2023 Unsung Heroes To Follow
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Leaders are often overlooked due to outbound transfers, injuries, playing for smaller schools or being simply “missed” by the media. Today we look at a handful of players who are some of the top players in the state at their…
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Continue ReadingLeaders are often overlooked due to outbound transfers, injuries, playing for smaller schools or being simply “missed” by the media. Today we look at a handful of players who are some of the top players in the state at their position but don’t get as much attention as the superstars around New Jersey.
Dylan Csik Dylan Csik 5'10" | PG Middletown South | 2023 State NJ | 5’10” | G | Middletown South
Csik is one of the best players at the Shore Conference that not many people are talking about . He was a real leader for Middletown South last year. He can attack the basket against bigger players by breaking them down off the dribble but can also hit shots all over the floor. Good knowledge of the game and can facilitate in the backcourt. He was the top player the Eagles junior and will be asked to go above and beyond this winter. He had 25 vs CBA, 20 vs SJV and 21 vs RBR last winter and could be an All Shore player this year. Colleges should love the hustle, the mind for the game and his top performances, which came against teams with multiple college players in their lineups.
Tarik Bicic Tarik Bicic 6'5" | SG Rutherford | 2024 NY | 6’5” | G | Rutherford
Bicic may well be the best player in the state that not many people outside of his hometown know about. He’s also one of the best in Bergen County. He fired the Bulldogs to a 22 win season as a junior. An accomplished guard who can do it all well. He’s a versatile offensive threat who gets at the rim but can also hit it from deep, which makes him a problem to defend. He’s got scholarship interest and his stats from his junior year were impressive: 400+pts, 200 boards and 200 assists. Bicic is an all-county player and should be in contention for All State honors within his classification.
Isaac Hester Isaac Hester 6'0" | PG Ranney School | 2023 State NJ | 6’0 “ | G| Ranney
Hester is the returning senior at the Shore. A skilled guard who can beat defenders off the dribble but can also light it up from deep. A facilitator, Hester took on a new role last year–Lead Scorer–after the Panthers lost a host of talented players to transfer. He should see significant recruiting interest during his senior year. He had 20 vs Trenton Catholic in states as his top game last year.
Isaiah Fuller Isaiah Fuller 5'11" | PG Roselle | 2023 State NJ | 5’11” | G | Roselle High
Fuller makes such a list because he didn’t get to deliver on the promise last year. He suffered an injury early on, putting a damper on his high profile arrival from Eagle Academy in NYC. He’s a smart lead guard who can put the ball on the floor, spread it around but also score the ball. He plays at warp-speed the entire game and was very active for AAU and his HS team this summer. After watching him in a casual team showcase at Johnson Regional and seeing him take it as seriously as possible, playing like it was the county finals at Kean with 50 coaches in the gym, we were convinced. He’s a leader and colleges will take notice in his senior year.
Ray Zamloot Ray Zamloot CG Caldwell | 2023 State NJ | 6’1” | G | Caldwell 2023
Zamloot was an all-county player as a junior. He is known primarily as a left handed scorer but he can finish with both hands at the basket and also step back and hit from beyond the three point line. He’s a tough on-ball defender and is unafraid of contact at either end of the floor. He led Caldwell to 24 wins last year. Had 19 vs East Side, 15 vs SHP and 16 vs Bloomfield. He should repeat as an all-county player and academic D3s will love his GPA.