New Jersey has featured some of the best teams in the nation over the past 22 seasons, with three teams finishing atop the national rankings and 25 teams finishing the season ranked within the top 10.
Despite closing its doors following the 2016-17 season, St. Anthony has been the most dominant team from the Garden State, claiming five of the top 10 teams in the state since 2000. The impact of legendary Bob Hurley will last forever as the Naismith Hall of Fame coach finished his career with a record of 1,185-124 with 26 state titles and four national titles.
New Jersey has been dominated by two programs as St. Patrick joined the Friars on the list three times. Evaluating resumes, national rankings and talent on the roster, we put together a list of the top teams in New Jersey since 2000. See the complete breakdown below.
Kyle Anderson drives toward the basket during his junior year at St. Anthony.
File photo by Denis Gostev
Top 10 teams in New Jersey since 2000
Record: 32-0
National Ranking: No. 1
Notable Players: Dominic Cheek, Jio Fontan, Mike Rosario, Tyshawn Taylor, Travon Woodall
Rundown: This may have been coaching legend Bob Hurley's best team of the 2000s era, featuring a backcourt with five high-major guards. Rosario, Taylor, Woodall, Cheek and Fontan all had successful college careers and led the Friars to utter domination, outscoring their opponents by nearly 40 points per game with one of the most suffocating defenses of the 2000s.
2. St. Anthony (Jersey City) 2010-11
Record: 33-0
National Ranking: No. 1
Notable Players: Kyle Anderson, Jerome Frink, Lucious Jones, Myles Mack, Jordan Quick
Rundown: The Friars left no doubt who the best team in high school basketball was in 2010-11, dismantling then-No. 1, and unbeaten, St. Patrick 62-45 in the North Jersey, Non Public-B final. The game was labeled as one of the biggest games of the decade and the Friars used a dominant fourth quarter to pull away from an ultra-talented Celtics group. This was the group that started the incredible 83-game winning streak that ended in 2013.
3. St. Anthony (Jersey City) 2011-12
Record: 32-0
National Ranking: No. 1
Notable Players: Kyle Anderson, Josh Brown, Tariq Carey, Hallice Cook, Jerome Frink
Rundown: MaxPreps National Player of the Year Anderson averaged 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists to guide the Friars to a 65-0 record with a pair of national titles during his two years with the program. St. Anthony coasted to its second consecutive NJSIAA Tournament of Champions crown, defeating their six postseason opponents by an average of over 36 points while only allowing 37.7 points per contest during that span.
Record: 30-3
National Ranking: No. 3
Notable Players: Paris Bennett, Kyrie Irving, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dexter Strickland
Rundown:
Two of their three losses came during the 12-game absence of transfer
Irving early in the season. One of the most talented groups in state
history also had to battle through injuries as Strickland dealt with a
knee injury and Kidd-Gilchrist battled through a sprained ankle. Despite
the obstacles, St. Patrick captured its third NJSIAA Tournament of
Champions title in the past four seasons in dominant fashion.
5. St. Anthony 2003-04
Record: 30-0
National Ranking: No. 3
Notable Players: Barney Anderson, Otis Campbell, Sean McCurdy, Derrick Mercer, Marcus Williams
Rundown:
Despite facing off-the-court issues and not having a single senior
graduate to a Division I program, the Friars finished an improbable
undefeated run with the program's third NJSIAA Tournament of Champions
title in four seasons. The team became the subject of "The Miracle of St.
Anthony," a best-selling book written by Adrian Wojnarowski which
chronicles the 2003-04 season.
6. St. Patrick 2006-07
Record: 30-2
National Ranking: No. 2
Notable Players: Paris Bennett, Corey Fisher, Jeff Robinson, Dexter Strickland, Quintrell Thomas
Rundown: Led by New Jersey Player of the Year Fisher, the Celtics defeated three teams ranked No. 12 or higher in the final national rankings. Late in the year, St. Patrick defeated fellow top 10 Huntington (W. Va.) despite 47 points from O.J. Mayo in a 78-76 overtime thriller. Fisher had 37 points and six assists in the signature win. They went on to blow past Bloomfield Tech 85-61 in the Tournament of Champions title game.
7. St. Anthony 2001-02
Record: 29-1
National Ranking: No. 2
Notable Players: Donald Copeland, Elijah Ingram, Dwayne Lee, Obie Nwadike, Terrence Roberts
Rundown: Captured the program's second consecutive NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title and eighth overall after defeating Neptune 69-49 in the championship game behind 18 points from Ingram, who was named the tournament's MVP for the second consecutive season. After splitting its previous two meetings against Neptune and losing 60-58 in their most recent meeting, the Friars dominated on the biggest stage.
8. St. Patrick 2010-11
Record: 27-1
National Ranking: No. 5
Notable Players: Derrick Gordon, Dakari Johnson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Jarrel Lane, Chris Martin
Rundown: Although the Celtics suffered a season-ending 62-45 defeat to eventual national champion St. Anthony in the NJSIAAA North Jersey, Non-Public B title game, an impressive national resume included capturing the City of Palms Classic title with wins over nationally ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and Milton (Ga.). St. Patrick was ranked No. 1 in the nation going into their heavily anticipated showdown with the Friars before coming up short.
Record: 30-1
National Ranking: No. 5
Notable Players: Andrew Pulsar, Chris Andrews, Brandon Costner, Darrell Harvey Jr., Alex Wujciak
Rundown: After suffering its only loss of the season to East Hall (Gainesville, Ga.) 76-73 seven games into the season, the Pirates rallied to win 24 consecutive games to close out the season. Seton Hall Prep edged out a talented St. Patrick squad 63-60 in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title game led by 31 points, 10 rebounds and five assists from McDonald's All-American Costner.
Record: 29-2
National Rankings: No. 4
Notable Players: Jamarques Lawrence, Christian Pierre-Louis, Akil Watson, Tarik Watson, Simeon Wilcher
Rundown:
The Lions avenged their only in-state loss of the season in the NJSIAA
Tournament of Champions title game, defeating fellow top 10 program
Camden 61-58 in overtime led by 22 points, seven rebounds and five
assists from first team MaxPreps Junior All-America selection Wilcher.
With the bulk of its core expected to return from last season, expect
Roselle Catholic to have an opportunity to add another team to this list
next season.
Note: Academies were not included on this list.
