Near Mid-Season NJ Top 10; State Tournament Projections
by Alex Schwartz
Many teams in the Garden State have played 10+ games by now, so I've decided it's time to post a ranking of the state's top 10 teams. On New Year's day, I posted a ranking of the Elite 8 teams in NJ, NY, PA, and the three-state area. There has been a lot of action in the past two and a half weeks. So, without further ado, here is my New Jersey Top 10 and State Tournament Projections:
NJ TOP 10
1. St. Benedict's, Independent- Arguably the best team in America, it's hard to not have the Gray Bees at #1. Danny Hurley's team is firing on all cylinders. In fact, the squad defeated #9 Life Center Academy by 41, after the squad had just come off a victory over #2 St. Patrick's. Fellow Canadians and future Texas Longhorns Tristan Thompson '10 and Myck Kabongo '11 team with Pitt-bound Lamar Patterson '09, Rice-signee Tamir Jackson '09, and many more to form the deepest squad in the nation, and by far the best in NJ.
2. St. Patrick's, Non-Public North B- The Celtics have not really too much done in-state anything to prove themselves worthy of this lofty ranking, though they have some huge out-of-state victories (Word of God, Pennsbury, etc), but no one else has done anything to take the #2 spot away from Kevin Boyle's squad. St. Pat's, though, has a big come-from-behind win over #8 Trenton Catholic and has also knocked off #4 Paterson Catholic at the Beach Ball Classic in South Carolina. Yet at the same time, the team was defeated by #9 Life Center Academy, who lost to #1 St. Benedict's by 41, and also needed two overtimes to beat unranked Christian Brothers Academy by one point. Also, the win over TCA was certainly not a thing of beauty. Kyrie Irving '10 is eligible today, and he will bring a whole new dimension to the Celtics.
3. St. Anthony's, Non-Public North B- Dominic Cheek '09, a future Villanova Wildcat, has struggled thus far for the Friars, but Quinnipiac-signee Jamee Jackson '09 and others have picked up the slack. Although St. Ant's has two losses—O'Dowd (CA) and Plainfield (NJ)—I am putting them at #3 because big-time big men Derrick Williams '10, Devon Collier '10, and Ashton Pankey '10 are all eligible today after transferring. Look for the Friars to start rolling on its way to the state tournament.
4. Paterson Catholic, Non Public North B- Yes, the Cougars have struggled this year, losing three of their first five games, but the squad has rebounded well. All of the losses—Arlington Country Day School (FL), Plainfield (NJ), and St. Patrick's (NJ)—have come to big-time teams. Just yesterday, PC knocked off #8 Trenton Catholic, which is why I have the team ranked above Plainfield, despite the loss to the Cardinals. Paterson Catholic is fast and deep and has a lot of talent, and once Damon Wright is able to get his team to put it all together, the Cougars could be scary.
5. Plainfield, Group IV North II- Led by Pitt-commit Isaiah Epps '10, super sophomore Tyrone Johnson '11, and Anthony Baskerville '09, the Cardinals may have started to find their stride. After beating #4 Paterson Catholic to open the season, and also suffering some big losses, the team knocked off #3 St. Anthony's Saturday. Right now, Plainfield looks like the top public school in the state.
6. St. Peter's Prep, Non-Public North A- I've been high on the Marauders for quite some time, and it shows with this lofty ranking. Myles Davis '11 is a sharpshooter and a very good player, while Keith Lumpkin '11 and Ron Roberts '10 are workhorses down low. SPP has already knocked off some quality Non-Public teams in Seton Hall Prep and Don Bosco Prep, and is looking for a TOC birth.
7. Newark Science Park, Group II North II- The heavy favorite in Group II, Newark Science is undefeated thus far. Led by Kenneth Ortiz '09, it will be difficult for anyone in Group II to beat this team. Look for Science to make it back to the TOC, and possibly make a bit of a run in it.
8. Trenton Catholic, Non-Public South B- The Iron Mikes are very hard to rank. The team has yet to post a real quality win, but its three losses are to the #2, #3, and #4 teams in the state. Although TCA is very good, until it beats a top-notch opponent, it will be hard to put the team above squads that have quality victories. Fred Falchi's boys should get a shot at one of those three teams again in the Non-Public Parochial B finals.
9. Life Center Academy, Independent- Life Center plays a tough record and that is why the teams does not have a fantastic record. The squad managed to be #2 St. Patrick's despite its best player, Syracuse-pledge Dion Waiters '10, being out with an injury. The letdown in its next game, a 41-point debacle of a loss to #1 St. Benedict's lowers the team's ranking from possibly top five down to #9.
