New Jersey's high school basketball March Madness is almost here

Our annual ride through the NJSIAA boys basketball brackets begins Feb. 28, with dozens of schools harboring hopes of capturing a sectional title. Or, better still, winning the Tournament of Champions on March 21 at East Rutherford's Izod Center.

Before then, we will surely get to see fresh Cinderella stories written, new champions crowned … and of course, there is the delicious (and seemingly inevitable) possibility of seeing St. Patrick and St. Anthony, the top two teams in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 boys basketball rankings presented by the Army National Guard, tip off in the North Non-Public B boys basketball final.

Here is our breakdown of how we seeing this year's tournament playing out, from the sectionals all the way through the TOC. (Note: With our dark horses, we are only picking squads seeded outside of the top four.)

MaxPreps New Jersey boys basketball Freeman Rankings



GROUP 1
Favorites: It is hard to go against the top seeds in the North 1 with Wood-Ridge, Central (Bound Brook), and South (Pitman) pods, although at least one will not play for a sectional championship. University (Newark) looks the best of the North 2 lot despite being seeded third.

Dark Horses: Bloomfield Tech (No. 10, North 2), Bogota (No. 6, North 1), Paulsboro (No. 5, South), Point Pleasant Beach (No. 8, Central), Wallington (No. 4, North 1).

Best Bracket: In North 1, high-scoring Wood-Ridge already lost to No. 3 Cresskill and No. 4 Wallington, but Wallington was felled by No. 10 Becton (East Rutherford) while Cresskill was upended by No. 6 Bogota and No. 12 Leonia during the regular season.

Players to Watch: Jack Cole, New Providence; Dylan Colgate and Luke Dickson, Pitman; Maurice Dickerson, Asbury Park; Keith Foster and Deven Richardson, University; Justin Grant, Dayton; Desmond Hubert, New Egypt; Jason Hutzler, Lindenwold; Louis Pena, Bogota; Peter Polan, Wallington; Jarelle Reischel, Point Pleasant Beach; Lance Rivera, Bound Brook.

Fearless Forecast: In North 1, No. 4 Wallington looks to add to its fall championships in boys soccer and football by outlasting No. 6 Bogota. University will repeat in North 2 over No. 4 Newark Tech; In the Central bracket, we like No. 8 Point Pleasant Boro to upend Bound Brook in the second round before falling to Hubert-led New Egypt, which will then face South champion Pitman.

Final Thought: Pitman over University.

GROUP 2
Favorites: No. 1 seeds Pascack Hills (Montvale) and Central (Newark) appear to have the easiest paths to the state semifinals through the North 1 and 2 brackets, respectively, while the top two teams in both the Central (Raritan (Hazlet) and Ewing (Trenton)) and South (Lakewood and Middle Township (Cape May Court House)) are co-favorites.



Dark Horses: Haddonfield (No. 6, South), Hopatcong (No. 5, North 1), Manchester Regional (Haledon) (No. 6, North 1), Newark Tech (No. 10, North 2), Pleasantville (No. 12, South), Rutherford (No. 5, North 2).

Best Bracket: Arguably the top two teams in Group 2 are seemingly destined to play in the South, where Lakewood and Middle Township are the two top seeds. No. 3 Cinnaminson and No. 4 Collingswood appear to be formidable roadblocks, while No. 5 Medford Tech is playing solid ball and No. 12 Pleasantville owns a win over Middle Township. The Medford Tech-Pleasantville victor could reach the semifinals and test Lakewood.

Players to Watch: Paul Antonucci, Roselle Park; David Azoroh, Darryl Griffin and Dontae' Jones, Ewing; Michael Aaman, Raritan; Patrick Cole and Ramon Johnson, Central; Max DiLeo, Cinnaminson; Leron Dillard, Rutherford; Garrett Kerr, Middle Township; Ben Kohle, Pequannock (Pompton Plains); Khalid Muhammad, Orange; Greg LoPotro, Pompton Lakes; Matt Tobin, Hopatcong; Karon Waller, Collingswood; Anthony Walker, Lakewood.

Fearless Forecast: Lakewood begins its march to the TOC by edging Middle Township before toppling Ewing, whose trio of Azoroh, Griffin and Jones give them an edge over a Raritan team that hung tough with Group 4 juggernaut Linden. Central will win North 2 while ending Newark Tech's spirited run, while we like Pascack Hills' depth over Manchester Regional pluckiness in North 1.

