by Alex Schwartz

Yesterday I previewed the four games at Kean University this Friday for the Prime Time Shootout. That was just part one of my previews/predictions, as there are three days of games this weekend. There are 14 other contests to write about too, beginning with the ones play on the 13th, four of which have a New York team facing a New Jersey team, so state bragging rights will be up for grabs. Below are my previews and predictions of the seven games to be played at the Sun National Bank Center (formerly Sovereign Bank Arena) on Saturday.

Saturday, February 13, 12:00pm- Our Savior New American (NY) vs. Life Center Academy (NJ)
This is a rematch of the first game on Saturday morning on the final weekend in last year's PTS, which Life Center Academy won in dominating fashion. This year might not be much different, as LCA is once again loaded while Our Savior New American is not as stacked as is was five or six years ago. Life Center is led by the talented duo of Syracuse-signee Dion Waiters '10 (pictured) and LaQuinton Ross '11. In addition, the Warriors have players such as UMass-Lowell (DII)-signee Chris Thompson '10, Daniel Pitter '10, Stojan Gjuroski '10, and Rashawn Cunningham '11, all of whom are talented in their own right. The roster is filled with skill at every position and has nice depth, including some solid bigs. OSNA is led by two tough guards, Franklin Milian '10 and Jevon Thomas '13. Milian is an experienced and stellar senior, while Thomas is a phenomenal youngster. Unless they both have huge games, this one might not be that close.
Prediction- Life Center Academy by eighteen, 78-60 . . . Waiters performs well on the big stage and OSNA has no one who can stop Ross

Saturday, February 13, 1:30pm- Middle Township (NJ) vs. Lincoln (NY)
Much like the first game, this contest is a mismatch, but in reverse, as it is the New York squad is the distinct favorite in this one. The Railsplitters have won four consecutive city titles, and although this team is extremely different from those, Dwayne "Tiny" Morton still has a lot of talent on the roster to work with. The two biggest names on the squad are juniors in guard Shaq Stokes '11 and wing Kamari Murphy '11 (pictured), both of whom are talented players that can score the ball. There are two other players in that class that are solid as well, in center Jordan Dickerson '11 and wing Reuben King '11. Lazaro Martinez '10, a senior guard, has experience, while Ethan Telfair '13 and Trevonn Morton '13 are superb freshman. There is far too much talent and depth on this Big Apple powerhouse for Middle Township to handle.
Prediction- Lincoln by twenty-four, 75-51 . . . Behind the play of the junior quartet, Lincoln will run away early with this one and never look back

Saturday, February 13, 3:00pm- Thomas Jefferson (NY) vs. Trenton Catholic (NJ)
The third consecutive game pitting a team from the Empire State against one from the Garden State, this one has the potential to be a quality affair. Both teams had quality season last year, but fell short of their ultimate goals and are looking to meet those this year, though Jefferson has to do it without two key players. Trenton Catholic draws well wherever it plays and considering this game is close to home, there should be a lot of Iron Mike supporters in the crowd. TCA is led by a trio of talented seniors and a superb junior in Drexel-signee Frantz Massenat '10 (pictured), Markese Tucker '10, Dondre Whitmore '10, and Khalid Lewis El '11. Brandon Taylor '12 is the other starter, but Fred Falchi has other skilled ballers to bring off the bench in Chris Lewis '11 and Ron Paden '12. Meanwhile, Thomas Jefferson is led by a pair of sturdy guards in Stony Brook-signee Dave Coley '10 and St. John's-commit Davontay Grace '11. Although those are the go-to guys, Edison Avila '11 and Shamel Williams '11 are solid in their own right as well. Expect this to be a superb game throughout.
Prediction- Trenton Catholic by four, 68-64 . . . TCA has too much depth for Jefferson and is talented enough in the backcourt to contain Grace and Coley

Saturday, February 13, 4:30pm- Hotchkiss School (CT) vs. Findlay Prep (NV)
Findlay Prep is one of the best teams in the nation, and after opening the year as a consensus top two team in the nation, the Pilots are currently ranked #8 in my most recent National High School Top 25. Despite having two losses—one was by one against the #1 team in America—Findlay Prep is one of the most dangerous teams in the country. Led by McDonald's All-Americans guard Cory Joseph '10 (pictured) and Texas-bound big man Tristan Thompson '10, this group from the Silver State is the only squad not from the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic playing this weekend. Godwin Okonji '10, Marco Petrovic '10, Thomas Laerke '10, Nick Johnson '11, Winston Shepard '12, and Nigel Williams-Goss '13 are fine talents as well and provide quality depth. Depite being a major underdog in this game, Hotchkiss School is no slouch. Georgia Tech-signee Jason Morris '10 is the main man for the prep school team, while Derrick Wilson '11 and Clyde Smith '12 are superb talents as well. Monte Brown '10 has great size in the post, giving Hotchkiss talent at the guard, wing, and post positions. All four will have to have big days for Hotchkiss to hang with Findlay in this one.
Prediction- Findlay Prep by nineteen, 84-65 . . . Hotchkiss does not have a player who will be able to stop Thompson, and Joseph will be great as well

