Kennedy H.S.,  Paterson, N.J…… In the Playaz sponsored “We Got Next” Tournament the Playaz 16’s took control of a close game late to beat the Brooklyn Badgers 66-55 and in an even tougher contest the Gaucho’s 15’s outlasted the Playaz 15’s 89-86 in overtime!

                                                                  PLAYAZ 16’s   66                 BROOKLYN BADGERS  55

       Nassir Barrino led a balanced attack as they took a close game and pulled away late to give the Playaz 16’s the “Chip”! Barrino(pictured right) scored 19 points and controlled the tempo throughout! He had a strong weekend and finished as the Tournament M.V.P.! Cesar DeJesusLeft) who was voted the Game M.V.P. added 17 points for the Playaz and Nick Brooks who also had a good weekend finished with all 12 of his points in the 2nd half! Jair Bolden(Center)  led the Badgers with 20 points and was given the Sportsmanship Trophy! Marvin Prochet scored 15 for the Badgers! the Playaz reached the finals by beating Wayne Pal 60-34 behind Brooks’ 16 points and Sammy Friday and Ahmad Baker’s 10 points apiece! Brooklyn reached the finals by beating the Gauchos 16’s 48-45 in overtime as Bolden and Prochet combined for 30 of the 48 points! Kai Mitchell led the Cho’s in scoring with 13!

                                                                          GAUCHOS 15’s  89              PLAYAZ 15’s  86    OT.

             Back and forth this  game went with both teams making heroic plays! In the end Ray Salnave’s bucket and free throw proved to be the difference in overtime! The Cho’s Mark Martin(pictured left) who was the Tournament M.V.P. was spectacular in the contest as he scored 32 points on an assortment of moves, including a tough spin move in the lane late that kept the game close! Salnave(Game M.V.P.right) finished the game with 18 and point guard Georgie Pena added 17! Alphonso Gee led the Playaz with all 15 of his points coming in the second half, while Pat Andree had 14, Jagan Mosley added 11 and Gilberto Cue and  Nhyrique Smith each scored 10! The Chos reached the Finals by defeating New Heights 60-55 as Martin scored 20 points! New Heights were led by Baron Goodrich with 18! The Playaz made it to the Finals by defeating Jersey City Boys Club 68-61 as Pat Andreewho was Tournament Sportsman award(picture middle) led the scoring with 20! James Scott led the Boys Club with 16!

Notes: Despite the loss the Playaz seemed to have come up with a few additions that look like they will be a plus! Cue and Mosley both had impressive weekends for the Playaz! Mosley showed a strong ability to finish plays late and seems to have enough talent to end up as a go to player!!

Kennedy H.S., Paterson,N.J….. In the Playaz sponsored Fall Ball League St. Benedicts and St. Anthony had a tough battle tonight and in the end Benedicts, behind  Sophomore Isaiah Briscoe(16pts), Pittsburgh commit Mike Young(13pts) and Syracuse commit Tyler Ennis(11pts) edged St. Anthony 49-45! Georgetown commit Reggie Cameron(27pts), Robert Morris commit Kavon Stewart(15pts right), Junior Safee Abdul-Sabur(13pts) and Sophomore Nassir Barrino(13pts) led Hudson Catholic to a 82-65 win over Teaneck who got a strong performance from Senior Shakir Lindsey(27pts)! Newark Eastside beat Pope John 47-20 as Senior Akbar Hoffman led the scoring with 15 points! In the finale, Florida Atlantic commit Chris Jenkins scored 17 points and Top 100 recruit Austin Colbert scored all 12 of his points in the second half as Gill St. Bernards overcame a halftime deficit to beat Kennedy 55-47

FEATURE: The St. Ants- St. Bennies game was high level from both teams, especially on the defensive end! St. Ant’s Temple commit Josh Brown(right) might be the best defender in the State! Newark Eastside’s Hoffman(left) is one of the most underrated players in the area! when he’s under control is as good as it gets! Gill St. Bernards played without Freshman sensation Tyus Battle! They are making up for the graduation of Dom Hoffman and Alex Mottola and have found it with Jenkins and Colbert! Teaneck’s Lindsey is a show in itself as he puts constant pressure on the opposing defense and has an assortment of ways to score! Senior Marcus Fulmore is showing signs of being a major contributor for the Highwaymen! Kennedy’s Hassan Townes seems like he will be the main guy to give Freshman Alphons Gee support as they will have to be very aggressive due to their lack of size!

Kennedy H.S., Paterson,N.J…… In the Playaz sponsored FallBall League games played tonight Paramus Catholic beat DePaul 44-42 as Junior Jalen Henriquez and Senior Kyle Menard each scored 19 points! Junior Stefen Minic scored 17 points to lead Passaic Valley to a 42-33 win over Christ The King(Newark)! Elmwood Park defeated Eastern Christian 50-39 as Senior Nick Smith(right) scored 21 points and Junior Veshawn Polite added 15 and in the last game Bergen Catholic beat Wood Ridge in O.T. 52-50!

FEATURE: Over the course of the Monday FallBall League, Smith has been one of the most solid players in the gym game after game! He has knocked down the jump shot consistently and been physical under the boards!At the same time he is getting it done on the gridiron for Elmwood Park! His teammate, Polite has shown tremendous athleticism finishing a play off tonight with a strong two-hand dunk down the lane! P.C.’s Henriquez(left) also has been playing well, proving to be a big time second half scorer. he scored 15 of his 19 in the contest including the go ahead layup with 1:00 left! Passaic Valley is already showing that they will be relying heavily on Junior wing Minic(right) to put up big numbers for them this coming season! Minic also has shown more athletic moves on the floor, getting above the rim on several plays! Very impressed with Freshman guard Jihad Wright for P.V.! A tough cerebral player,he will be looking for playing time from the start this season! WoodRidge Senior Mike Gibney was having a strong game already scoring 21 points before going down with a slight sprained ankle in the middle of the second half!