Three teams that certainly appear primed to be major candidates to reach Rutgers’ Jersey Mike’s Arena for group state finals on Saturday, March 14, would be Shabazz and Arts in Group 1 and Newark Collegiate in Group 2.
In Group 3 is a Millburn team that certainly has the talent and ability to get through the North led by one of the better guard tandems you will find in senior Chase Plotkin and junior Chace Redler.
With top-seeded Shabazz and second-seeded Arts, along with a dangerous fourth-seeded Newark Tech team, North 2, Group 1 could have the best chance to advance one of its Brick City small-school powers out of North 2, Group 1 and then with a very good chance to make it to Rutgers for the state championship final.
The Bulldogs (23-1) have operated out of the fifth division, the Freedom, in the Super Essex Conference; however, coach Nassir Barrino’s team has been quite impressive in roaring past all opponents except for Seton Hall Prep which ended a 22-game winning streak by the Newark program with a convincing 67-43 victory in the Essex County Tournament semifinals on Feb. 14.
Guard-heavy Shabazz, which owns a narrow 48-45 early-season win over Arts in the finals of the Newark Public Schools Holiday Tournament, is a quick and aggressive squad which can wreak havoc vs. any opponent with its ability to turn teams over with immense pressure.
Exciting sophomore Anthony Blackmon (19.2 points per game), junior Elijah Colon (21.9 ppg) and seniors Zaim Barnes (15.5 ppg) and Christian Gray (14 ppg.) lead coach Barrino’s stellar backcourt.
A potential Wednesday, March 4, sectional semifinal matchup to keep an eye on might be Shabazz hosting fourth-seeded Newark Tech (13-10), which operates out of the SEC’s top division, the American, throughout the season and coach Jimmy Salmon’s Terriers are more than capable of making a big impact in the states behind standouts such as junior forward Va’Shaun Harper, a transfer from Salmon’s former team Immaculate Conception; senior guard Iijah Adams and sophomore forward Malachi Johnson.
Newark Tech has also faced a strong out-of-conference schedule and does own a recent SEC-American Division victory over division-leading St. Benedict’s.
Arts, which has been a handful for any opponent the past five seasons behind the guidance of coach Prophet Kates, is a very dangerous No. 2 seed in N2G1 behind the efforts of 6-6 senior forward Tyshaun Boyd (15.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg), junior guard Ayyub Wilson (12.4 ppg), senior guard Kareem Anthony and exciting freshman guard Idris Grimsley.
Third-seeded Glen Ridge (15-9), another Essex team in the section, hopes to make a run in a very tough bracket with its very capable squad led by 6-7 double-double machine Ryan Lawn (19.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg) and veteran seniors Liam Felder (10.7 ppg), Jacob Javier and Liam Cooney.
Looking to make it all the way to Rutgers in Group 2 is Newark Collegiate (17-7, 9-1 in the SEC-Liberty Division), which has a veteran team under coach Jyron Brooks led by the impressive 6-4 senior guard Jayden Solomon (19.0 ppg) along with forwards Alieu Kellah (15.2 ppg) and rugged inside force Kyree Vickers (10.8 ppg).
A sectional semifinalist last season when it finished 19-8, Newark Collegiate is the top seed in North 2, Group 2 where challengers could include second-seeded Lyndhurst, which enters the states on a roll, and fourth-seeded Madison, which won the section last year and advanced to the overall Group 2 state final behind its high-scoring guard Gavin Randall who is now the Dodgers’ all-time leading scorer.
Sixth-seeded Caldwell (15-8), which is superbly guided by veteran coach Mike Fess, is a strong defensive team with backcourt leaders such as senior Ryan Keenan, but the Chiefs have had some recent injuries, including to their leading scorer, 6-2 senior forward Aiden Nienstadt, who just returned to the lineup, although the team’s second-leading scorer, junior guard Joe Diorio, has been lost for the remainder of the season with a knee injury he recently absorbed in a late-regular season independent contest vs. Union City.
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