MaxPreps 2014-15 Preseason Top 25 Basketball preview: No. 8 Roselle Catholic

Not many high school basketball players in the Class of 2015 have a resume with more impressive bullet points than Isaiah Briscoe of Roselle Catholic (N.J.).

Briscoe, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound point guard regarded as a Top 10 prospect in the 2015 class by 247Sports, would love nothing more than to add to that list by leading the Lions to their second NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title in three years.

Considering Kentucky and St. John's as his next stop, Briscoe spent his first two years of high school at St. Benedict's Prep (Newark). While there, he helped the Gray Bees to a 69-5 record and appearances in the 2012 and 2013 National High School Invitational tournaments.



See the entire preseason national Top 25

Briscoe also had a hand in ending a historic winning streak. Over 4,000 fans watched as St. Benedict's Prep beat Bob Hurley and St. Anthony in February of 2013, snapping an 83-game winning streak by the Friars.

His latest success came over the summer on the ultra-competitive Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit, leading New Jersey's Playaz to the title in July.

Now it's time to put his stamp on the program at Roselle Catholic.

"We are expecting great things from him," coach Dave Boff said. "I think our strength and conditioning program had a hand in really reshaping his body and he has totally dedicated himself to the film room. We are proud of everything he has become."

Briscoe won't be alone. There are at least a half-dozen future Division I players on the roster, including South Carolina commit Chris Silva, a 6-9 forward/center who is regarded as a Top 100 senior by some outlets.



Seniors Ganlandou Cisse and Pierre Sarr – both from Senegal – add even more size while Asante Gist, Tahir Pretlow and Matt Bullock will join Briscoe in the backcourt and on the wings.

View a gallery of the Roselle Catholic preseason photo shoot

The biggest intrigue will be how much freshman phenom Nazreon Reid can add. The 6-8 first-year Lion is regarded by some as the most promising 2018 hoops prospect in America.

Roselle Catholic's last five years:
2013-14 – 21-10, Tournament of Champions semifinalist
2012-13 – 25-5, Tournament of Champions winner
2011-12 – 14-10
2010-11 – 16-8
2009-10 – 15-8{PAGEBREAK}

State Association:
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA)

Enrollment:
600

Head coach:
Dave Boff

Career record:
190-99 career record, eighth year at Roselle Catholic, 13th year as head coach overall



Former Lions in college/pro basketball:
- Tyler Roberson, Syracuse

- Hakim Saintil, South Alabama/Williston State

- Jameel Warney, Stony Brook

Other notable alumni:
- Daniel Hugh Kelly, Hardcastle and McCormick star (80's TV show)

- Kurt Sutter, Sons of Anarchy creator (FX series)

- Dick Sweeney, K-Cup co-founder{PAGEBREAK}




Isaiah Briscoe (6-2, Sr., G)
No. 9 2015 prospect in 247Sports Composite, expected to choose between Kentucky and St. John's.

Matt Bullock (6-4, Jr., G/F)

Ganlandou Cisse (6-9, Sr., F/C)

Kameron David (5-11, Sr., G)

Asante Gist (5-11, Jr., G)
Offers from Rutgers, Seton Hall and South Florida among others.

Tahir Pretlow (5-9, Sr., G)



Pierre Sarr (6-7, Sr., F)

Chris Silva (6-9, Sr., F/C)
South Carolina verbal commit, native of Gabon ranked No. 106 in Class of 2015 by 247Sports Composite.

Impact newcomer:

Nazreon Reid (6-8, Fr., F/C)


{PAGEBREAK}

Circle the dates: Roselle Catholic has scheduled ambitiously under Boff. In each of the past four seasons, the Lions have faced a team that was ranked No. 1 nationally at some point in the season.

That approach won't change in 2014-15, as Roselle Catholic will meet two preseason nationally ranked teams in No. 1 Montverde Academy and No. 20 Chaminade – the latter coming at the prestigious Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.



Tournament time: The Lions aren't ducking in-state challengers either. Bob Hurley and St. Anthony (Jersey City), St. Benedict's Prep (Newark) and East Side (Newark) are all on the schedule.

Roselle Catholic will also participate in the Slam Dunk to the Beach in Delaware, facing Washington Catholic Athletic Conference power Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) on Dec. 28.