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Current News
Meet the 2020 JSZ All-Zone Boys Basketball Team
Jersey Sports Zone has highlights of the top boys basketball players in New Jersey as we present our 2020 JSZ All-Zone boys basketball team While the coronavirus has stopped us from our annual banquet honoring the top boys and girls basketball players in the state, that doesn’t stop us from celebrating the accomplishments of New Jersey’s top players. Saturday and Sunday we will share our highlight videos from the 2020 JSZ All-Zone boys basketball teams and coming up on Tuesday we will have highlight reels of our 2020 JSZ Mr. Hoop Zone Finalists and announce our player of the year. NameSchoolName SchoolName School Quadry AdamsSt. Thomas AquinasZach MartiniGill St. Bernard's Gianmarco ArlettiHoly Cross Tahjay MooreNew Brunswick James AndersonMiddletown SouthZarique NutterPatrick School Denver AnglinGill St. Bernard'sDemetrius PaynterTimber Creek Mark ArmstrongSt. Peter's PrepJayden PierreElizabeth Adetokunbo BakareSt. Benedict's PrepMoses PierreIrvington Zion BetheaMontclair ImmaculateJordan PriceElizabeth Jaylen BlakesBlair AcademyAlex RatnerMarlboro Mikey BresslerWatchung HilsWill RichardsonBergen Catholic Jerome BrewerCamdenBen RoyManasquan Julian BrownBergen CatholicMyles RuthDon Bosco Prep Stephen ByardAtlantic CityAdama SanogoPatrick School Tazir Cantey LindenwoldDerek SimpsonLenape Justiin CarboneSouth BrunswickWill SoucieGill St. Bernard's Noah FarrakhanPatrick SchoolJakari SpenceToms River North Corey Floyd, Jr.Roselle CatholicDevin Strickland South Brunswick Nico GaletteRutgers PrepManny TohaMarist Alex GalvanManasquanDJ WagnerCamden Sean HansenRamseyDJ WatkinsElizabeth Noah HarrisRutgers PrepJamir WatkinsTrenton Catholic Zach HicksCamden CatholicJahlil WhiteWildwood Catholic Ryan Hillier West MorrisCJ WilcherRoselle Catholic Jacob HoppingWildwood CatholicNazir WilliamsSt. Joe-Montvale Micah Johnson, Jr.Newark East SideDJ WoodburyBurlington City Samson JohnsonPatrick SchoolTaQuan WoodleyCamden Niels LaneRoselle CatholicMatt ZonaBergen Catholic 2020 JSZ Mister Hoop Zone Finalists JSZ will post highlight videos of our five finalists on Tuesday as well as a feature story and acceptance speech from the winner.
Tim Watson Steps Down at Cedar Creek
Tim Watson is the only head football coach in the history of Cedar Creek High School. After nine seasons and two sectional championships, Watson announced he’s stepping down to spend more time with his family. His career record with the Pirates stands at 71-27, including a 10-3 campaign last fall. Cedar Creek beat Camden in […].....Read More »
Destiny Adams commits to North Carolina Tar Heels
One of Jersey Sports Zone’s Miss Hoop Zone finalists has made her college choice! Watch the highlight reel of the newest University of North Carolina Tar Heel One of New Jersey’s top girls in the class of 2021 is ACC bound. Destiny Adams committed to the University of North Carolina on Friday night. The 6-foot-3 […].....Read More »
Meet the 2020 JSZ All-Zone Girls Basketball Team
Jersey Sports Zone has highlights of the top girls basketball players in New Jersey as we present our 2020 JSZ All-Zone girls basketball team While the coronavirus has stopped us from our annual banquet honoring the top boys and girls basketball players in the state, that doesn’t stop us from celebrating the accomplishments of New […].....Read More »
Shore’s Al DeSantis Commits to Rutgers Wrestling
The Rutgers University wrestling program puts a premium on recruiting top Garden State talent and keeping those wrestlers in state. The Scarlet Knights added another recruit to their Class of 2020 group with Shore Regional’s Al DeSantis signed on to join the program. DeSantis finished his high school career with a seventh-place finish at 138 […].....Read More »
"JSZ Polls"
Game Ball Presentations
Mater Dei Prep’s Pete Gorman wins week 8 ACI Medical/Dental Central Jersey Game Ball
After losing to Middletown South 12 days prior, the Seraphs wanted revenge to further their run in the Shore Conference Tournament. After a game tying three pointer with three seconds left from Middletown South, Pete Gorman of Mater Dei Prep drove to the basket and made a game winning buzzer-beater as the clock struck zero. Gorman’s heroics pushed the Seraphs into the quarterfinals of the Shore Conference Tournament as he finished the game with 11 points and 2 steals in the victory. His game winning shot earned over 50 percent of the vote to win the week 8 game ball. JSZ’s Kenneth Bradley met with the Seraphs as they prepare for states: Take Our Poll Central Jersey Game Balls are brought to you by ACI Medical & Dental School.