Saturday, February 13, 6:00pm- St. Anthony's (NJ) vs. Montrose Christian (MD)
This one should be the best game of the day, as two of the most tradition-rich programs in the country face off. Both teams will be shorthanded, as St. Anthony's is missing one of its top players, Maryland-bound Ashton Pankey '10, due to injury, while Montrose Christian is without Terrence Ross '10 who recently transferred from the school back to Jefferson (OR). Despite not having Collier, one of the nation's best coaches, Bob Hurley, has a lot of talent to work with. Oregon State-bound Devon Collier '10 is a talented big man, St. Bonaventure-signee Eli Carter '10 (pictured on left) is a top-notch floor general, and future Richmond Spider Derrick Williams '10 is a load in the paint. Matt Rista '10, DeMarcus Owens '10, Lucious Jones '11, and Jerome Frink '12 are stellar too. Montrose Christian is led by Duke-signee Josh Hairston '10 (pictured at top), a combo forward who can do it all. His main support comes from sensational sophomore wing Justin Anderson '12, a fabulous athlete. LeBrent Walker '12 is another sophomore who can really play, while Tyler Hubbard '11 and Jordan Roach '11 are more than capable backcourt players. With Terrence Ross this would be a totally different story, but without him, it will be tough for Stu Vetter's team to beat the Friars in their own state.
Prediction- St. Anthony's by eight, 67-59 . . . Led by their DI-bound seniors (Collier, Carter, and Williams), the Friars will pull away in the second half

Saturday, February 13, 7:30pm- Rice (NY) vs. St. Patrick's (NJ)
A meeting between two national powers who suit up in green, white, and yellow, this should be another one of the day's best games. The New Jersey squad is ranked #12 in my most recent National High School Top 25, while Rice just recently fell out of the fold after a rough past couple weeks. St. Pat's will be coming off of a huge, emotional game the previous night against Oak Hill Academy (VA), and will have to bring the same kind of energy to this game too, though Kevin Boyle will again likely not be coaching. Michael Gilchrist '11 (pictured) is the best player in America regardless of class and team's with outstanding point guard Kyrie Irving '10, a McDonald's All-American who has signed with Duke, to form a dynamic duo. Western Kentucky-commit Derrick Gordon '10, UMBC-bound Chase Plummer '10, Wagner-signee Josh Daniell '10, and Kevin Boyle, Jr. '10 have a great deal of experience at St. Pat's and are talented too. Austin Colbert '13 and Jarell Lane '11 provide some depth for the Celtics. Rice is led by a trio of upperclassmen in Kadeem Jack '10, Kansas State-signee Shane Southwell '10, and Jermaine Sanders '11. Scott Arias '10, Josh Gomez '11, Devaughn Reid '11, and Dashawn Suber '12 are some of the other key players for Moe Hicks' team. The big Rice trio are the key players in the game, as Southwell and Sanders will need to contain Gilchrist and Irving respectively, while Jack will be relied upon to dominate an undersized St. Pat's team down low.
Prediction- St. Patrick's by twelve, 73-61 . . . Jack will play well for Rice, but it will not be enough to take down Gilchrist, Irving, and Co.

Saturday, February 13, 9:00pm- St. Peter's Prep (NJ) vs. Oak Hill Academy (VA)
This is the definition of a trap game, as Oak Hill Academy, ranked #16, will be less than 24 hours removed from a huge game against St. Patrick's, while St. Peter's Prep has a chance to make a huge national statement in this game. For OHA, this is its "other" contest this weekend, yet for SPP it is a tremendous game. In order to win, the Marauders will have to stop Oak Hill's McDonald's All-America Doron Lamb '10, UConn-bound Roscoe Smith '10 (pictured), Dayton-signee Juwan Staten '10, and future Syracuse Orange Baye Moussa Keita '10. All four are ranked in the top 55 of Northstar Basketball's Class of 2010 Terrific 125, but they are not the Warriors' only weapons. Maryland-commit Pe'Shon Howard '10, Martins Abele '10, and Keith Hornsby '11 are important members of the OHA team too. It is a trio of upperclassmen that are the main men for St. Peter's Prep. St. John's-bound Ron Roberts '10 and Keith Lumpkin '11 form an imposing interior duo, while Myles Davis '11 is a lethal shooter from beyond the arc. SPP has the talent and the motivation to make this into a good game, but it might not be enough to get the win.
Prediction- Oak Hill Academy by twelve, 81-69 . . . Doron Lamb will show why he is a McDonald's All-American and will lead OHA to the win

Check back soon for my preview of the eight games that will be played on Sunday, February 14th.

Note- photo of Hairston is from http://www.montrosebasketball.com/, photo of Waiters is from http://www.maxpreps.com/national/national.htm, photo of Murphy is from http://www.nypost.com/, photo of Massenat is from http://trentonian.com/, photo of Joseph is from http://www.naplesnews.com/, photos of Carter and Gilchrist are from http://www.nj.com/, and photo of Smith is from http://www.oakhillhoops.com/