Group 2 Preview
The start of the high school basketball season is the best time to look at a preview. The upperclassmen are becoming the team leaders, while the freshmen and sophomores are trying to make a good impression on the coach. Group…
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Continue ReadingThe start of the high school basketball season is the best time to look at a preview. The upperclassmen are becoming the team leaders, while the freshmen and sophomores are trying to make a good impression on the coach. Group 2 may not contain the top team in the state, but it is loaded with high-end talent and good teams. Haddonfield was last season’s group champion, but the Bulldogs will be hard-pressed to repeat this season. Here is a preview for Group 2.
Top team: Camden
The Panthers may have lost 10 games last season, but they are without a doubt the top team in Group 2. Kentucky commit Lance Ware anchors the paint for new coach Rick Brunson. Ware is joined by burly junior Ta’Quan Woodley in the front court, while last season’s leading scorer Jerome Brewer gives The High perimeter scoring. Camden’s starting backcourt may be freshmen, but DJ Wagner and Cian Medley are play-makers.
The latter is a defensive pest who excels at picking people’s pockets,while the later gives the Panthers a guard who can score from all three levels. Freshman Cornelius Robinson provides Brunson with a tough-nosed guard who can get to the basket. The Panthers are the most talented team in Group 2 and should be in the Tournament of Champions this season.
Teams with best shot at taking out Camden: Ramsey, Manasquan
Ramsey and Manasquan combined to lose seven games last season, making them the most likely teams to take out Camden. Cornell commit Sean Hansen is a load on the block and he will challenge Ware and Woodley. Senior point guard Jaden Quinerly is one of the state’s top on-ball defenders and he could cause trouble for Medley and Wagner Jr. Steven Turk is a terrific shooter who spaces the floor well for the Rams.
Manasquan is the same type of team as Ramsey as the Warriors rely on their senior big man. Louisville baseball commit Alex Galvan is a double-double machine who won’t get pushed around in the paint. Ben Roy may only be a sophomore, but he is a crafty point guard who can finish in the lane. Senior Kieren Flanagan opens up space for Galvan on the interior with his outside shooting. Ramsey and Manasquan have all the pieces needed to beat Camden and make the Tournament of Champions.
Darkhorse team: West Side
The Roughriders made the Group final last season, but they lost a lot of players from last year’s squad. Senior point guard Kirk Parsons is a high level point guard who can carry West Side deep into the state playoffs. West Side lost a lot of seniors from last year’s squad and needs someone to help Parsons with the scoring load. The Roughriders are a disciplined team that will give opponents problems in the state playoffs.
Group 2 Preseason First Team:
Lance Ware, 6’9 PF Camden 2020
Kirk Parsons, 6’0 PG West Side 2020
Sean Ramsey, 6’8 F/C Ramsey 2020
DJ Wagner, 6’2 CG Camden 2023
Alex Galvan, 6’7 PF Manasquan 2020
Group 2 Preseason Second Team:
Ben Roy, 6’0 PG Manasquan 2022
Jerome Brewer, 6’6 SF Camden 2021
Elijah Jones, 6’8 PF Pleasantville 2021
Luis Armas, 6’3 G/F Fort Lee 2020
Ta’Quan Woodley, 6’7 PF Camden 2021
Other Players to Watch:
Jaden Quinerly, 6’0 PG Ramsey 2020
Kieren Flanagan, 6’1 PG Manasquan 2020
Asim Jones, 5’10 PG Manchester Regional 2022
Wyatt Hasselbauer, 6’7 PF Manchester Township 2022
Cian Medley, 6’0 PG Camden 2023
Steven Turk, 6’2 SG Ramsey 2020
Grant Holbrook, 6’5 Ramsey 2021