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Current News
Culture Change Underway at Paramus Catholic
A disappointing 2-8 season left a sour taste in the mouth of Paramus Catholic’s football program. However, the Paladins are driving into 2019 with a new heir of confidence as last year’s down season fades into the rearview mirror. Led by senior offensive lineman and high D-I recruit Devin Willock — along with juniors Dorian Nowell and Jarred George — the Paladins feel confident as head coach John Whitehead builds a new culture in Paramus. JSZ’s Jay Cook previews the Paladins leading up to the 2019 season: Paramus Catholic 2019 Schedule Thursday, Aug. 29 — vs. West Catholic (P.A.) Saturday, Sept. 7 — at Pope John Friday, Sept. 20 — at Hackensack Friday, Sept. 27 — vs. Seton Hall Prep Saturday, Oct. 5 — at St. Joe’s (Mont.) Friday, Oct. 11 — at DePaul Friday, Oct. 18 — vs. St. Peter’s Prep Friday, Oct. 25 — vs. Bergen Catholic Friday, Nov. 1 — at Don Bosco Prep
Haddonfield is Hungry for a South Jersey Group 2 Three-Peat
After winning their second straight sectional title and finishing (13-0), the Haddons graduated one of the most decorated senior classes in program history. The cupboard is far from bare for Haddonfield, however. Three-year starters Alex Kadar, Michael Carey and Nick DiNoia will lead the way in 2019, as the Bulldawgs are hungry to once again […].....Read More »
Shabazz Seeks Revenge in 2019
The Shabazz Bulldogs are hungry walking into their 2019 football season with new Head Coach, Tyrone Turner. The Bulldogs finished last season with a 10-2 record. Prior to facing their rival, Cedar Grove, Shabazz had a 17-game winning streak. JSZ’s Madison Bess has the full preview: Shabazz Bulldogs 2019 Schedule Friday, Sept. 6 — vs. […].....Read More »
Passaic Tech Looks To Bounce Back After 2-7 Season
The Passaic Tech Bulldogs finished their 2018 season with a 2-7 record. But this year, the team is out for blood. The offense and defense have been working hard this summer at camp. Head Coach Matt Demarest says there is a lot of competition in regards to landing a spot in the starting lineup. The […].....Read More »
New coach, D1 talent headlines 2019 edition of West Orange
Darnell Grant makes the move from Shabazz to West Orange after a nine-year run that featured two sectional titles. Grant has a talented group of underclassmen headlined by a trio of juniors. Running back Shakhi Carson has offers from Kentucky and UMass while wide receiver Jayson Raines has picked up offers from UMass and Rutgers. […].....Read More »
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Game Ball Presentations
Morgan Tripodi of Woodbury Wins Final NJM Insurance Softball Game Ball
Woodbury’s Morgan Tripodi earned the final South Jersey Game Ball of the season for her performance against Paulsboro. The senior went 3-4 with a triple and three RBIs to lead the Thundering Herd to the win. Now Tripodi is helping Woodbury make a deep run in the South Jersey Group 1 playoffs! Take Our Poll Thanks to NJM Insurance for making South Jersey Softball Game Balls possible all year long!
Justin Merryfield of Haddon Twp. Wins Final NJM Insurance Baseball Game Ball
Haddon Township’s Justin Merryfield earned the final South Jersey Game Ball of the season for his performance against Camden Catholic. Merryfield hit a grand slam in the game to help lead the Hawks to victory. Check out Justin’s ceremony here: Take Our Poll Thanks to NJM Insurance for sponsoring JSZ’s South Jersey Game Balls all year long!
Reece Miller Wins Central Jersey Game Ball!
Toms River East’s Reece Miller took home the final Central Jersey Game Ball for his CG 2-hit shutout against Jackson Memorial. Check out his full ceremony right now: Take Our Poll
Mariah Villanueva Wins North Jersey Game Ball!
McNair’s Mariah Villanueva took home the North Jersey Game Ball for her performance during the game against Hudson Catholic. She finished with 14 Ks. Check out her full ceremony right now: Take Our Poll
Shane Paradine Wins North Jersey Game Ball!
Bayonne’s Shane Paradine took home the North Jersey Baseball Game Ball for his performance during the game against North Bergen. He finished 2/3 with 2 HR and 6 RBIs. Check out his full ceremony right now: Take Our Poll
Emma Springstead Wins Central Jersey Game Ball!
