2023 Sleeper Player of the Year Candidates
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The Garden State basketball season is a little over a month and the excitement is palpable. The 2023 class is filled with talented players capable of taking home Conference Player of the Year, including multiple sleeper candidates. Here are the…
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Continue ReadingThe Garden State basketball season is a little over a month and the excitement is palpable. The 2023 class is filled with talented players capable of taking home Conference Player of the Year, including multiple sleeper candidates. Here are the top 2023 sleepers for Conference Player of the Year.
Jalen Robinson Jalen Robinson 5'10" | PG Columbia | 2023 State NJ , 5’10 PG Columbia
Robinson plays in one of the toughest divisions in New Jersey, creating ample opportunities for him to take home SEC Player of the Year honors. The 5’10 floor general plays with poise with the ball in his hands and has a tight handle. Robinson is a good finisher around the room and knows how to get his teammates involved in the half court. He can knock down open jumpers from distance and is a solid on-ball defender. Robinson will lead Columbia’s offense again, which could end up with him winning Player of the Year at the end of the season.
Jadin Collins Jadin Collins 6'1" | PG Rutgers Prep | 2023 State NJ , 6’1 PG Rutgers Prep
Collins will be hard-pressed to take unseat Gill St. Bernard’s trio as he looks to lead the Argonaut offense. The Roselle Catholic transfer is at his best attacking the basket as he can finish in a variety of ways and draw contact. Collins has a nice handle and pushes the tempo efficiently. He is a strong rebounder for a guard and moves his feet well on the defensive end. Collins is an athletic point guard prospect who is ready to lead Rutgers Prep in 2021-22.
Isaac Hester Isaac Hester 6'0" | PG Ranney School | 2023 State NJ , 6’0 PG Ranney
Hester returns to run the Panthers’ offense as he looks to win the school’s first Shore Conference Tournament title since 2019. The 6’0 guard has a good handle, which he uses to break his defender down and finish around the basket. Hester is more than just a driver as he has a nice release on his jumper and sets his feet before he shoots. He rarely forces the issue in the half court and is an underrated on-ball defender. Hester is a smart, floor general who is set for a big junior campaign for Ranney.
Jahmir Smith Jahmir Smith 6'0" | PG Centennial Highschool | 2023 GA , 6’0 PG Holy Spirit
The Cape-Atlantic League has plenty of players capable of taking home Player of the Year honors and Smith is one of them. The 6’0 guard is a big-time athlete who can finish above the rim and does not mind drawing contact on his way to the basket. Smith has a nice handle, which he uses to get into the lane to make plays. He skies for rebounds on both ends of the floor and uses his athleticism to make it tough for opposing ball-handlers on defense. Smith’s combination of athleticism and talent is something that will help Holy Spirit throughout the 2021-22 season.
Richard Machado Richard Machado 6'1" | CG Saddle River Day | 2023 State NJ , 6’1 CG Saddle River Day
Machado has been a productive part of the Rebels’ offense over the past two seasons, but should be one of the go-to guys on offense in 2021-22. The 6’1 guard is a marksman from distance as he has a good shooting stroke and can knock down triples in bunches. Machado is more than just a shooter as he can also put the ball on the floor and finish around the basket. He has a nice touch on his floater and has an underrated handle. Machado is a scoring guard who should put up big numbers for Saddle River Day this season.