Top Guard Duos in North Jersey
Guards are important to any team’s success during the season as they are responsible for controlling the pace of the game. Coaches trust their point guards to handle the ball under pressure and make big plays for them down the…
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Continue ReadingGuards are important to any team’s success during the season as they are responsible for controlling the pace of the game. Coaches trust their point guards to handle the ball under pressure and make big plays for them down the stretch. While big-time guards like Noah Farrakhan Noah Farrakhan 6'1" | PG The Patrick School | 2020 #159 Nation NJ , CJ Wilcher CJ Wilcher 6'5" | SG Roselle Catholic | 2020 #95 Nation NJ and Niels Lane Niels Lane 6'5" | PG Roselle Catholic | 2020 State #72 Nation NJ will all be graduating, New Jersey is still full of talented guards, especially in North Jersey. Here are the top returning guard duos in North Jersey this season.
Jaylen Blakes Jaylen Blakes 6'1" | PG Blair Academy | 2021 State #121 Nation NJ , 6’1 2021 & Kyle Cuffee Jr. Kyle Cuffee Jr. 6'2" | CG Blair Academy | 2021 #161 Nation NJ , 6’2 2022 Blair
Blair Academy does not compete for the Tournament of Champions, but the Buccaneers have one of the top guard tandems in the state. Blakes is a polished floor general who is capable of taking over games. Cuffee Jr. is a big-time athlete who loves to finish above the rim, but is also capable of making plays in the lane. The duo developed a good chemistry together as Virginia commit Jabri Abdur-Rahim Jabri Abdur-Rahim 6'6" | SF Blair Academy | 2020 #41 Nation NJ missed time due to injury. Their ability to play off each other is important for a Buccaneers team with talent everywhere on the floor.
Corey Floyd Jr Corey Floyd Jr 6'4" | SG Roselle Catholic | 2022 NJ ., 6’3 2022 & Simeon Wilcher Simeon Wilcher 6'4" | PG Roselle Catholic | 2023 State #17 Nation NJ , 6’3 2023, Roselle Catholic
The Lions lose Wilcher, Lane and Richie Greaves Richie Greaves 6'0" | PG Roselle Catholic | 2020 State NJ ,but their young backcourt should be fun to watch. Floyd Jr. is one of the best two-way guards in the state and is an underrated passer. Wilcher is a smooth guard who plays well above his years. His performance against Manasquan at the Hoop Group Battle for Boardwalk Showcase in September proved he is ready for a big role. Roselle Catholic also has Jadin Collins Jadin Collins 6'1" | PG Rutgers Prep | 2023 State NJ and Maurice McKnight Maurice McKnight 5'10" | PG Hudson Catholic | 2023 State NJ in the backcourt, but Floyd Jr. and Wilcher will be running the show for the Lions in 2020-21.
Will Richardson Will Richardson 6'2" | PG Bergen Catholic | 2022 State #76 Nation NJ , 6’1 2022 & Julian Brown Julian Brown 6'1" | PG Bergen Catholic | 2022 State NJ , 5’11 2022, Bergen Catholic
The Crusaders captured their second straight Non-Public A North title behind its star sophomore guards. Richardson is a big-time scorer as he put up 22.7 points per game in states. Brown is an attack-minded guard who can heat up in a hurry and score 20 points on any given night. The duo play well off each other and know how to get each other involved in the game. Bergen Catholic should be considered the favorite to win its third straight Non-Public A North title with Richardson and Brown in the backcourt.
Mark Armstrong Mark Armstrong 6'2" | PG St. Peter's Prep | 2022 State #39 Nation NJ , 6’2 2022 & Rayshawn Ford Rayshawn Ford 6'2" | SG St. Peter's Prep | 2021 State NJ 6’3 2021, St. Peter’s Prep
The Marauders lost to Bergen Catholic in double overtime in the Non-Public A North title game and they will be looking for revenge next season. Armstrong was one of the top scorers in Hudson County last season and was named to third team All-State. Ford stepped up his game in the state tournament as he poured in at least 20 points in all three state games. Both players are capable of scoring from all three levels and can run the offense. St. Peter’s Prep will be fueled by its loss in the finals as Ford and Armstrong look to take the Marauders back to the Non-Public A North final.
Amar’e Marshall Amar’e Marshall 6'2" | PG Roselle Catholic | 2021 State NJ , 6’2 2021 & Jayden Brown Jayden Brown 6'0" | PG Montclair Immaculate | 2021 State NJ 6’0 2021, Montclair Immaculate
Third team All-State member and Hofstra commit Zion Bethea Zion Bethea 6'3" | PG Montcalir Immaculate | 2020 State #393 Nation NJ helped the Lions capture their first ever Essex County Tournament title, but they still have a pair of talented guards in the backcourt. Marshall is an athletic slasher who is capable of knocking down shots from the perimeter. Brown is a pass-first guard who paced Montclair Immaculate’s offense all season. They are both solid on-ball defenders and are unafraid to rip down rebounds in the post. It will be tough for Montclair Immaculate to replace Bethea, but Marshall and Brown should have the Lions competing for the Essex County Tournament title again.
Other Names to Know:
Denver Anglin Denver Anglin 6'0" | PG Gill St. Bernard's | 2022 State #120 Nation NJ & Isaac Hester Isaac Hester 6'0" | PG Ranney School | 2023 State NJ , Gill St. Bernard’s
David Olaniyi David Olaniyi 5'10" | PG Newark East Side | 2022 State NJ & Jahzeer Gaskin Jahzeer Gaskin 5'10" | PG West Side | 2022 State NJ , Newark East Side
Jayden Pierre Jayden Pierre 6'2" | PG Long Island Lutheran | 2022 State #109 Nation NY & Pascal Dodard Pascal Dodard 5'10" | PG Elizabeth | 2021 State NJ , Elizabeth
David Mager David Mager 6'3" | SG Dwight-Englewood | 2022 State NJ & Jayden Lemond Jayden Lemond 6'3" | PG Blair Academy | 2023 State #183 Nation NJ , Dwight-Englewood
Ty-laur Johnson & Everton Browne Everton Browne 6'0" | PG St. Benedict's | 2022 State NJ , St. Benedict’s