Raritan’s Emma Springstead took home the Central Jersey Softball Game Ball for her GW 2-run HR during the game against Manasquan. Check out her full ceremony right now: Take Our Poll
Feature Stories
South Jersey Basketball Academy Reaches New Heights
The South Jersey Basketball Academy was created by Drew University Basketball alum, Kevin Hagan, and Rowan Men’s Basketball coach, Brian Bouchard in 2014. The camp is for boys and girls ages six to 15. This year, the SJBA has over 100 campers in attendance. Hagan and Bouchard not only teach the young players physical aspects of the game, but also the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship. JSZ’s Madison Bess has the full story from St. Mary of the Lakes School in Medford:
USA Softball Legend Jennie Finch and Her Platform to Empower Young Women
It’s been nine years since Jennie Finch last threw a professional pitch, but the USA Softball Hall of Famer arguably has a bigger platform than ever before. Finch, who has become the de facto American softball ambassador, uses her success on the diamond to inspire the next generation of young female athletes. Her reach goes far and wide — from working with Major League Baseball to face-to-face interactions on a personal level. Finch spoke with JSZ’s Jay Cook at Diamond Nation after the start to two new programs — the Jennie Finch Northeast Nationals and the National Softball College Camp: Sponsor Shoutout! Thanks to Diamond Nation for being a loyal sponsor of Jersey Sports Zone — they’re the reason we were able to be on hand and tell this story.
Flipping Into Fall: SJV’s Grace Costello Preps For Upcoming High School Gymnastics Season
Grace Costello competes for St. John Vianney’s high school gymnastics team and Head Over Heels as a Level 10 USAG gymnast. The incoming senior is committed to William and Mary’s Class of 2024 to continue her athletic and academic careers. Costello is at Head Over Heels 25 hours a week, and will start her high school practices at the end of August. Costello was the Shore Conference All-Around winner last year, and took second place on Floor in the Individual State Championships. This fall she will compete for SJV in her final year of high school gymnastics with high expectations for herself and her teammates. In order to go to college for gymnastics, it is necessary to compete for a club team. Costello and some of her other teammates compete for their high school teams for the fun as well as the team culture. JSZ’s Madison Bess has the full story from Sayreville:
South Jersey Pitchers Petty and Nunan Get Set for Area Code Underclass Games
Rising juniors Chase Petty and Matt Nunan play for rival schools, but the two pitchers will become teammates in August at the Area Code Underclass Games in California. The two train together at the Baseball Performance Center, which is also sending a pair of rising seniors to the Area Code Games. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the story from Pleasantville:
Robert Howard Hungry for Team USA Gold Medal
New Jersey wrestling aficionados know Robert Howard as a three-time state finalist, winning an NJSIAA championship in 2018. But casual wrestling fans might not know Howard holds a U.S. wrestling record — he’s the only American wrestler to ever make three Cadet freestyle world teams. Howard placed ninth in 2017 and fell short at 13th last summer, but those finishes are long by the wayside. Robert Howard, is totally geared up to win a 55 kg (121 pound) gold medal for Team USA in Sofia, Bulgaria from July 29 to August 4. JSZ sat down with Howard and his club coach, Rich Bitetto, as he prepares for the biggest tournament of his life: Stay tuned with Jersey Sports Zone throughout the summer as we bring you behind-the-scenes feature stories and highlight reels of the top athletes in the Garden State.
