By Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
EAST ORANGE, N.J. - New Jersey's three-headed monster - St. Benedict's, St. Patrick and St. Anthony - were all in action Sunday at the Hoop Group's Tip-Off Classic on the campus of Seton Hall University, while another pair of teams, St. Raymond (N.Y.) and Paterson Catholic, presented the most intriguing match-up.
Led by Darryl "Truck" Bryant's 22 points, St. Raymond remained unbeaten by knocking off a loaded Paterson Catholic squad, 82-70. PC was led by sophomore Fuquan Edwin's 19 points, while Seton Hall-bound guard Jordan Theodore added 12.
Day Two Notes
- The day kicked off with St. Benedict's, fresh off a nationally televised win against Oak Hill, taking on Bloomfield. The Gray Bees showed no sign of a let down, crushing Bloomfield, 81-30. Samardo Samuels had 26 points, and demonstrated why he's regarded as one of the best post players in the country, routinely establishing position and attacking the rim.
- Linden, long know for its tenacious guard play, now also seems have a gem in the front court. 6-foot-9 David Bruce had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in a win against St. Joseph (Montvale). Bruce got up and down the court well, and showed some nice interior moves. Only a junior, he's already attracting Division I scholarship offers, and should continue to thrive under coach Phil Colicchio's tutelage.
- Paterson Catholic is led by outstanding senior Jordan Theodore, but the team's primary concentration of talent is in the freshmen and sophomore classes. Sophomores Fuquan Edwin, Shaquille Thomas and Jayon James all saw significant minutes for the Cougars, and present Theodore with lots of options as he runs the team's up and down offense. Freshman Myles Mack is highly touted, and could be a significant contributor this season.
- Somewhat overlooked amid Darryl Bryant's outstanding play has been the great start by St. Raymond junior Omari Lawrence. The southpaw balances outstanding touch from long range with the ability to penetrate and finish. As St. Raymond continues its challenging schedule, look for Lawrence's stock to rise as he competes against some of the nation's top players.
- St. Anthony did not come out firing on all cylinders, struggling early on with the Hun School. But the Friars depth and athleticism eventually won out, as the Friars pulled away to a 72-45 victory. Mike Rosario had 22, Travon Woodall had 17, and Dom Cheek added 12. The Hun School was led by Vanderbilt recruit Lance Goulbourne. Goulbourne showed surprising range, hitting two three-pointers, but left his biggest mark with several thunderous dunks, the best of the day.
- St. Patrick also overcame early struggles to beat Science Park 54-32. Junior Dexter Strickland, expected to carry a bulk of the offensive load for the Celtics, struggled and was limited to eight points. Senior Quintrell Thomas picked up the slack with 17 points and nine rebounds. Kevin Boyle Jr., the coach's son, nailed four shots from beyond the arc, and could be an emerging scoring threat for the Celtics. Much ballyhooed freshman Michael Gilchrist saw some minutes filling in for Quintrell Thomas and Paris Bennett, but still seems like he has a way to go before becoming a major difference maker on the varsity level.
- With all the high major talent on display, it's no surprise several big name college coaches were in attendance. Bob Huggins, Jay Wright and Phil Martelli all stayed for most of the day, scoping out all the big name players.
-The Hoop Group's next event, the Harrisburg Hoop Fest, is set for Jan. 12, with several top Pennsylvania teams on the schedule.
