Steinert’s Comfort, Ewing’s Joseph to be honored at 18th annual All-Star games
With the presentation of the Renee Keister and Jack Cryan awards highlighting the evening, the 18th Annual Mercer County High School All-Star Basketball games will be held Friday evening at the CYO in Trenton, where so many of the games’ players started their careers.
“We’re looking forward to bringing the Mercer County basketball community together at our historic gym on South Broad Street to close out another fantastic high school basketball season,” said Game Director and CYO administrator Pat Hardiman. “We have what should be two exciting all-star games with the top talent in the county participating in the games. We are also glad to once again be the venue for the presentations of the prestigious Renee Keister and Jack Cryan Awards winner in between games.”
The girls’ game will tip off at 6:30 p.m. and the boys will follow at 8:15.
Between games, Steinert senior forward Morgan Comfort will receive the Renee Keister Award, with Renee, a former McCorristin High standout, presenting it. Ewing senior forward Lawrence Joseph will be given the Jack Cryan Award, named after the late, great Notre Dame and Rider guard, with former Steinert star Pete Larkin presenting the award. The venerable Larkin was the third Cryan winner way back in 1974.
Comfort is being honored for her hard-nosed attitude to the game of basketball, and she has the same dedication in field hockey and softball.
“Morgan has been the quintessential type athlete,” Steinert coach Kristin Jacobs said. “Basketball is not her number one sport. But you wouldn’t know that by the way she led our team and what she did on the court. Her work ethic is meticulous and it shows in every sport she competes in. She can do whatever she puts her mind to.”
Joseph, like Comfort, was an undersized forward who outworked his opponents inside the paint and helped the Blue Devils to the NJSIAA Group III final. Much like Cryan was famous for, Joseph scrapped and clawed for every rebound and every loose ball he could get his hands on, and was also a solid scorer.
“You just made my day,” Ewing coach Shelly Dearden exclaimed, when learning that Joseph won the honor. “He is so deserving of that award. He is very, very coachable, works hard every day, never complains and does everything we ask. He’s a great kid who anyone would love having on their team.”
Comfort and Joseph will both be playing in their respective AllStar games on Friday. Hun’s Bill Holup and Trenton’s Reggie Murray will coach the girls’ teams, while Trenton’s Darryl Young and Notre Dame’s Bob Turco will run the boys’ squads. The games are sponsored by Doctors Express, Capitol City Vending and IAABO Board 193.
The players have not yet been broken up into teams, as Hardiman explained that, “I used to do it in advance, but the best way to do it is have the coaches who know the players best do it, to make for a competitive game. The practice isn’t until Thursday night. The coaches have the rosters, but they like to talk face to face with one another at the practice during shoot around to finalize it.”
Colonial Valley Conference players competing in the girls game are Trenton’s Tylisha Livingston and Jefreda Presha, Ewing’s Denia Campbell, Robbinsville’s Sara Motusesky, Hopewell’s Kirsten Long, Hamilton West’s Ashley Gerstnicker and Kierra Warner, Notre Dame’s Trinity Holmes, Caitlyn Hughes and Kate Lafferty, West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Ciahni Hunt and Jasmine Watson, Hightstown’s Allyson Lewis, WW-P South’s Kiara Sweeney, Lawrence’s Amirah Hutchinson, Steinert’s Morgan Comfort and Cassidy Wood and Nottingham’s Haylee Kieffer and Tyasia Stephenson. Prep girls playing are Hun’s Anna McGuire, Lawrenceville’s Janean Cuffee and Pennington’s Annie Brunner.
After the game, the Sandra Valenza Oropel MVP Award will be presented by Cheryl McDonald, followed by the presentation of the Cryan and Keister awards.
CVC participants in the boys game are Notre Dame’s Manny Dixon and Adam Albanowski, Hightstown’s Marquis Flegler, WWPS’ Jonathan Kline, Hopewell’s Andrew D’Avanzo, Trenton’s Kenny Jackson, Javade Pearson and RJ Adsiir, Lawrence’s Myles Mitchell-White, Robbinsville’s Lucas Olshevski, Allentown’s Nahshon Taylor, Ewing’s Kar’ron Johnson, Jon Azoroh, Edamiyon Doggett and Joseph, Hamilton’s Mark Bethea and Cosby Paul, Nottingham’s Christian Ford, and Princeton’s Zahrion Blue. Prep participants are Hun’s Austin Hutcherson, Lawrenceville’s Edwin Ebube, Peddie’s Tyler Jones and Jack Weber, and Princeton Day School’s Chase Lewis. Trenton Catholic Academy selections are True Alton and Chris LaBelle.
Following the boys’ game, the trophy’s namesake, Andy Sr, will present the Andrew Kusnirik MVP Award.