Final Thought: Lakewood over Central.

GROUP 3
Favorites: Plainfield is eighth in our state rankings, but is No. 8 in North 2 because the brackets are seeded according to won-loss records and without taking into account challenging schedules. Kingsway (Woolwich Township) (No. 1, South) and Teaneck (No. 2, North 1) appear without peer in their pods, while No. 2 Neptune holds an edge over No. 1 Colts Neck in the Central bracket after beating the Cougars twice.



Dark Horses: Delsea (Franklinville) (No. 13, South), Freehold Boro (No. 7, Central), Irvington (No. 12, North 2), Passaic Valley (Little Falls) (No. 8, North 1), Scotch Plains-Fanwood (No. 7, North 2), Wayne Valley (No. 12, North 1).

Best Bracket: If you want to see upheaval, North 1 could see as many as four double-digit upsets in the first round including No. 16 Wayne Hills over No. 1 Tenafly. Together, the Wayne schools could blow up the top half of the bracket. Conversely, Teaneck might not get tested until the semifinals where a potential tilt against No. 3 Pascack Valley (Hillsdale) could beckon.

Players to Watch: Eric Buschbaum, Pascack Valley; Kasim Chandler, East Side; Jaquan Cook, New Brunswick; Cedric Elleby, Delsea; Rondell Gilmore-Lane, Kingway; C.J. Gray, Colonia; Sekou Harris and Justin Sears, Plainfield; Joel Hernandez and Chris Jones, Teaneck; Alex Irvin, Northern Burlington; Kyle Janeczek, Wall Township; Nate Nickens, Manchester Township; Charles Oliver, Scotch Plains-Fanwood; Chris Orozco, Tenafly; Hunter Wysocki, Colts Neck.

Fearless Forecast: Kingsway is the best of a largely sub.-500 South field and will clinch its crown against No. 2 Manchester Township. Awaiting the Dragons will be Central champion Neptune after the Scarlet Fliers shake off an early exit in the Shore Conference Tournament to defeat Colts Neck. Teaneck will take North 1 over defending sectional champ and fourth-seeded Northern Valley (Old Tappan), while Plainfield will stave off East Side in North 2 and earn its second-straight sectional title.

Final Thought: Plainfield over Kingsway.

GROUP 4
Favorites: None of the top seeds rates the advantage in these four pods. Eastside (Paterson) is No. 8 in North 1, but is sizzling after struggling early. We consider No. 2 lucky as Linden (North 2), East Brunswick (Central) and Cherry Hill East (South) represent the best of their respective competition.



Dark Horses: Bridgewater-Raritan (No. 12, North 2), Hackensack (No. 5, North 1), Jackson Memorial (Jackson Township) (No. 5, Central), Kennedy (Paterson) (No. 10, North 1), Rancocas Valley (Mt. Holly) (No. 10, Central), Trenton Central (No. 6, Central), Union (No. 7, North 2), Winslow Township (Atco) (No. 5, South).

Best Bracket: Expect to see upsets galore, according to seeds, in North 1 starting in the opening round with No. 13 North Bergen over No. 4 Roxbury (Succasunna), before No. 8 Eastside topples top-seeded Livingston and No. 10 Kennedy overcomes two losses by a combined eight points against No. 2 Passaic County Tech (Wayne). Between Paterson schools Eastside and Kennedy, as well as No. 5 Hackensack, this is a bracket for late-season bloomers.

Players to Watch: Jamar Chavous and Austin Little, Columbia; Elijah Hodge, J.R. Pringley and Rodney Sanders, Linden; Dawan Lighty and Jhamir White, Kennedy; Evan Klimchak, Hunterdon Central; Justin Knight, Oakcrest; Niko Kotoulas, Morris Knolls; Chris Santo, Cherry Hill East; Mike Summerer and Robert Ukawuba, East Brunswick; Stacey Upshaw-Goree, Winslow Township.

Fearless Forecast: In North 1, Eastside will overcome Kennedy in the rivals' fourth meeting before succumbing to Linden, which will take North 2 over a tough Columbia (Maplewood) squad. Seeded third in the South, Oakcrest handed St. Augustine Prep (Richland) its first loss and will slide past Santo and Cherry Hill East in the semifinals, topple top-seeded Williamstown in the sectional final and eliminate Central champion East Brunswick, which will edge top-seeded Middletown North.

