St. Benedict's Prep is our top pick this season, but close behind are St. Anthony, Gill St. Bernard's, St. Joseph and Roselle Catholic.
Josh Brown and St. Anthony are the reigning national champions and will once again be a factor in the national title picture.
Photo by Denis Gostev
Mark Taylor
2011-12 finish: 36-3
This could be the deepest, most talented St. Benedict’s squad since the 2005 Gray Bees squad that featured the likes of Samardo Samuels, Corey Stokes and Lance Thomas. This year’s team balances the senior leadership of guard Tyler Ennis with dynamic young talent led by sophomore
Isaiah Briscoe, a third team freshman All-American a year ago. Canadian import
Isaiah Watkins and
Michael Young, a transfer from Hudson Catholic, will roam the post. Keep an eye on freshman
Rodney Miller Jr., a dominant youth player who wouldn’t look out of place suited up for a college team.
View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings
2. St. Anthony (Jersey City)Head coach: Bob Hurley
2011-12 finish: 32-0, NJSIAA Tournament of Champions winner, Xcellent 25 national champion
Despite the loss to do-everything senior Kyle Anderson, St. Anthony will once again be among the top teams in the country. Boasting a 65-game winning streak, Bob Hurley’s squad will once again rely on terrific guard play. Seniors
Josh Brown and
Hallice Cooke excel on both sides of the ball while juniors
Cheddi Mosely and
Tarin Smith both enjoyed big summers and will provided needed depth to the Friars’ aggressive, ball-swarming defense.
Kentrall Brooks and
Tim Coleman both return in the front court. Transfer
Aaron Ariri should also help fill the void left by the graduation of Jerome Frink. A schedule that features St. Benedict and Lone Peak will certainly challenge the winning streak.
View all of our New Jersey boys basketball photo galleries3. Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone)Head coach: Mergin Sina
2011-12 finish: 27-4; Non-Public South B group champion
Could this be the year that Gill St. Bernard wins its first state title? With sterling point guard
Jaren Sina back running the show, the small non-public school returns one of the state’s premier players.
Austin Colbert, a transfer who began his career at St. Patrick, will be an impact player down low.
Tyus Battle, billed as the state’s top freshman, will play right away and gives head coach Mergin Sina another blue-chip recruit to work with. Last season, Gill St. Bernard endured a season-ending 67-39 loss to St. Anthony, a team that the likely will stand in its path again this winter.
View last season's New Jersey boys basketball Freeman Rankings
4. St. Joseph (Metuchen)Head coach: Dave Turco
2011-12 finish: 29-2; Non-Public A state champion
Perennial powerhouse St. Joseph had another banner season in 2011-12, defeating Seton Hall Prep to capture the Non-Public A state title before falling to Plainfield in the Tournament of Champions. With the loss of leading scorers Quenton DeCosey and Danny Brix, St. Joseph will need increased production from returning starter
Jimbo Long, who averaged about seven points a year ago. Transfer
Marques Towns, who averaged more than 19 points for Cardinal McCarrick last winter, will serve as a nice replacement for DeCosey, as will
Wade Baldwin, a talented transfer from Immaculata.
James Ziemba will play down low alongside
Karl Towns, arguably the nation’s top sophomore.
View last season's New Jersey boys basketball stats leaderboard5. Roselle CatholicHead coach: Dave Boff
2011-12 finish: 14-10
Roselle Catholic experienced some ups and downs against a rigorous schedule last season but could be poised for a breakout year in 2012. Dave Boff’s squad features Syracuse-bound forward
Tyler Roberson, a versatile threat who has drawn comparisons to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
Hakim Saintil, who transferred from St. Patrick last year, is a talented point guard.
Malachi Richardson, a 6-6 sophomore, knows how to score and is already attracting interest from top college programs. If it wants to prove itself as an elite team in the state, Roselle Catholic will first have to get past Plainfield, the top public school program in the state.
View last season's New Jersey boys basketball playoff brackets
