Rebuilding Trenton has competition for division title
The Colonial Valley Conference’s Colonial Division produced a strong season across the board last winter in boys basketball.
Five of the seven teams made the state playoffs, with Allentown being snubbed on a technicality (the Redbirds had enough power points but were below .500 at the cutoff date). The encore should produce plenty of parity.
Trenton, the two-time defending division champion and a sectional finalist in 2018, graduated nine seniors and could go through growing pains.
Point guard Brandon Moore was a key contributor off the bench last year. Willie Taylor is expected to step up nicely from JV. Shemar Pratt is the defensive stalwart. Davonne Taylor (ball-handling, passing, shooting), Doug Evans (high IQ), Davonay Hutson (standout middle schooler) and Antwan Bridgett (bright young point guard) are the next wave of talent.
“This is looking like a rebuilding year,” fifth-year coach Darryl Young said. “We’re young and have some solid transfers that came in this year. It may be rough around the edges early on, but I look for this team to be hitting its stride at the right time in February. Thus far practice is going well and kids are buying into the system. Our strength will be our defense and pushing the tempo of the game to our advantage.”
Allentown starts fresh with new coach Walter Kelly, a former assistant at Trenton, and only three players with prior varsity experience. But one of them is RJ Weise, one of the area’s most dynamic play-makers who averaged 14 points and six assists. His younger brother, Dante, is new to the team this season as a sophomore point guard with reportedly high IQ.
The Redbirds also retained Tim Maestromarino, a senior who defends well and knows how to run the floor and finish underneath the rim. Brandon Pfeifer is a solid two-way player and a good shooter.
Hightstown has the potential to make a huge jump and become one of the area’s premier teams under new coach Don DeLeo.
The Rams have nine seniors — seven who saw significant varsity time as juniors — including third-year point guard Ben Simon (4.5 assists), do-it-all guard Daron Pierre (11.4 points, 5.4 rebounds) and physical forward Kyle Reiss (7.5 points, 6.4 rebounds).
Hightstown also features length with 6-5 big men Ryan Hogan and Mitchell Fry. Nicky Desmond, Connor Mamone and Spencer Kenny are versatile players.
“With a coaching change, we will look to adapt to a moderate, disciplined offensive style while still trying to score in transition,” DeLeo said. “We believe our strengths as a team are our depth and versatility. We feel that we can go eight-to-nine deep each night and not have much drop off. We have a few different players that can do an array of things, such as attacking the rim and knocking down outside shots.”
Notre Dame should also contend for the division title with the bulk of its 20-win team back.
Seniors Leon Jones, Quentin Autry and Jason Weber are third-year starters. Steve
Graver and Nick Feretic also possess two prior years of varsity experience. Mike Jean and Christian Hobdy are the top newcomers from JV.
Jones, who averaged double-figure scoring and five assists as a junior, won’t be ready to play at the start of a season because of an injury from football. The 6-5 Autry and 6-7 Graver should pose matchup problems for teams down low.
“I would say that we are experienced with the potential to start five seniors at some point,” third-year coach Rich Roche said. “Our strength will be our size. Our identity is our fast break and our motion offense. We will continue to mix our defense between man and zone. We have to continue to share the ball to be a good team.”
West Windsor-Plainsboro North was one of only three Mercer County teams to win a state playoff game last season, but the Knights have an arduous task ahead with no returnees who have significant varsity experience.
Sophomore Makhi Thompson played a few var- sity games and will be the starting point guard. Seniors Jake Manuel, Alex Kline and Jay Ravi will fill vital roles to the team’s success.
“We are a very inexperienced team looking to play with a lot of energy each night,” eighth-year coach Tim Stevens said. “We will look to limit our mistakes and try to capitalize on our opponents’ errors.”
West Windsor-Plainsboro South made a coaching change, hiring Mike Hussong to succeed Mike Sheehan.
Krishi Dattani and Tegveer Gill are the Pirates’ senior leaders. Rickey Boone and Andy Bea are disruptive defenders with 3-point shooting ability.
“I am excited about the prospects of this team,” Hussong said. “They are a very tight-knit group. We have a lot of capable shooters on this team so we will look to stretch the floor and score in transition. Our speed will be very important to the success of the team this year.”
Princeton is aiming to build on a 12-win season that included a state playoff berth. The Tigers return their top 3-point shooter, Gefen Bar-Cohen, as well as significant contributors Jack Suozzi and Ethan Guy.
ALLENTOWN
Dante Weise 6-0 So. G Neil DeFelice 5-11 Jr. G Sean Foley 6-6 Jr. C Brandon Pfeifer 6-0 Jr. G/F Nicholas Ruiz 5-8 Jr. G Harrison Haas 5-11 Sr. G/F Kaushal Kallam 5-10 Sr. F Timothy Maestromarino 6-3 Sr. F R.J. Weise 6-0 Sr. G/F
— Walter Kelly (first
Head Coach
season).
Assistant Coaches
Helfgott.
Last Season
Colonial.
— The Redbirds are young and inexperienced, but their returning talent is strong. With high IQ players and strong shooting, Allentown could surprise some teams.