Vote for final ACI Medical & Dental School Game Balls of the basketball season!
It’s been a great winter and we wrap up our JSZ Basketball Game Balls with one more batch of nominees from around Central Jersey. This week’s nominees feature outstanding performances in County and Conference finals around New Jersey. Polls are open now through Tuesday at 3:00 pm. We’ll present the winners with JSZ Game Balls during a mid-week practice or an early-round playoff game Take Our Poll Take Our Poll A special thanks to everyone who voted throughout the year. We’ll be back this spring with ACI Medical & Dental School JSZ Central Jersey Game Balls for baseball and softball! Jersey Sports Zone is excited to have ACI Medical & Dental School join our team and present our Central Jersey Game Balls all year long in addition to allowing us to bring great highlights and features to Rumson-Fair Haven and Middletown North. One of the top technical schools in NJ, Advantage Career Institute Medical & Dental School in Central New Jersey offers a variety of programs in the in-demand medical and dental industries. Visit ACI.edu to learn more!
Vote for Final NJM Insurance South Jersey Game Balls of the Season
It’s playoff time, which means it’s also time for our final round of NJM Insurance South Jersey Game Balls of the season! South Jersey stars closed out the month of February with a bang, so be sure to vote for your favorite player as often as you’d like! Our polls remain open until Tuesday at 3:00 pm. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll Thanks to our great sponsor NJM Insurance for allowing JSZ to award South Jersey Game Balls all winter long!
Paul VI’s Sara McShea Wins NJM Insurance JSZ South Jersey Game Ball
Sara McShea’s workhorse performance helped the Eagles take down previously unbeaten Cherokee on February 20th. The sophomore scored a game-high 16 points and added nine rebounds in the victory. McShea earned 57 percent of the vote to win this week’s NJM Insurance JSZ South Jersey Game Ball. Take Our Poll South Jersey Game Balls are made possible by NJM Insurance. Please submit nominations to MikeFrankel@jerseysportszone.com by Saturday evening.
Highland’s Bobby Mullan Wins NJM Insurance JSZ South Jersey Game Ball
Bobby Mullan shined in Highland’s 67-45 victory over Triton on February 18th. The senior knocked down six three-pointers on his way to a game-high 27 points in the victory. Mullan edged out Pleasantville’s Issa Baker-Toombs to take home the NJM Insurance JSZ South Jersey Game Ball. Take Our Poll South Jersey Game Balls are made possible by NJM Insurance. Please submit nominations to MikeFrankel@jerseysportszone.com by Saturday evening.
Westfield’s Caroline Dwyer Wins North Game Ball!