10. Piscataway, Group IV North II- With just one loss, to a surprising Ridge team, Piscataway is having a very good year. With a nice interior tandem of Tristan Benjamin '09 and Wayne Newsom '10 combined with Aaron Hush '09 a great athlete and Jeff Adkins '09, a guard, Piscataway may have the best four-man group of any public school in the state. Look for Piscataway to make some major noise this season.
Just Missed (no order)- Shabazz, Elizabeth, Ridge, and Monmouth Regional
STATE TOURNAMENT PROJECTIONS
Group I- Semifinalists
North I, Group I Champion: Cedar Grove
North II, Group I Champion: University
Central, Group I Champion: New Egypt
South, Group I Champion: Woodbury
Group I- Finalists
University vs. New Egypt
Group I Champion- University
Group II Semifinalists
North I, Group II Champion: Pasack Hills
North II, Group II Champion: Newark Science Park
Central, Group II Champion: Weequahic
South, Group II Champion: Camden
Group II Finalists
Newark Science Park vs. Camden
Group II Champion- Newark Science Park
Group III- Semifinalists
North I, Group III Champion: West Milford
North II, Group III Champion: Shabazz
Central, Group III Champion: Monmouth Regional
South, Group III Champion: Timber Creek
Group III Finalists
Shabazz vs. Monmouth Regional
Group III Champion- Shabazz
Group IV Semifinalists
North I, Group IV Champion: West Orange
North II, Group IV Champion: Plainfield
Central, Group IV Champion: West Windsor-Plainsboro South
South, Group IV Champion: Rancocas Valley
Group IV Finalists
Plainfield vs. Rancocas Valley
Group IV Champion- Plainfield
Non-Public A Finalists
North A, Non-Public Champion: St. Peter's Prep
South A, Non-Public Champion: St. Augustine's
Non-Public A Champion- St. Peter's Prep
Non-Public B Finalists
North B, Non-Public Champion: St. Patrick's
South B, Non-Public Champion: Trenton Catholic
Non Public B Champion- St. Patrick's
Tournament of Champions First Round
#1 St. Patrick's- BYE
#2 Newark Science Park- BYE
#3 Shabazz vs. #6 University
#4 St. Peter's Prep vs. #5 Plainfield
TOC Semifinalists
#1 St. Patrick's vs. #5 Plainfield
#2 Newark Science Park vs. #3 Shabazz
TOC Finalists
#1 St. Patrick's vs. #2 Newark Science Park
TOC Champion- St. Patrick's
Note- Star Ledger/NJ.com rankings and NJSIAA website used as sources for information
Many teams in the Garden State have played 10+ games by now, so I've decided it's time to post a ranking of the state's top 10 teams. On New Year's day, I posted a ranking of the Elite 8 teams in NJ, NY, PA, and the three-state area. There has been a lot of action in the past two and a half weeks. So, without further ado, here is my New Jersey Top 10 and State Tournament Projections:
NJ TOP 10
1. St. Benedict's, Independent- Arguably the best team in America, it's hard to not have the Gray Bees at #1. Danny Hurley's team is firing on all cylinders. In fact, the squad defeated #9 Life Center Academy by 41, after the squad had just come off a victory over #2 St. Patrick's. Fellow Canadians and future Texas Longhorns Tristan Thompson '10 and Myck Kabongo '11 team with Pitt-bound Lamar Patterson '09, Rice-signee Tamir Jackson '09, and many more to form the deepest squad in the nation, and by far the best in NJ.
2. St. Patrick's, Non-Public North B- The Celtics have not really too much done in-state anything to prove themselves worthy of this lofty ranking, though they have some huge out-of-state victories (Word of God, Pennsbury, etc), but no one else has done anything to take the #2 spot away from Kevin Boyle's squad. St. Pat's, though, has a big come-from-behind win over #8 Trenton Catholic and has also knocked off #4 Paterson Catholic at the Beach Ball Classic in South Carolina. Yet at the same time, the team was defeated by #9 Life Center Academy, who lost to #1 St. Benedict's by 41, and also needed two overtimes to beat unranked Christian Brothers Academy by one point. Also, the win over TCA was certainly not a thing of beauty. Kyrie Irving '10 is eligible today, and he will bring a whole new dimension to the Celtics.
3. St. Anthony's, Non-Public North B- Dominic Cheek '09, a future Villanova Wildcat, has struggled thus far for the Friars, but Quinnipiac-signee Jamee Jackson '09 and others have picked up the slack. Although St. Ant's has two losses—O'Dowd (CA) and Plainfield (NJ)—I am putting them at #3 because big-time big men Derrick Williams '10, Devon Collier '10, and Ashton Pankey '10 are all eligible today after transferring. Look for the Friars to start rolling on its way to the state tournament.
