Stars from Non-Public B South
The opening round of Non-Public B South was exciting as some of the top players in the state were in action. Some of those top players put up big performances as they carried their team to the next round. Here…
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Continue ReadingThe opening round of Non-Public B South was exciting as some of the top players in the state were in action. Some of those top players put up big performances as they carried their team to the next round. Here are some of the top stars from the opening round of Non-Public B South.
Jamir Watkins Jamir Watkins 6'7" | SG Trenton Catholic | 2020 State #220 Nation NJ , 6’7 SF Trenton Catholic 2020
The VCU commit could not be stopped in Trenton Catholic’s 81-53 victory over Wardlaw-Hartridge. Watkins scored a game-high 20 points, which included a pair of big-time dunks. He showed off his shooting ability by knocking down three shots from behind the arc and played good perimeter defense on Mehki Huey. His solid performance against the Rams is huge as Watkins will take on star junior forward Trey Patterson Trey Patterson 6'7" | SF Rutgers Prep | 2021 State #36 Nation NJ in the next round.
Freddie Young Freddie Young 6'3" | PG Trenton Catholic | 2021 State NJ Jr., 6’3 SG Trenton Catholic 2020
Watkins may have paced Trenton Catholic in scoring, but it was Young Jr.’s control of the game that made the Iron Mikes unstoppable in the first. The 6’3 junior dished out nine assists on the game with only one turnover, showing the control he had over the offense. Young Jr. was able to break down the Rams’ defense and find open shooters on the perimeter. He was also an efficient scorer as he finished up with 13 points on 6-7 shooting. Young Jr. will have to continue his efficient offense against a Rutgers Prep backcourt of Noah Harris Noah Harris 6'0" | PG Rutgers Prep | 2021 State NJ and Ryan Pettit Ryan Pettit 6'2" | SG Rutgers Prep | 2022 State NJ , who are good on-ball defenders.
Giovanni Cessel Giovanni Cessel 6'9" | C Holy Cross Prep | 2021 State PA , 6’9 C Holy Cross Prep 2020
Delaware commit Gianmarco Arletti Gianmarco Arletti 6'6" | SF Holy Cross Prep | 2020 State NJ normally controls the scoring for the Crusaders, but Cessel was the star in the 58-39 victory over Gloucester Catholic. The 6’9 senior scored a game-high 25 points and ripped down 15 rebounds as the Rams could not stop the big man down low. Cessel consistently drew contact around the basket as he knocked down 13 free throws during the game. He scored with ease down low and played solid interior defense. Arletti only finished with 13 points, so Cessel’s ability to be the main scorer is huge for Holy Cross Prep’s success moving forward.
Marcus Pierce Marcus Pierce 6'1" | CG Compass Prep | 2022 State NJ , 6’1 CG St. Joseph (Hammonton) 2021
Ranney held Pierce to no points in the first half, but he exploded in the second half in St. Joseph (Hammonton)’s 54-47 win. The 6’1 junior guard poured in 19 points in the second half as the Panthers struggled to keep him out of the lane. Pierce used his size and explosiveness to get to the basket and knew how to finish tough shots through traffic. His ability to catch fire in the second half was huge as sophomore Daniel Skillings Daniel Skillings 6'5" | SG Roman Catholic | 2022 State PA only finished with 12 points. Pierce has been playing at a high level all season and will need to continue his play against Holy Cross Prep in the quarterfinals.
Jaden Honis Jaden Honis 6'2" | SG Immaculata | 2020 State NJ , 6’2 PG Immaculata 2020
The Dominican commit was the best player on the floor in Immaculata’s 68-50 win over St. Rose. The 6’2 senior was hard to contain off the bounce and drew contact almost every time he got around the basket. Honis ran the offense smoothly as he finished with six assists on the game with some of them going to his little brother Isaiah Honis, who knocked down five three-pointers. He has been playing at a high level all season for Immaculata and Honis will need to continue that play in the quarterfinals.
Other Names to Know:
Naji Wright, 6’6 PF Trenton Catholic 2020
Ryan Zan, 6’5 PF Ranney 2022
Darren Tuck Darren Tuck 6'4" | SG St. Joe's Metuchen | 2022 State NJ , 6’4 SF Immaculata 2022
Mehki Huey, 5’10 PG Wardlaw-Hartridge 2022