Thursday,
December 15, 2016
By The Unkown Ranker
NJS.com's Anonymous Source
(Rankings will be updated on Mondays througout the season)
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1.
HUDSON CATHOLIC (0-0) --
Head Coach Nick Mariniello’s squad starts the year in the top spot because it will put three of the top 50 players in the country on the court. The Hawks return Jahvon Quinerly (rated No. 28 and returning Player of the Year in the HCIAL) and Luther Muhammed (rated No. 48) coupled with 6-foot-8 Pope John transfer Louis King, a wing player rated No. 17 in America. They also return defensive specialist Tyheem Burno to a team that was upset in the states last year by St. Joseph Regional. They will look to win a state title for the first time since 1976 and start the year ranked No. 18 in the country in a recent poll. |
TYHEEM BURNO |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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2.
ST. ANTHONY (0-0) -- Bob Hurley’s program, fresh off an undefeated season and 13th Tournament of Champions title, will bring back only Howard University commit RJ Cole, who will lead the team from the point for the third year. Other players to keep an eye on are sophomore guard Alexander Rice (son of Monmouth University head coach King Rice), junior guard Ibn Williams, who transferred in from North 13th Street Tech, Ithiel Horton, a transfer from Union, Bakari Simmons, a junior forward from Illinois, and senior guards Jason Lee and Cliff St. Jude. The Friars open with Prestige Prep on Friday |
RJ COLE |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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3.
BERGEN CATHOLIC (0-0) --
Billy Armstrong’s team will look to regain the County title from 2 years ago and look to do some damage in the states as he will put an extremely talented group on the hardwood. They will be led by Italian PG Gabriel Stefanini who has committed to Columbia University and will team up with Fairfield commit Taj Benning which will be a tough tandem to slow down. The Crusaders will be deep and have Center Rhona Eseyade and Thomas Binelli. They will be put to the challenge early as they meet Paterson Eastside and last year’s County champion St. Joes of Montvale. |
TAJ BENNING |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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4.
TEANECK (0-0) -- The Highwaymen, coming off an impressive Group 3 state title, are hoping to have the services of Leondre Washington from Day 1 of the season, but that is in doubt at the moment. Washington may have to sit 30 days after spending last season at Roselle Catholic. When he does return, he will team with Juwan Daniels and Ja’Quaye James, the standout pair that led the Highwaymen to the 2016 state title. They will open the season at Pascack Valley on Friday and play Newark East Side the next day. However, the date to mark is January 1 when they meet Hudson Catholic |
JA'QUAYE JAMES |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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5.
ST. JOSEPH REGIONAL (0-0) -- The Green Knights will look to defend the Bergen County Jamboree title they won last year and build on their 19-9 campaign as they bring back point guard Chauncey Hawkins, who scored over 400 points in leading his team at the point. Also returning will be Joseph Radi and Isaac Hippolyte, who provide size down low. They open with Queen of Peace on Friday and travel to Bergen Catholic on Dec. 22. |
CHAUNCEY HAWKINS |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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6.
DON BOSCO PREP (0-0) --
The Ironmen had their terrific season ended last year in a loss to St. Augustine in the Non Public A state final, but not before they stunned No.4 Seton Hall Prep in the semis. They will look to get back there led by 6-foot-5 Chris Paul and Marcellus Earlington, who will control the paint. Ronald Harper should also be counted upon in his junior season. They will open with Paramus Catholic on Friday and travel to Paterson Kennedy on the 20th. |
RONALD HARPER |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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7.
NV/OLD TAPPAN (0-0) --
The Golden Knights will look to get over the Teaneck hump this year after playing the Highwaymen tough three times last year, the last a 56-53 loss in the state tournament. This year’s squad will be talented led by Justin Minaya, one of the top players in the state, and 6-foot-5 senior center Kevin Eifert. They will have the size and depth to cause problems for a lot of teams. They open at Bergenfield on Friday before getting rival Pascack Valley at home on the Dec. 20. |
JUSTIN MINAYA |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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8.
EASTSIDE (0-0) --
The Ghosts finished their season with a tough loss at Hackensack, 61-52, in the sectional quarterfinals, but they will return their leader and All-County guard Nahzir Smith, who will led his team in scoring. Al-Jumu Johnson and Lamar Johnson will also return for the Ghosts as they will be pushed by a young Kennedy team for the Passaic County title. They will open with Bergen Tech on Friday and get Bergen Catholic at home on the 20th |
NHAZIER SMITH |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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9.
