Group 3: Senior Stars
Group 3 was one of the most competitive sections in New Jersey this season as it contains some of the top public school in the state. Moorestown, Timber Creek, West Morris and Irvington have all spent time around the top…
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Continue ReadingGroup 3 was one of the most competitive sections in New Jersey this season as it contains some of the top public school in the state. Moorestown, Timber Creek, West Morris and Irvington have all spent time around the top 15 this season. Those teams are led by big-time seniors as they are looking to end their varsity careers with a state title. Here are the top senior stars in Group 3 this season.
Demetrius Paynter Demetrius Paynter 6'6" | PF Timber Creek | 2020 State NJ , 6’6 PF Timber Creek 2020
Guards Eric Benjamin Eric Benjamin 5'11" | PG Timber Creek | 2020 State NJ and Justin Bladen are also options here, but Paynter has been a rock down low for the Chargers. The 6’6 forward has a soft touch around the basket and is hard to move out of the paint. Paynter is a good rebounder and shot-blocker for a player who does not rely on athleticism. He averaged 18 points per game in his final two games is proof of how important Paynter was to South Jersey Group 3 champions Timber Creek.
Moses Pierre Moses Pierre 6'0" | PG Irvington | 2020 State NJ , 6’0 SG Irvington 2020
Simply put, Pierre did it all for the Blue Knights as teams could not stop him from stuffing the stat sheet. The 6’0 guard was impossible to keep out of the lane and knew how to draw contact around the rim. Pierre had a solid mid-range game and is an elite rebounder as he ripped down 25 rebounds in a game against North Star Academy this season. Irvington was one of the top teams in Group 3 all season because of Pierre’s ability to impact the game on both ends.
Max Pernetti Max Pernetti 6'5" | SF Ramapo | 2020 State NJ , 6’6 SF Ramapo 2020
The Raiders defended their North 1 Group 3 title behind Pernetti’s strong senior season. The Gettysburg commit is one of the most versatile swingmen in New Jersey as he can attack the basket strong, knock down jumpers and defend taller opponents. Pernetti skies for rebounds on both ends of the floor and is an underrated shot-blocker. His presence on the court will be missed as Ramapo won consecutive North 1 Group titles with Pernetti on the floor.
Quinn Calabrese Quinn Calabrese 6'3" | SG Wall | 2020 State NJ , 6’3 SG Wall 2020
Calabrese had his ups and downs during his senior season, but he was integral to Wall’s defense of its Central Jersey Group 3 title. The 6’3 shooting guard has a smooth jumper and is not afraid to pull the trigger when he crosses halfcourt. Calabrese is tough to contain off the bounce and has the ability to finish tough layups around the basket. Junior Pat Lacey Pat Lacey 6'1" | SG Wall | 2021 State NJ was clutch for the Crimson Knights in the state tournament, but Calabrese was Wall’s top scoring option throughout the season.
Tyrese Myrick Tyrese Myrick 6'2" | SG Westampton Tech | 2020 State NJ , 6’2 SG Westampton Tech 2020
Westampton Tech fell to Timber Creek in the South Jersey Group 3 semifinals, ending Myrick’s storied varsity career. The 6’2 guard uses his strong frame to finish through contact around the basket, but he is more than just a slasher. Myrick is capable of getting hot from behind the arc as buried five three-pointers in a game against Trenton Catholic in January. He is a tough rebounder and an underrated passer who just makes plays with the ball in his hands. Westampton Tech will struggle to replace Myrick’s scoring and rebounding in 2020-21 as he is one of the top players in South Jersey.
Other Players to Know:
RJ Weise RJ Weise 6'0" | SG State NJ , 6’0 PG Allentown 2020
Luke Mazur Luke Mazur 5'9" | PG Mainland | 2020 State NJ , 5’9 PG Mainland 2020
Ryan Savoy Ryan Savoy 6'4" | SF Lakewood | 2020 State NJ , 6’4 SF Lakewood 2020
Andres Fulgencio Andres Fulgencio 6'0" | CG Dwight-Morrow | 2020 State NJ , 6’0 CG Dwight-Morrow 2020
Daniel Oravbiere, 6’6 PF Payne Tech 2020
Eric Baier Eric Baier 6'3" | SG Summit | 2020 State NJ , 6’3 SG Summit 2020