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!

Paterson………In a fun filled night of basketball the 2010 Paterson Fallball League sponsored by The Paterson Recreation and Playaz Basketball Club crowned it’s champions for Monday night and Wednesday night leagues:

                              Wednesday Night Champs!     St. Anthony’s 58          Nia Prep 50

       St. Anthony’s pulled off the chip by beating Nia Prep 58-50 in a physical contest. 5’8 Rutgers recruit Myles Mack led the Friars with 10 points and 5 assists. He had plenty of help as 6’8 Kyle Anderson( 13 pts), Lucious Jones and Jerome Frink all contributed to the win. Nia Prep was no joke as they led a majority of the game behind 6’7 Cincinnati recruit Shaquille Thomas(15 pts) and Kelvin Amayo( 14 pts). Anthony’s locked down on the defensive end and slowly neutralized Nia’s fast pace. Once the game became more half court St. Anthony’s took control. Mack(pictured left) was the M.V.P. in the contest, while Thomas (right) was chosen player of the game for Prep. St. Anthony’s reached the Chip by defeating Gill St. Bernard 64 – 41 as Mack led the scoring with 15 and Frink added 11. They overcame the shooting of 5’10 junior Alex Mottola who finished with 19 points, including 3 treys. Nia Prep advanced to final game by beating Teaneck 67 – 55. Thomas was the high scorer in the contest with 17, while Amayo added 14. Teaneck was led by Junior Chris Jones with 13 and Senior Aaron Davis  with 11. 

                                      Monday Night Champs!   Paramus Catholic  58        Hackensack  55

       Sophomore Tommy Rivera’s two free throws with 10 seconds left iced the game for Paramus Catholic 58 – 55 in a contest that was not decided until a missed three by Hackensack as time expired. 6’7 Senior Justin Harris established a strong post presence scoring 24 points with most coming from the interior on drop steps and catch and lays from guard penetration and Sophomore Elijah Davis backed up Harris by scoring 17 points. The game was back and forth as Hackensack’s Senior Tariq Bridgeman( 14 pts) and Sophomore Rashad Figures(17 pts) kept answering Paramus Catholic runs. Both teams played tenacious defense. Hackensack was led on the defensive end by Senior Bright Mensah and Sophomores Chris Myers and Gene Marshall while P.C. was led on that end of the floor by Rivera, Senior Manny Hernandez and Junior Vaughn Dudley. Harris(pictured right) and Bridgeman( left)each walked away with Player of The Game honors. Hackensack reached the finals on a 51 – 41 win over Eastside. Bridgeman led the scoring with 16, while Eastside was led by Senior point guard Dave Burgos with 15. Paramus Catholic got there by cruising by East Orange 51 – 27. Harris led the game in scoring with 18 and Davis added 10. Wagner recruit Mario Moody led E.O. with 11.