KENNEDY (0-0) --
The Knights will need to find a way to replace 2,000-point scorer Alfonso Gee, after their season last year against Morristown in the first round of the states. They will have an outstanding freshmen class this season to compliment the older kids that are returning. They open with Passaic Tech on Friday and then welcome Don Bosco on the 20th. |
KENNEDY LOGO |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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10.
DWIGHT-ENGLEWOOD (0-0) --
The Bulldogs finished with a 23-7 record last year and ended their season in the Non Public B state final against St. Anthony, so a terrific year to build on. Bob Rudolph takes over as the head coach and he will have the services of three top players from last season in sophomore guard Tyson Etienne, 6-foot-5 sophomore Jordan McKoy and 6-foot-3 junior Xavier Wilson. They will open up against Ridgefield on Friday. |
JORDAN McKOY |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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11.
PASCACK VALLEY (0-0) --
The Indians’ season ended at Ramapo last year in the state tournament, but they are ready to go this season as they bring back their top two scorers in Legend Dominguez and Matt Vassal. They open with Teaneck at home on Friday night then head to Old Tappan on the 20th, so two tough tests to start the season. |
LEGEND DOMINGUEZ |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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12.
ST. PETER'S PREP (0-0) --
The Marauders lost to Don Bosco Prep in the states last season, but return a number of impact players. Jorge Portorreal, and Shayne Simon, both coming off of outstanding football seasons, and 6-foot-11 center Ryan Omslear are all back. They will open at Randolph on Saturday. |
SHAYNE SIMON |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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13.
HACKENSACK (0-0) --
The Comets, coming off a sectional title and a loss to Linden that ended their season in the Group 4 semis, will return some key players. Junior Atiba Taylor, who scored 21 in the sectional final, and 6-foot-3 junior Bassel Saliba will be heavily counted upon. They will open the season against Northern Highlands on Friday and then play
St. Mary’s (Elizabeth) on Sunday. |
ATIBA TAYLOR |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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14.
HOBOKEN (0-0) --
The Red Wings are poised to challenge for a state title this season after falling short in the North 2, Group 1 sectional final to University, 55-49, last year. They return 500-point scorer Justin Davis along with Tyshon Hanberry, two seniors whose goal is to get back to that game and win it this year |
HOBOKEN LOGO |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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15.
PASCACK HILLS (0-0) --
The Cowboys’ season ended prematurely as they were stunned on their home court in the states to Mahwah, 53-52. They should be the favorite to win a state sectional title this year as they return one of the top scorers in Bergen County, Nick Guillemain, along with Jason Shill, 3-point threat. They open the season at River Dell on Friday night. |
JASON SHILL |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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16.
RIDGEWOOD (0-0) -- The Maroons suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss to Hackensack in the opening round of the states last year and will look to use that as motivation. Some feel they are the favorite to win their league. They will be led by 6-foot-5 junior Michael Schretter and 6-foot-4 Quin Peene. They will open the season at home vs. Ramapo on Friday to see where they are at. |
MIKE SCHRETTER |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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17.
WAYNE HILLS (0-0) --
The Patriots lost by one point against Ramapo last year in the sectional semifinals and should be strong again this year led by junior point guard Joey Belli and Justin Hodge while Jason Modak will man the paint. Friday night they will be in West Milford and then play Passaic Valley on the 20th |
JOEY BELLI |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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18.
RAMAPO (0-0) --
Head coach Joe Sandberg needs to replace four starters as he returns two players with varsity experience, but those two should be very productive. Six-foot-4 sophomore KC Hunt and senior Jason Oppler will be asked to provide some leadership to this young team that will run a lot of sophomores out on the court. They open at Ridgewood on Friday and then play West Milford on Sunday |
JASON OPPLER |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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19.
MARIST (0-0) --
The Royal Knights lost in the first round of the states to Dwight-Englewood last season, but hope to get further this season while also hoping to contend in the Hudson County Tournament. They return a trio of top players led by seniors Steven Ruiz and Christian DeJean and junior Tahir McCrea |
MARIST LOGO |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
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20.
PATERSON CHARTER (0-0) -- Lost to Verona in the states last year, but return plenty to make a run this year in both the states and the counties. They will be led by Jahki Clark, Ramir Davis and Dazmir Staton. |
I GOT NOTHING |
LAST WEEK'S
RANKING: N/A |
ALSO RECEIVING UNKNOWN VOTES:
DePaul, Snyder, Paramus Catholic, Wayne Valley, Bayonne
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