It seems on any given night, any player in Westfield’s lineup can get the call and go on to lead the team in scoring. On Feb. 18, senior Caroline Dwyer stepped up with a game-high 23 points and led the Blue Devils to a win in the Union County Tournament over Dayton. Dwyer was nominated for the JSZ North Jersey game ball and brought home the honor after 3,198 votes (63.6 percent). JSZ’s Jay Cook caught up with the Blue Devils for the presentation: Take Our Poll
Feature Stories
JSZ Spring Senior Spotlight: Shawnee’s Chris Lyons
Coronavirus has brought the world to a screeching halt at the moment, and that includes high school sports in the Garden State. JSZ is spotlighting prominent senior athletes who are waiting and hoping to take the field again this spring. Our mission is to tell their stories, and share how they’re trying to stay ready, both physically and mentally. Today’s JSZ Spring Senior Spotlight features Shawnee lacrosse standout Chris Lyons. JSZ’s Mike Frankel recently spoke with the Yale commit: JSZ Spring Senior Spotlight is brought to you in part by Cooper University Health Care.
JSZ Spring Senior Spotlight: Moorestown’s Shane Knobloch
Coronavirus has brought the world to a screeching halt at the moment, and that includes high school sports in the Garden State. JSZ is spotlighting prominent senior athletes who are waiting and hoping to take the field again this spring. Our mission is to tell their stories, and share how they’re trying to stay ready, both physically and mentally. Today’s JSZ Spring Senior Spotlight features Moorestown lacrosse standout Shake Knobloch. JSZ’s Mike Frankel recently spoke with the Rutgers commit: JSZ Spring Senior Spotlight is brought to you in part by NJM Insurance.
JSZ Spring Senior Spotlight: St. Augustine’s Kenny Levari
Coronavirus has brought the world to a screeching halt at the moment, and that includes high school sports in the Garden State. JSZ is launching a series to spotlight prominent senior athletes who are waiting and hoping to take the field again this spring. The mission is to tell their stories, and share how they’re trying to stay ready, both physically and mentally. We lead off with St. Augustine baseball standout Kenny Levari. JSZ’s Mike Frankel recently spoke with the Old Dominion University commit: JSZ Spring Senior Spotlight is brought to you in part by Cooper University Health Care.
NJ High School Athlete Speaks Out About Having Coronavirus
Red Bank Regional’s Liva Helt made headlines when the Division I soccer talent played football as a kicker for the Bucs football team last year. Now, the Columbia University commit very well could be the first high school athlete to test positive for the Coronavirus. Jersey Sports Zone talks with Liva about how she’s dealing with being an early example in this worldwide pandemic The Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is now in the thoughts of everyone around the world but that wasn’t the case just a couple of weeks ago. On March 9, 27-year old Little Silver native Emil Helt tested positive for the coronavirus after attending a BioGen Conference in Boston. Shortly after, Emil’s 17-year old sister, Liva, a senior at Red Bank Regional tested positive as well. RBR would shut its doors and shift to virtual learning days before the rest of the state followed suit. Liva is a Division I athlete who is set to play Ivy League soccer at Columbia University and made headlines last year when she was the junior varsity kicker for the Bucs football team. She returned to the soccer pitch for the RBR girls soccer team scoring ten goals and helping the team reach the second round of the state playoffs. Helt took time to talk to Jersey Sports Zone’s Rich Chrampanis updating her condition and delivers a powerful message on how to deal with this worldwide crisis: In case you missed it, JSZ’s Jay Cook profiled Liva’s time as a junior varsity football kicker with the RBR Bucs: A special thanks to Ryser’s Landscape Supply in Little Silver for supporting JSZ’s coverage of Red Bank Regional all year long
NJ Devils Honor JSZ’s Top January Hockey Goals
