GAMES TO WATCHAcademy of the Holy Angels (Demarest) at Kennedy (Paterson) girls basketball, Thursday: Perhaps the two top programs in North Jersey tip off here, although Holy Angels has been one of the state's most impressive teams thus far with wins over Ramapo and Pascack Valley. However, the Angels are coming off a Sunday loss to Immaculate Heart Academy. Meanwhile, sophomore guard
Erika Brown is averaging 16.2 points for a talented Lady Knights team that figures to contend for the Group 4 state crown.
Rumson-Fair Haven vs. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel) girls basketball, Thursday: Both teams have four Division I commitments, but Rumson's most valuable player could be a Division II signee in
Ellie Wilbur (Tampa). In the low post, Rumson has Boston College-signee
Victoria Lesko while the Lancers counter with American commitment
Arron Zimmerman. St. John Vianney won both games against the Bulldogs by double-digit counts last season.
St. Benedict's Prep (Newark) vs. St. Patrick (Elizabeth) boys basketball, Sunday at Kean University: After losing to lesser-known Scotch Plains, how will St. Benedict's Prep rebound against the state's top team? An interesting one-on-one matchup could take place here with St. Pat's Michael Gilchrist (Kentucky) going against St. Ben's
Tyler Harris (North Carolina State).
RECRUITING NEWSTimber Creek linebakcer
Quinton Alston and Paramus Catholic defensive tackle
Marquise Wright were the latest to de-commit from Pittsburgh, with their changes of heart coming after recently hired coach Mike Haywood was dismissed. Wright is scheduled for upcoming visits to North Carolina this weekend, Michigan State the following weekend and Miami the weekend of Jan. 21. Alston is scheduled to visit Cincinnati the weekend of Jan. 14. ... Although Point Pleasant Boro tight end
Ryan Malleck verbally pledged to Maryland over the summer and has not decommitted, perhaps he is leaning that way. Point Boro coach Calvin Thompson told The Asbury Park Press his standout recently received an offer from Vanderbilt - now coached by former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin - and said Malleck will visit the Commodores, Rutgers and Maryland (although that could change with the hiring of new coach Randy Edsall). Miami and Nebraska are slated to make home visits.
Brian Falzarano, a veteran New Jersey sportswriter, covers the state of New Jersey for MaxPreps.com. You can reach him with story ideas or questions at bfmaxpreps@gmail.com.