Cedar Creek’s Malachi Melton Picks Purdue
Malachi Melton announced his commitment to play football at Purdue University during a ceremony at Cedar Creek High School. Melton projects as a defensive back and return specialist for the Boilermakers. He chose Purdue over other finalists Rutgers and Temple. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the story from Egg Harbor City:
Recruiting
Wheels Up….to Italy. Ranney’s Phil Wheeler skips high school and college for pros
Phil Wheeler electrified JSZ highlights last winter helping Ranney to its first Tournament of Champions title. The rising senior in high school who was reported to be transferring to the Patrick School has made the decision to forgo his final season of high school to sign a professional contract to play for Stella Azzurra’s academy which is a feeder program to their pro team in Italy. By playing overseas, Wheeler will not be able to play college basketball. This story was first reported stateside by Adam Zagoria of Zags Blog and Josh Newman of the Asbury Park Press: Here’s the Instagram post from Phillip Wheeler’s agent on his plan to sign with an Italian youth team. Wheeler did not have the grades for college and they felt this was the best route for him. pic.twitter.com/Zup9wjNKJl— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) August 7, 2019 NEW: Phil Wheeler, who helped Ranney to a Tournament of Champions crown last season as a junior, has signed with an Italian club. Wild move amidst rumors of an imminent transfer. MORE COMING: https://t.co/p9XytKlcZL pic.twitter.com/YSGGJKYRgb— Josh Newman (@Joshua_Newman) August 7, 2019 Wheeler spent his first two years at Rumson-Fair Haven before joining Ranney in his junior campaign. He made his season debut on January 13 and went on to average just under 11 points a game providing an athletic burst to Ranney’s rotation matching skyscraping dunks with Bryan Antoine and Scottie Lewis. The class of 2020 recruit had picked up five Division I offers from Saint John’s, Richmond, Monmouth, Seton Hall, and Providence, but college is now off the table as Wheeler looks to make an impact in Italy with the hopes of getting an NBA opportunity down the road. Watch JSZ’s highlight reel of Phillip Wheeler’s junior season:
Delbarton’s Kirst Headed to Ivy League
After a breakout junior season with a career-best 66 goals, Delbarton’s top returning goal scorer has committed to Cornell University. No. 61 junior CJ Kirst, A/M, Delbarton (N.J.) / @LeadingEDGEHS committed to @CornellLacrosse. Blowing up for 66G/28A this season, the polished lefty playmaker is a strong candidate to reach five-star status.— Ty Xanders (@tyxanders) July 24, 2019 Kirst was one of New Jersey’s most dynamic goal scorers for the entirety of 2019 — only Manasquan star and Penn State commit Canyon Birch had more goals than Kirst last year. Watch JSZ’s highlight reel of C.J. Kirst: He scored hat tricks in 12 different games and shined with a seven-goal game against Summit and his six-goal explosion against Don Bosco Prep powered the Green Wave to yet another Non-Public A state title. Kirst is far from the first New Jersey player to join Cornell University’s lax squad. He’ll join Class of 2019 Under Armour All-Americans Michael Long (Delbarton) and Aiden Blake (Haddonfield) as Garden State players on the team. Follow along with Jersey Sports Zone for all the latest updates and highlights from the top athletes in New Jersey.
Thweatt Picks His Elite Eight
Wildwood Catholic forward Taj Thweatt is one of the state’s top Division I basketball prospects. With the summer AAU slate coming to a close, Thweatt has narrowed his college choices to eight schools: Thweatt scored 20.9 points per game in his junior campaign and teamed up with recent Temple commit Jahlil White to lead the Crusaders to a 27-2 record. Here’s JSZ’s highlight reel of a dynamic inside-outside threat:
Wildwood Catholic Guard Commits to Temple Owls
Wildwood Catholic guard Jahlil White suffered a knee injury during the critical summer recruiting season, but it didn’t stop the Temple Owls from winning the services of the talented rising senior. White averaged 18.6 points and over six boards a game. He made his decision official via social media: 110% COMMITTED 🍒⚪️ pic.twitter.com/P47IDcL78Y— jahlil (@jahlilwhite13) July 19, 2019 White teamed with fellow D1 prospect Taj Thweatt to lead Wildwood Catholic to a 27-2 record in 2018-19. With both players returning, the Crusaders will be one of New Jersey’s top teams this season and will contend for the Tournament of Champions title. Here’s JSZ’s highlight reel of the newest Temple Owl:
Offers rolling in for Camden’s Ware
Camden’s Lance Ware has had a huge summer on the AAU circuit and some of the nation’s top programs have made offers to the rising senior. Jersey Sports Zone drops some of our best Ware highlights! 15 Division I schools have offered 6-foot-9 forward Lance Ware of Camden and that number should grow. Michigan and Oregon are the most recent basketball powers to extend an offer to the rising senior. Watch Jersey Sports Zone’s highlight reel of Lance Ware now!
Cedar Creek’s Malachi Melton Picks Purdue
Malachi Melton announced his commitment to play football at Purdue University during a ceremony at Cedar Creek High School. Melton projects as a defensive back and return specialist for the Boilermakers. He chose Purdue over other finalists Rutgers and Temple. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the story from Egg Harbor City:
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