The New Jersey Devils commitment to supporting high school hockey in New Jersey is second to none. With the high school state finals at the Prudential Center just around the corner, the Devils hosted Jersey Sports Zone’s top five goal scorers from January during their 2-1 win against the San Jose Sharks. Devils forward Joey Anderson watched JSZ”s top goals and offered his commentary to our honorees. Watch our recap from another great night at the Rock: Thanks again to the New Jersey Devils for making a special experience for high school hockey players in New Jersey. Coming up in March, we’ll have the top goals from the high school hockey post-season and ask you to cast your vote. We’ll once again honor five more hockey players with our final edition of JSZ’s Goals of the Month
The Legend of Matty Cools: Autistic Student Manager Brings Special Energy to RFH Basketball
Jersey Sports Zone brings you exciting highlights of high school sports all year long. But we also go Beyond the Score to tell the stories that make New Jersey high school sports special. Watch our feature on “Matty Cools” Newman, the Rumson-Fair Haven boys basketball manager who has inspired a team with his devotion and unique energy Matt Newman is not a household name at Rumson-Fair Haven High School, but everyone on campus knows who “Matty Cools” is. The RFH sophomore with autism has become much more than the student manager for the boys varsity basketball program. Coach Chris Champeau saw a special quality in Matty Cools and integrated him into the program in unique ways. Champeau turns over the shootaround and pre-practice time to Cools who gets the Bulldogs energized. Newman has thrived as a result of his role with the hoops squad and has seen his social interaction and social cues make a tremendous improvement. “We took him in to sort of help him out – and the reverse happened. He helped us out,” Champeau said. Watch JSZ’s feature on Matty Cools and go inside the RFH basketball program to see how he’s become the heartbeat of Bulldog Hoops: Jersey Sports Zone is excited to have ACI Medical & Dental School join our team and present our Central Jersey Game Balls all year long in addition to allowing us to bring great highlights and features to Rumson-Fair Haven and Middletown North. One of the top technical schools in NJ, Advantage Career Institute Medical & Dental School in Central New Jersey offers a variety of programs in the in-demand medical and dental industries. Visit ACI.edu to learn more!
Recruiting
Destiny Adams commits to North Carolina Tar Heels
One of Jersey Sports Zone’s Miss Hoop Zone finalists has made her college choice! Watch the highlight reel of the newest University of North Carolina Tar Heel One of New Jersey’s top girls in the class of 2021 is ACC bound. Destiny Adams committed to the University of North Carolina on Friday night. The 6-foot-3 Manchester Township forward averaged 18 points and 11.7 rebounds a game in her junior season. Adams won a Shore Conference title and a state championship in her sophomore season and helped the Hawks win a sectional championship this year before the season came to a halt due to the coronavirus. Adams made her announcement on social media: UNC WBB ‘25👣💙 @uncwbb pic.twitter.com/aqJgZMkMZj— Destiny Adams (@destinyyadamss) April 3, 2020 Watch Jersey Sports Zone’s highlight reel of Destiny from her junior season: Destiny is one of five finalists for JSZ’s Miss Hoop Zone, given to the top girls basketball player in New Jersey.
Shore’s Al DeSantis Commits to Rutgers Wrestling
The Rutgers University wrestling program puts a premium on recruiting top Garden State talent and keeping those wrestlers in state. The Scarlet Knights added another recruit to their Class of 2020 group with Shore Regional’s Al DeSantis signed on to join the program. DeSantis finished his high school career with a seventh-place finish at 138 pounds after setting new records as the single-season wins leader and all-time career wins record for the Blue Devils. DeSantis joined JSZ’s Jay Cook for a virtual interview to discuss his commitment to Rutgers and a stellar high school career in West Long Branch.
