Jersey City……. Hudson Catholic’s senior swingman Grant Ellis had a tough choice, Iona or Manhattan to continue his basketball career! In the end, Ellis decided to verbal to Coach Tim Cluess and the Iona Gaels! Grant told Hoop Journal” I feel it is a better fit for me, they are talented, I like the coaching staff and I like their style of play!” Grant’s father Rob put it like this” I feel positive in his decision! The school wants him and He wants the school, That’s the most important thing”! Ellis is a versatile player who should be counted on to play multiple positions in college! “Now I can concentrate on my last year of highschool and prepare myself for college” Grant said! Hoops Journal would like to congratulate the Ellis family and wish nothing but the best in the future!!!

Kennedy H.S. Paterson,N.J………….Just like last week, the Seton Hall contingent came to Kennedy H.S.to root on and hopefully influence St. Anthony Star Senior Kyle Anderson to lay his college roots on their campus! And just like last week, Anderson more than delivered with a 66-51 win by the Reebok’s Back over the Hudson Hawks! Anderson finished with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists! He needed to do all that as Hudson’s Junior Swingman Reggie Cameron(right) gave the Seton Hall fans dreams of coming back next year to woo him as he scored 32 points in the contest, including 6 “triples” and kept the Hawks in it the entire way! In other action Tyler Ennis(bottom right) scored 13 points and played a great floor game in leading the Gray Bees to a 65-44 win over the Bergen Highwaymen! Chris Jones led Bergen with 22 points! And St. Raymond’s Nkereuwen Okoro 20 points helped offset the Paterson Spirits DeAndre Noble’s 23(left) enroute to a 64-51 victory! The final contest had the Somerset County’s Best beating the Paramus Paladins 47-37 behind the play of Jaren Sina and Dominic Hoffman!  

Paterson,N.J……… Monday’s fall ball action brought more impressive players into the gym at Kennedy Highschool! The array of players tonight was led by Hackensack H.S. sophomore swingman Rashard Figures(right) as he led a squad of Bergen Comets to a 60-48 win over the Sparta Minutemen! In limited minutes Figures scored in double figures and showed why he is becoming a player on the rise in the state, including being looked at as the #1 New Jersey  sophomore by certain online sites! His teammates Chris Myers, Corey Brown and Mershan Monroe also looked good in the contest! Sparta’s 6’7 swingman Cody Wilson(bottom right) showed a nice upside and impressed in the game! Jarret Hall and teammate Abelo Yekeh played well in a Essex Terriors win over the Union City Players 35-27!  Senior Jamal Reed led the Essex County Raiders to a 40-36 win over the Silk City Knights! Sammy Singletary led the Knights on the offensive and defensive end! And in the final contest, the Hawthorne Defenders  pulled off a one point win over the Englewood Force 45-44! Sophomore Alex Thomas(left) was the focal point of Hawthorne’s offense! He is another young player on the rise! Senior Austin Mufananya led Englewood!