NON-PUBLIC AFavorites: Both of the top seeds,
Seton Hall Prep (West Orange) in the North and
St. Augustine Prep (Richland), are big favorites in their respective brackets.
Dark Horses: Camden Catholic (Cherry Hill) (No. 5, South),
Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft) (No. 6, South),
Immaculata (Somerville) (No. 10, North),
Paramus Catholic (No. 8, North).
Players to Watch: Dean Brierley, Delbarton;
Quentin Decosey, St. Joseph (Metuchen);
Eric Flanagan, Bergen Catholic;
Sterling Gibbs and
Spencer Weisz, Seton Hall Prep;
Sean Grennan, Monsignor Donovan;
Justin Harris, Paramus Catholic;
Isiah Johnson, Notre Dame;
Rashad Kilgore,
Roger Kilgore and
Patrick Widdoss, Bishop Ahr;
Keith Lumpkin, Kevin Walker and Stephon Wyatt, St. Peter's Prep;
James McLane, Queen of Peace;
Matt McMullen, CBA;
Isaiah Morton, St. Augustine Prep;
Robert Poole, Paul VI; Jameel Warney, Roselle Catholic.
Bracket to Watch: Simply put, the South is wide open. If Seton Hall-commit Grennan gets hot, No. 10
Monsignor Donovan (Toms River) could pick off No. 7
Red Bank Catholic and No. 2
Paul VI (Haddonfield). The semifinals could see up to three lower seeds advance. Almost each of the 12 teams here has a player who could carry them.
Fearless Forecast: St. Augustine Prep figures to squeak past 2010 Tournament of Champions finalist Camden Catholic in the South semifinals before thwarting CBA, which will reach the final after stunning No. 2 Paul VI. In the North, the No. 3
St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City) threesome of Lumpkin, Walker and Wyatt will guide the Marauders to their first sectional championship over Seton Hall Prep.
Final Thought: St. Peter's Prep over St. Augustine Prep.
NON-PUBLIC BFavorites: In the North, No. 1
St. Patrick (Elizabeth) and No. 2
St. Anthony (Jersey City) are co-favorites heading toward a championship contest that could be the most anticipated game in state history. Seeded third in the South,
Trenton Catholic Academy is the defending Tournament of Champions titlist – which gives it the edge over No. 1
St. Rose (Belmar) and No. 2
Cardinal McCarrick (South Amboy).
Dark Horses: Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone) (No. 5, North),
Hudson Catholic (Jersey City) (No. 7, North),
Wildwood Catholic (North Wildwood) (No. 5, South).
Best Bracket: The prospect of St. Patrick-St. Anthony alone makes this the North pod the state's best bracket, but we could witness the beginning of this bracket's changing of the guard as Gill St. Bernard and Hudson Catholic are a pair of rapidly rising programs. Gill is the state's fourth best team according to our rankings and hung with St. Anthony earlier this season thanks to Jaren Sina, a sophomore point guard who has already committed to Alabama.
Players to Watch: Kyle Anderson and
Myles Mack, St. Anthony; Da'vi Austin, Immaculate Conception (Montclair);
Reggie Cameron and
Kavon Stewart, Hudson Catholic;
Edgar Garcia, St. Mary (Jersey City);
Michael Gilchrist,
Derrick Gordon and
Dakari Johnson, St. Patrick;
Dominic Hoffman and
Jaren Sina, Gill St. Bernard's;
Mark Kukoda, St. Rose;
Khalid Lewis, Trenton Catholic;
David Rosado,
Saddle River Day; Kristian Svendesen, Timothy Christian; Marques Townes and Ahmid Williams, Cardinal McCarrick;
Marvin Williams, Marist.
Fearless Forecast: In the North final, St. Patrick is more dangerous and efficient offensively than a St. Anthony squad that has suffered through dry offensive spells, so we pick the Celtics in a close game that will be played in the 50s. St. Patrick will face Cardinal McCarrick, which will stop St. Rose in the South title game.
Final Thought: St. Patrick over Cardinal McCarrick.
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Seeds: (1) St. Patrick, (2) Linden, (3) Plainfield, (4) Lakewood, (5) St. Peter's Prep, (6) Pitman.
First Round: Plainfield over Pitman; St. Peter's Prep over Lakewood.
Semifinals: St. Patrick over St. Peter's Prep; Linden over Plainfield.
Final: St. Patrick over Linden.