RC’s Cliff Omoruyi Staying Home, Commits to Rutgers
Rutgers basketball had a resurgence in 2020 and put together one of the best years in program history. The Scarlet Knight took that momentum onto the recruiting trail and landed one of the biggest prospects to ever walk into the RAC — literally. Roselle Catholic center Cliff Omoruyi, who was recently named New Jersey’s Gatorade Player of the Year, took to social media Sunday afternoon to announce his commitment to play for head coach Steve Pikiell at Rutgers University. 120% committed pic.twitter.com/UB4EpiZ3fX— Bigcliff77 (@wizcliff77) March 29, 2020 Watch Cliff Omoruyi’s JSZ Highlight Reel HERE Omoruyi is a 6-11, 230-pound nightmare in the paint. Anyone who saw the Lions play over the last two seasons caught a glimpse of what college coaches fell in love with. Omoruyi was a threat to jam home a vicious dunk on any possession and was the most dominant defensive player in the Garden State. He averaged 14.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.6 blocks during a senior season that cemented him as a Top 50 nationally ranked player in the country. Known around the state as “Big Cliff,” he received major Power 5 interest leading into his senior season. Omoruyi chose Rutgers over programs like Auburn, Arizona State, Kentucky, Memphis, NC State, UConn and Miami. Omoruyi is a finalist for Jersey Sports Zone’s Mr. Hoop Zone Player of the Year and it the latest New Jersey talent to stay home and play at Rutgers. Former Gill St. Bernard’s star Paul Mulcahy and Ron Harper Jr., a product from Don Bosco Prep, both saw major minutes this season at the RAC. Roselle Catholic head coach Dave Boff has produced numerous high recruits like Isaiah Briscoe, Naz Reid and Kahlil Whitney in recent years, yet Omoruyi is the first player in school to win the state Gatorade Player of the Year. ** Stay tuned with JerseySportsZone.com in the coming months for the latest recruiting news on top athletes from the Garden State. **
Keshon Griffin Commits to Rutgers
Keshon Griffin of St. Joseph (Hammonton) announced his college decision on Friday, making a verbal commitment to Rutgers. The junior was one of the Wildcats’ top players last fall as both a tight end and an outside linebacker. Griffin projects as an outside linebacker for the Scarlet Knights, adding to a loaded 2021 recruiting class for Rutgers. Watch some of Griffin’s junior year highlights here: @TodderickHunt @StJoe_Football @RUCoachFran @CoachPanagos @GregSchiano @RFootball #Chop21 pic.twitter.com/hk6oDBHsak— Keshon Griffin (@yeakeyyy) March 27, 2020 Coverage of South Jersey football is made possible by NJM Insurance.
Mater Dei’s Giudice commits to Michigan
JSZ brings you some big recruiting news. Mater Dei Prep defensive end Dominick Giudice is on his way to the Maize and Blue. Watch the highlight reel of New Jersey’s sack leader in 2019! One of New Jersey’s fast-rising recruits in the class of 2021 has made his college choice. Mater Dei Prep defensive end Dominick Giudice has given a verbal commitment to play Division I football in the Big Ten at the University of Michigan. Giudice led the state in sacks with 24 in his junior season and helped guide Mater Dei Prep to the Non-Public Group 3 state championship game. Giudice made his announcement on Wednesday night via his social media channels: God has blessed me with the opportunity to play the game of football at a high level to be used as a platform for Him! I’m so blessed to announce that I am committed to my childhood dream school, The University of Michigan!!! #GoBlue @CoachNua @FBCoachDBrown @CoachJim4UM pic.twitter.com/rgXI8QwK9c— Dominick Giudice (@dom_giudice27) March 26, 2020 Giudice spoke with JSZ about his commitment and how he’s keeping busy as the state remains locked down due to the coronavirus: Giudice was a JSZ All-Zone selection in 2019 after his 24 sack season. Watch our highlight reel from the dynamic pass rusher:
SJV’s Katie Hill commits to the Richmond Spiders
While there are no high school sports going on at the moment, we still have some news to share. One of the key players on the number one ranked girls basketball team in New Jersey makes a Division I commitment. Watch JSZ’s interview with Katie Hill and watch her mixtape now! St. John Vianney’s Katie Hill was hoping to make headlines this week helping the Lancers to a Tournament of Champions title. With the Coronavirus putting a halt to the basketball season, Hill is still giving us something to talk about committing to play Division I basketball at the University of Richmond. JSZ caught up with the junior to talk recruiting and much more. St. John Vianney was 29-1 with a Shore Conference Title and the Non-Public “A” South trophy as well. Their season came to a halt before the state finals due to the Coronavirus. Watch JSZ’s highlight reel of Katie Hill and see why the Spiders are getting a complete basketball player: Thanks to Reach Your Potential Training for allowing us to spotlight SJV girls basketball!
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