Class of 2021: Top Performers Early On
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The regular season is fully underway. Teams are beginning conference play and regular season invitationals are still coming up. Contenders have begun to put their names on the map and individual players are beginning to standout. There is a ton…
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Continue ReadingThe regular season is fully underway. Teams are beginning conference play and regular season invitationals are still coming up. Contenders have begun to put their names on the map and individual players are beginning to standout. There is a ton of talent in the Class of 2021 and it is on full display. Here are the top performers from the junior class early on in the season.
Trey Patterson | Rutgers Prep
It is hard to find a junior who is having a better start to the season than Patterson. He is averaging 22.7 points and 11 rebounds per game as he has led his team to an 11-0 start. Patterson has nine double-doubles this season including a 26 point, 20 rebound performance against Malvern Prep (PA). His season-high came in a win over Immaculata where he scored 43 points. Patterson has knocked down 20 three’s and 64 free throws in 11 games. He will be one of the best players in New Jersey over the final two seasons of his high school career.
Zarique Nutter | Patrick School
The Patrick School is ranked as the top team in New Jersey and one of the 10 best in the nation. They are missing some key players like Jonathan Kuminga and Adama Sanogo but Nutter has held it down in their absence. He is coming off a game where he finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds against St. Benedict’s. Nutter has proven that he can lead a team that is in the spotlight. When The Patrick School gets their full arsenal back, they will be extremely hard to beat.
Jaylen Blakes | Blair
The No. 1 player in New Jersey, Jabri Abdur-Rahim, has missed some time for Blair. This has not slowed them down as they are undefeated on the season. Blakes has been a force in his teammate’s absence. The 6’1 guard has offers from UConn, Georgia, Penn State, St. John’s, Rutgers, and Yale. This list will certainly get larger as he progresses this season and into his final campaign in high school. Blair is going to be playing some important games come playoff time and Blakes will be a key factor.
Jerome Brewer | Camden
Camden has to be one of the most entertaining teams in New Jersey. They are led by Kentucky commit Lance Ware. D.J. Wagner is leading the team in scoring in his freshman season and new head coach Rick Brunson is pulling it all together. Brewer cannot be ignored when watching this team play. He is a talented junior with a lot of potential. Brewer has been getting it done in multiple ways on the floor. His ceiling is extremely high and it will continue to rise.
Elijah Jones | Pleasantville
Pleasantville began their season with four straight wins and Jones had a huge hand in all of them. He scored at least 25 points in each of the first three and grabbed double-double rebounds in two of them. In the second game of the season, Jones finished with 25 points and 17 rebounds. He followed that up with a 33 point, 18 rebound performance. At 6’7, Jones has the size and skill to dominate his opponents. He is certainly doing that so far and there is no sign of it stopping.
Zach Hicks | Camden Catholic
There is some serious talent in southern Jersey and Hicks is one of the top performers. The 6’7 junior has been dominant scoring and rebounding the ball. He has three 20 point games this season including a 26 point, 12 rebound performance in a win over Pennsauken. Hicks is an intriguing prospect and will be a big player to watch moving forward.