! DePaul took a 31-25 halftime lead into the 3rd quarter and then scored 21 more points to take a 52-40 lead! Paramus Catholic’s trying to find some offense until the eligibility of transfers Kyle Minard, Mike Alford and Anthony Rafes after they sit their 30 days! In the meantime, Senior Vaughn Dudley, Sophomore Jalen Hernandez and Freshman Marquel Sheffield will try to hold the fort! Each finished with 12 points with Dudley and Sheffield also grabbing 8 rebounds apiece!

Top 10 Teams In State:

1.)  ST.ANTHONY –  The consensus top ranked team in the State! Was the mythical National Champs last year and have enough fire power to do it again! Of course they are led by 6’9 Senior Point Guard Kyle Anderson, the U.C.L.A. commit! They also have 6’6 Senior Jerome Frink who has not committed yet but has numerous D1 schools to choose from down low! 6’8 Senior JimmyHall, a Hofstra recruit will also be in the paint with Frink! Junior Joshua Brown(Temple Commit), Junior Hallice Cooke, Junior Chris Regus and Senior Rashard Andrews will be key contributors! Big addition in 6’2 Senior transfer Tariq Carey who is a legitimate D1 prospect!

2.) PLAINFIELD H.S. – The Cardinals are still loaded! They only loss guard Allen Brown from last year in a season where they were runners up to St. Anthony for the T.O.C.! They add St.Patricks transfer 6’3 Taylor Plummer to a strong unit led by 6’7 Senior Justin Sears,6’5 Senior Dijon Allen Jordan,5’11 Senior Sekou Harris and 6’3 Senior Jahmal Lane! Expected to win Group3 States again and meet St. Anthony in rematch!

3.) TRENTON CATHOLIC – After a disappointing season by their standards, Trenton Catholic brings back three D1 players in 6’7 Brandon Taylor (Penn St.), 6’3 Chazz Patterson( Mount St. Marys) and Charles Cooke( James Madison)! Expect big things from 6’8 Junior Amir Maddred and transfers 6’7  Junior A.J. Sumbry(NIA Prep) and 5’8 Junior George Sapp! 

4.) HUDSON CATHOLIC – Big expectations for this team, but are they ready? They carry five D1 players in 6’5 Senior Grant Ellis who is already an Iona signee and 6’7 Junior Reggie Cameron, 6’8 Junior Mike Young, 5’11 Junior Kavon Stewart and 6’3 Junior Raekwon Kelly(pictured) who all have offers on the table! The addition of Young is key to how far they can go! Also will get help from 5’10 Junior Travis Flagg, 6’2 Senior Mark Wilson and 5’10 Freshman sensation Nassir Barrino!

5.) TEANECK – Another team with high expectations! They are led by 6’5 Senior Chris Jones, 6’2 Junior Joel Hernandez, 6’9 Neville Fincher and 5’6 Junior Shakir Lindsey! If they stay out of foul trouble will see Plainfield in Group 3 North finals again!

6.) GILL ST.BERNARD – Probably ranked too low because of past success! Just not sure who will give Gill St.’s Big three the help they will need! 6’7 Senior Dom Hoffman, 5’10 Senior Alex Mottola and 6’0 Junior Jaren Sina are as good a trio as the State has to offer!
Won’t be surprised if they finish higher!

7.) SETON HALL PREP – Will miss all -everything guard Sterling Gibbs, but 6’1 Hofstra commit Dallas Anglin seems ready to assume that role! 6’5 Senior Stephon Moseley, 6’6 Senior Eli Brown, 6’0 Senior John Koribanics and 6’4 Junior Spencer Weisz will give Anglin all the help he will need!

8.) ROSELLE CATHOLIC – 6’6 Stony Brook recruit Jameel Warney will lead a squad that got significantly stronger with the addition of 6’8 Tyler Roberson who is ranked in top 30 Juniors in country by Rivals.com from Union! Look for other help to come from 6’5 Senior Chris Gross, 6’2 Junior Steve Bush and transfers 6’6 Scott Teresco(Westfield) and 5’10 Hakeem Saintil( St. Patricks)!

9.) ST.PATRICKS – Lost alot of players and their dynamic coach Kevin Boyle, yet are still a team loaded with talent! Led by 6’6 Sophomore Jarred Nickens, Pats will still be a tough out for anyone! The additions of 6’5 Junior Elijah Davis and 5’10 Junior Tommy Rivera from Paramus Catholic will help! 6’6 Junior DeAndre Bembry will also be counted on!

10.) St. Joseph (Metuchen) – A well coached team with very good talent! 6’5 Senior Quentin DeCosey is as good a player in the State! The Temple commit will get help from 6’3 Stonehill commit Dan Brix, 6’3 Junior Jalen Gilmore and 6’9 Freshman Karl Towns who definitely will contribute right away!