4. Paterson Catholic, Non Public North B- Yes, the Cougars have struggled this year, losing three of their first five games, but the squad has rebounded well. All of the losses—Arlington Country Day School (FL), Plainfield (NJ), and St. Patrick's (NJ)—have come to big-time teams. Just yesterday, PC knocked off #8 Trenton Catholic, which is why I have the team ranked above Plainfield, despite the loss to the Cardinals. Paterson Catholic is fast and deep and has a lot of talent, and once Damon Wright is able to get his team to put it all together, the Cougars could be scary.
5. Plainfield, Group IV North II- Led by Pitt-commit Isaiah Epps '10, super sophomore Tyrone Johnson '11, and Anthony Baskerville '09, the Cardinals may have started to find their stride. After beating #4 Paterson Catholic to open the season, and also suffering some big losses, the team knocked off #3 St. Anthony's Saturday. Right now, Plainfield looks like the top public school in the state.
6. St. Peter's Prep, Non-Public North A- I've been high on the Marauders for quite some time, and it shows with this lofty ranking. Myles Davis '11 is a sharpshooter and a very good player, while Keith Lumpkin '11 and Ron Roberts '10 are workhorses down low. SPP has already knocked off some quality Non-Public teams in Seton Hall Prep and Don Bosco Prep, and is looking for a TOC birth.
7. Newark Science Park, Group II North II- The heavy favorite in Group II, Newark Science is undefeated thus far. Led by Kenneth Ortiz '09, it will be difficult for anyone in Group II to beat this team. Look for Science to make it back to the TOC, and possibly make a bit of a run in it.
8. Trenton Catholic, Non-Public South B- The Iron Mikes are very hard to rank. The team has yet to post a real quality win, but its three losses are to the #2, #3, and #4 teams in the state. Although TCA is very good, until it beats a top-notch opponent, it will be hard to put the team above squads that have quality victories. Fred Falchi's boys should get a shot at one of those three teams again in the Non-Public Parochial B finals.
9. Life Center Academy, Independent- Life Center plays a tough record and that is why the teams does not have a fantastic record. The squad managed to be #2 St. Patrick's despite its best player, Syracuse-pledge Dion Waiters '10, being out with an injury. The letdown in its next game, a 41-point debacle of a loss to #1 St. Benedict's lowers the team's ranking from possibly top five down to #9.
10. Piscataway, Group IV North II- With just one loss, to a surprising Ridge team, Piscataway is having a very good year. With a nice interior tandem of Tristan Benjamin '09 and Wayne Newsom '10 combined with Aaron Hush '09 a great athlete and Jeff Adkins '09, a guard, Piscataway may have the best four-man group of any public school in the state. Look for Piscataway to make some major noise this season.
Just Missed (no order)- Shabazz, Elizabeth, Ridge, and Monmouth Regional
STATE TOURNAMENT PROJECTIONS
Group I- Semifinalists
North I, Group I Champion: Cedar Grove
North II, Group I Champion: University
Central, Group I Champion: New Egypt
South, Group I Champion: Woodbury
Group I- Finalists
University vs. New Egypt
Group I Champion- University
Group II Semifinalists
North I, Group II Champion: Pasack Hills
North II, Group II Champion: Newark Science Park
Central, Group II Champion: Weequahic
South, Group II Champion: Camden
Group II Finalists
Newark Science Park vs. Camden
Group II Champion- Newark Science Park
Group III- Semifinalists
North I, Group III Champion: West Milford
North II, Group III Champion: Shabazz
Central, Group III Champion: Monmouth Regional
South, Group III Champion: Timber Creek
Group III Finalists
Shabazz vs. Monmouth Regional
Group III Champion- Shabazz
Group IV Semifinalists
North I, Group IV Champion: West Orange
North II, Group IV Champion: Plainfield
Central, Group IV Champion: West Windsor-Plainsboro South
South, Group IV Champion: Rancocas Valley
Group IV Finalists
Plainfield vs. Rancocas Valley
Group IV Champion- Plainfield
Non-Public A Finalists
North A, Non-Public Champion: St. Peter's Prep
South A, Non-Public Champion: St. Augustine's
Non-Public A Champion- St. Peter's Prep
Non-Public B Finalists
North B, Non-Public Champion: St. Patrick's
South B, Non-Public Champion: Trenton Catholic
Non Public B Champion- St. Patrick's
Tournament of Champions First Round
#1 St. Patrick's- BYE
#2 Newark Science Park- BYE
#3 Shabazz vs. #6 University
#4 St. Peter's Prep vs. #5 Plainfield
TOC Semifinalists
#1 St. Patrick's vs. #5 Plainfield
#2 Newark Science Park vs. #3 Shabazz
TOC Finalists
#1 St. Patrick's vs. #2 Newark Science Park
TOC Champion- St. Patrick's
Note- Star Ledger/NJ.com rankings and NJSIAA website used as sources for information
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