NJ Boys Basketball: First Team All-State
Photo by The Courier-Post There is no greater honor in high school basketball than being named First Team All-State in your sport. For New Jersey basketball, it was not easy to narrow down the field to five. Here are the…
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There is no greater honor in high school basketball than being named First Team All-State in your sport. For New Jersey basketball, it was not easy to narrow down the field to five. Here are the selections.
Michael Bressler Michael Bressler 5'6" | PG Watchung Hills | 2020 State NJ (2020) | Watchung Hills
Watchung Hills had one of their best seasons in program history and Bressler set a few marks as a senior. He averaged 19.3 points per game and scored a record 583 points. He also knocked down a school-record 77 three’s. Watchung Hills won 25 games, which was the most in school history, and reached the Somerset County Tournament championship and North 2, Group 4 final for the first time in 36 years. Bressler is an undersized guard at 5’5 but you would not know it by watching him play. He is a quick guard who makes the right plays at all times. Bressler is an elite shooter and can also get to the basket at a high rate given his size.
Jordan Price Jordan Price 6'4" | SF Elizabeth | 2020 State NJ (2020) | Elizabeth
Elizabeth has built their program and done it quickly with one move. They brought in Phil Colicchio to be the head coach and things turned around. Price also emerged as one of the stars in New Jersey. He averaged 18.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game this season. Price led Elizabeth to the North 2, Group 4 title. Price will leave Elizabeth as one of the most decorated players with 1,073 points. He will attend New Haven next season and he will enter as a player that saw a lot of controversy over the course of his high school career.
Taj Thweatt Taj Thweatt 6'7" | PF Wildwood Catholic | 2020 State #180 Nation NJ (2020) | Wildwood Catholic
Wildwood Catholic became a powerhouse on the back of their dynamic duo. One half being West Virginia commit Thweatt. He led Wildwood Catholic to a third straight Cape-Atlantic League Tournament title and a Non-Public B South state sectional championship. He averaged 17.9 points and 9.7 rebounds. The 6’7 forward was unstoppable on offense but he also contributed on the defensive side. Thweatt averaged nearly two steals and blocks per contest. He will leave Wildwood Catholic with a total of 1,773 points and 1,028 rebounds.
Lance Ware Lance Ware 6'9" | PF Camden | 2020 #42 Nation NJ (2020) | Camden
Camden won 29 games this season including their final 25 games of the season. Their Kentucky commit was the main reason why. They were ranked as the No. 1 team in New Jersey behind 11.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per night from Ware. He was a player who showed up when the games were biggest. Against fellow behemoth Roselle Catholic, Ware finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. When Camden took on Rancho Christian (CA), Ware put up 18 points, 14 rebounds, and four steals. Performances like that show why he is going to be successful under John Calipari at Kentucky.
CJ Wilcher CJ Wilcher 6'5" | SG Roselle Catholic | 2020 #95 Nation NJ (2020) | Roselle Catholic
Roselle Catholic was the most fun to watch this season. They were big, quick, athletic, and talented. The talent begins with Wilcher, who was one of the best pure shooters in the state. He averaged 18.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Wilcher missed time with an injury but he returned in time to lead the Lions to a Non-Public B North state title. He knocked down six three’s and scored 22 points in the championship. Whether it was from three or mid range, Wilcher’s jump shot was pure. He was able to shoot fading away or off one foot. That is something that will help him in the Big East next season at Xavier.