The Eddie Griffin challenge which annually matches New Jersey highschool players with Philadelphia players will be played this year @the Haverford School in Haverford, Pa. October 9th.! This will be the 9th year for this annual contest named after the late Philadelphia legend Eddie Griffin who had an outstanding highschool career, not to mention a phenomenal career with the New Jersey Playaz Basketball Club! It will pit the top Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors from each area in three showcase games! Here are the top New Jersey Sophomores in the event!

   1.) Wade Baldwin  6’2  –   Immaculata

   2.) Quadri Moore   6’8  –   Linden H.S.

   3.) Rashard Figures  6’3  –  Hackensack  H.S.(top pic)

    4.) Alex Thomas   6’7   –   Hawthorne Christian(mid pic)

    5.) Kaison Randolph   6’3 –  Pennington

    6.) Jordan Forehand  6’1 –  St. Anthony’s(bot pic)

    7.) Ismael Sanogo  6’5   – Newark Eastside

   8.) Cheddi Moseley  6’0 –  St. Anthony’s

    9.) David Hawthorne  6’4  – Union Catholic

   10.) Marques Townes 6’1  – Cardinal McCarrick

  alternate:  Tyreke Sykes  6’6 – Newark Tech

                              Akbar Hoffman 5’11 – Newark Eastside

Kennedy H.S.,Paterson….. The game of the night in the Playaz Club sponsored Fallball League belonged to the Hudson Hawks and St. Raymond’s! In a hard fought contest, the Hawks held on to a one point victory 42-41 as the Junior duo of Reggie Cameron and Mike Young(right) scored 32 of their 42 points! Cameron’s 19 and Young’s 13,including a monster dunk over a defender offset the play of Senior Nkereuwem Okoro who scored 16 for St. Raymond’s! Senior Melvin Johnson drained 6 “triples” for 18 points as the Gray Bees beat the Paterson Spirits 56-43! DeAndre Noble finished with 18 for the Spirits! Somerset County’s Best rolled past the Bergen Highwaymen as Alabama commit Jaren Sina(left) scored 16 points and Senior Dominic Hoffman added 15! Bergen got it’s numbers from Junior Joel Hernandez with 23 points and Senior Chris Jones 17! The last action of the night belonged to Reebok’s Back, who cruised to an easy win over the Paramus Paladins 56-32 as new U.C.L.A. commit Kyle Anderson who after receiving his congratulations from many people in the crowd proceeded to score 20 points and dish 5 dimes playing very efficiently! Senior Jerome Frink(bottom right) and Junior Josh Brown more than complimented Anderson with 17 and 11 points respectively! Kyle Minard scored 13 for the Paladins!

      In a much anticipated decision, St. Anthony H.S. and Playaz Basketball Club do it all performer Kyle Anderson has decided to take his game out West, as he has committed to play for  The U.C.L.A. Bruins! Anderson, the 2nd ranked player in the country chose the storied history of  U.C.L.A. over Seton Hall, Georgetown, Florida and St. Johns! The 6’8 guard feels this is a great fit! His dad Kyle Sr.said”We are happy that it’s over and any of the five schools would have been a good choice for him. We are happy that he is happy with his decision”! Anderson is a talent with the highest I.Q. probably in the nation! He has consistently made people better during his scholastic career as evidenced by his helping St. Anthony’s win the mythical National Highschool Championship! He is a proven winner who’s game is constantly getting better, which is saying alot! On a personal note Hoop Journal would like to extend it’s congratulations to Kyle, Kyle Sr., mother Suzanne and the entire family on his decision! Without a doubt the sky is the limit!