Final Thought: Linden over Oakcrest.

Continue reading{PAGEBREAK}NON-PUBLIC A
Favorites: Both of the top seeds, Seton Hall Prep (West Orange) in the North and St. Augustine Prep (Richland), are big favorites in their respective brackets.



Dark Horses: Camden Catholic (Cherry Hill) (No. 5, South), Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft) (No. 6, South), Immaculata (Somerville) (No. 10, North), Paramus Catholic (No. 8, North).

Players to Watch: Dean Brierley, Delbarton; Quentin Decosey, St. Joseph (Metuchen); Eric Flanagan, Bergen Catholic; Sterling Gibbs and Spencer Weisz, Seton Hall Prep; Sean Grennan, Monsignor Donovan; Justin Harris, Paramus Catholic; Isiah Johnson, Notre Dame; Rashad Kilgore, Roger Kilgore and Patrick Widdoss, Bishop Ahr; Keith Lumpkin, Kevin Walker and Stephon Wyatt, St. Peter's Prep; James McLane, Queen of Peace; Matt McMullen, CBA; Isaiah Morton, St. Augustine Prep; Robert Poole, Paul VI; Jameel Warney, Roselle Catholic.

Bracket to Watch: Simply put, the South is wide open. If Seton Hall-commit Grennan gets hot, No. 10 Monsignor Donovan (Toms River) could pick off No. 7 Red Bank Catholic and No. 2 Paul VI (Haddonfield). The semifinals could see up to three lower seeds advance. Almost each of the 12 teams here has a player who could carry them.

Fearless Forecast: St. Augustine Prep figures to squeak past 2010 Tournament of Champions finalist Camden Catholic in the South semifinals before thwarting CBA, which will reach the final after stunning No. 2 Paul VI. In the North, the No. 3 St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City) threesome of Lumpkin, Walker and Wyatt will guide the Marauders to their first sectional championship over Seton Hall Prep.

Final Thought: St. Peter's Prep over St. Augustine Prep.

NON-PUBLIC B
Favorites: In the North, No. 1 St. Patrick (Elizabeth) and No. 2 St. Anthony (Jersey City) are co-favorites heading toward a championship contest that could be the most anticipated game in state history. Seeded third in the South, Trenton Catholic Academy is the defending Tournament of Champions titlist – which gives it the edge over No. 1 St. Rose (Belmar) and No. 2 Cardinal McCarrick (South Amboy).



Dark Horses: Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone) (No. 5, North), Hudson Catholic (Jersey City) (No. 7, North), Wildwood Catholic (North Wildwood) (No. 5, South).

Best Bracket: The prospect of St. Patrick-St. Anthony alone makes this the North pod the state's best bracket, but we could witness the beginning of this bracket's changing of the guard as Gill St. Bernard and Hudson Catholic are a pair of rapidly rising programs. Gill is the state's fourth best team according to our rankings and hung with St. Anthony earlier this season thanks to Jaren Sina, a sophomore point guard who has already committed to Alabama.

Players to Watch: Kyle Anderson and Myles Mack, St. Anthony; Da'vi Austin, Immaculate Conception (Montclair); Reggie Cameron and Kavon Stewart, Hudson Catholic; Edgar Garcia, St. Mary (Jersey City); Michael Gilchrist, Derrick Gordon and Dakari Johnson, St. Patrick; Dominic Hoffman and Jaren Sina, Gill St. Bernard's; Mark Kukoda, St. Rose; Khalid Lewis, Trenton Catholic; David Rosado, Saddle River Day; Kristian Svendesen, Timothy Christian; Marques Townes and Ahmid Williams, Cardinal McCarrick; Marvin Williams, Marist.

Fearless Forecast: In the North final, St. Patrick is more dangerous and efficient offensively than a St. Anthony squad that has suffered through dry offensive spells, so we pick the Celtics in a close game that will be played in the 50s. St. Patrick will face Cardinal McCarrick, which will stop St. Rose in the South title game.

Final Thought: St. Patrick over Cardinal McCarrick.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Seeds: (1) St. Patrick, (2) Linden, (3) Plainfield, (4) Lakewood, (5) St. Peter's Prep, (6) Pitman.



First Round: Plainfield over Pitman; St. Peter's Prep over Lakewood.

Semifinals: St. Patrick over St. Peter's Prep; Linden over Plainfield.

Final: St. Patrick over Linden.