Outlook
— 13-11 overall, 2-4 CVC
HIGHTSTOWN
Clarence Prather Rohan Cukkemane Daron Pierre Ayden Hogan Ryan Hogan Nicky Desmond Elijah Basse Mitchell Fry Ieysa Halliday Danny Wersching Connor Mamone Spencer Kenny Kyle Reiss
Ali Ahmed
Ben Simon 5-8 Sr. G 5-10 Jr. G 6-1 Sr. G 6-2 So. G/F 6-5 Sr. F 6-2 Sr. G 6-4 Jr. G/F 6-5 Sr. C 6-1 Sr. F 5-8 Sr. G 6-0 Sr. G 6-3 Jr. G/F 6-2 Jr. F 6-3 Jr F. 6-0 Sr. G
— Don DeLeo (first season).
— Clinton Counts, Christian Knott, Khalil White.
— 12-12 overall, 3-3 CVC Colonial, NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV first round.
— The Rams might be the deepest team in Mercer County. While transitioning to a new coach, Hightstown has the potential to both win this division and make noise in Central Jersey Group IV in March.
Head Coach Assistant Coaches Last Season Outlook NOTRE DAME
Nick Feretic Leon Jones Jr.
— Tom Daily, Craig
5-10 5-10
Sr. Sr.
G G
Jason Weber Mike Jean
AJ Porter Christian Hobdy Erik Nally Christian Anderson Steven Graver Ben Barkofsky Quentin Autry Stesher Mathelier Jake Croce
Head Coach
season).
Assistant Coaches
— Reggie Murray, Torian Beyah, Kevin Drulis, Bob Mathes.
— 20-5 overall, 5-1 CVC Colonial, Mercer County Tournament semifinals, NJSIAA Non-Public South A first round.
— The Irish are a top contender for the division title and could go deep in the MCT again. They’re rich with seasoned varsity players and possess versatility both on the outside and the interior.
Last Season Outlook PRINCETON
Gefen Bar-Cohen Timmy Evidente Brian Frost Ethan Guy Charles Hamit Rahmere Hale Noah LaPointe Connor McDowell Riley McMahon Judd Petrone Jaxson Petrone Ben Moyer Matt Rinaldi Jack Suozzi Zane Scott
Head Coach
season).
Last Season
— 12-13 overall, 2-4 CVC Colonial, NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV first round.
— The Little Tigers won eight more games last year than in 2017. They should hover around a similar total this season with a cohesive group.
Outlook TRENTON
5-10 Sr. 5-10 Jr. 5-10 Sr. 5-10 Jr. 6-0 Jr. 6-0 Jr. 6-7 Sr. 6-4 Jr. 6-5 Sr. 6-7 Fr. 6-4 Fr. — Rich Roche (third
— Pat Noone (fourth
Shaun Balkcom Willie Talyor Preston Carter Brandon Moore Davonne Wells Devin Hairston Basheer Couch Joseph Wardy Doug Evans Jr. Jahlil Ross Ashon Harris Shymar Pratt Tamire Carmichael
Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr.
6-3 6-5 6-2 5-6 6-3 6-2 5-10 5-9 6-1 5-9 5-5 5-7 6-7
Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr.
G G G G G G F F F F F
PF
F F/G G G F G G G G G G C/F
Davontay Hutson 6-2 Fr. G Antwan Bridgett 5-7 Fr. PG
— Darryl Young (fifth
Head Coach
season).
Assistant Coaches
— Austin Witter, Ryan Witter, Nana Manful, Micah Brooks, Jamal Booker.
— 24-6 overall, 6-0 CVC Colonial Division champion, Mercer County Tournament finals, NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV finals.
— The Tornadoes are always going to play tough defense and try to run in transition, which will overwhelm some opponents. But can they generate enough offense? That will be the challenge with so many varsity newcomers learning to play together, but don’t sleep on Trenton.
Last Season Outlook WEST WINDSOR NORTH
AJ Doherty 5-11 Sr. G Alex Kline 5-11 Sr. G Jake Manuel 6-0 Sr. F Jay Ravi 5-10 Sr. G Zach Zhang 5-10 Sr. G Pranay Balyan 5-10 Jr. G Will Dory 5-10 Jr. F James Vinson 6-2 Jr. F Makhi Thompson 5-10 So. G Luke Finkielstein 6-2 So. F Joe Greer 6-5 So. F AJ Elhossiani 6-4 So. F
— Tim Stevens (eighth
Head Coach
season).
Assistant Coaches
— Zack Heeman, Wayne Wendel, Kareem Elhossieni.
— 12-13 overall, 3-3 CVC Colonial, NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV quarterfinals.
— The Knights graduated as much experience as anyone in the county and should have growing pains this season.
Last Season Outlook WEST WINDSOR SOUTH
Rickey Boone 5-10 So. G Andy Bea 5-9 Jr. G Anitej Thamma 5-7 Sr. G Daniel Lim 5-9 Sr. G Abe Mankavil 5-9 Jr. G Akshat Lal 6-3 Sr. F Tegveer Gill 6-2 Sr. G/F Krishi Dattani 5-11 Sr. G Ved Chugh 6-1 Jr. F Samuel Dyal 6-2 Jr. F
— Mike Hussong (first
Head Coach
season).
Assistant Coaches
Joseph Gambino.
— 7-17 overall, 0-6 CVC
Last Season
Colonial.
— The Pirates have some speed and shooting, but their depth appears limited. That will make it tough to hang with the traditional powers in Mercer County.
Outlook
— Christopher Gero,