Non Public A had one of its deepest talent pools in recent memory this winter and we were treated to a number of marquee matchups between elite squads but it was Don Bosco Prep who stood out above the crowd with an impressive state title run.
THE MIGHTY IRONMEN
As with Saint Rose in Par-B....What hasn't been said about Don Bosco Prep this season? A starting lineup with five D-1 prospects that played an elite schedule and can make a legitimate claim to the #1 spot in the final ReportIt Top 25.
Led by 6'5" Rutgers commit Dylan Harper, Bosco bulldozed top tier opponents on the nightly and Harper made it look easy in doing so. A powerful finisher around the rim, a solid shooter and a top tier recruit, Harper separated himself from the pack as the unquestioned leader for the New Jersey Player Of The Year award.
He had plenty of help to enable the success of DBP this winter with 6'6" junior guard Brady Loughlin, dominant big man prospect Keiner Asprilla, along with guards Isaiah Brown and Jordan Ghee, who stepped into a major role after arriving from DePaul.
The Ironmen finished 29-3 and were unbeaten against NJSIAA opponents. Their only losses were to nationally ranked Long Island Lutheran, Patrick School National and Archbishop Stepinac and they were on another level in the playoffs.
VIKINGS SAIL INTO HISTORY...AGAIN.
Union Catholic added a major piece of hardware last season with the young Vikings taking home the Non-Public A state title. While they faltered in the A-South final this season, they did add a Union County Championship to the trophycase.
UC featured four juniors in their starting lineup, with AJ Altobelli having an all-state season at point guard, Luke Schorr transitioning up in competition level from the Shore to the Watchung Conferece, plus their talented bigs, 6'8" FK Muntari and 7'0" Yaw Ansong. Muntari was especially effective in the stretch run, including a "offer him now" game against Rutgers Prep in the state tournament.
With all four back along with some bench help and only Elijah Peters departing, UC could be back at the table again next winter for a county and state title.
THEY'RE YOUNG...BUT....
Matt Bloom has worked tirelessly to build Rutgers Prep from "Good" to "Top Tier" in NJ Hoops and his young team this year showed flashes of what is to come. Led by freshmen Jacob Canton and Andrew Kretkowski, RP won the Somerset County title and set the tone for what lies ahead.
Myles Parker is a scholarship level guard and All State perfomer who returns, as do Logan Franz, Nick Nsenkyire and another freshman, Rocco Loomis, giving Bloom a rock solid and still incredibly young core to build around.
The Argos finished 20-7 with 6 of their 7 losses to teams who spent the entirety of the season in our ReportIt Rankings...and the 7th, Archbishop Ryan of the Philly Catholic League, would have been in the Top 25 as well...They finished 20-10 and lost by four points to a top three team from Pennsylvania, Imhotep Charter, in the PIAA State Semifinals earlier in the week.
Bloom did well to expose his young team to what the "next level" holds and with his record of excellence, expect these guys to reach their maximum potential.
Team Of The Year
Don Bosco Prep
Wire to wire at #1 in the ReportIt Top 25. If only we had a TOC...
Coach Of The Year
Tony Devlin, Paul VI
This is another one...Bosco won the title, so conventional wisdom...but...We spread the love...Devlin didn't have a roster with 15 college players like some of the other teams in the Par-A tournament..He actually lost his most sought after prospect from 22-23 to transfer...but he maximized the talent he had, took on one of the toughest schedules in the entire state and made it to the state final. 9 of their 10 defeats came against teams who spent the entire season in the ReportIt Rankings, including two losses to #1 Don Bosco Prep.
State Tournament wins on the road over CBA and Saint Joe's Metuchen added to the value but their thumping of Union Catholic left no doubt.
Non Public-A All State Teams
Player Of The Year: Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Prep
First Team Non Public A Sensational Seven
Tahaad Pettiford, Hudson Catholic
Nico Pena, Saint Peter's Prep
Chidi Nwigwe, Saint Benedict's
Brady Loughlin, Don Bosco Prep
Alex Massung, Hudson Catholic
Peyton Miller, Saint Peter's Prep
Declan Wucherpfennig, Bergen Catholic
Second Team Non Public A Sensational Seven
Richie Rosa, Saint Peter's Prep
Mason Santiago, Saint Peter's Prep
Isaiah Thomas, Paul VI
Myles Parker, Rutgers Prep
Isaiah Brown, Don Bosco Prep
AJ Altobelli, Union Catholic
Keith McKnight, Hudson Catholic
Third Team Non Public A Sensational Seven
Keiner Asprilla, Don Bosco Prep
Michael Van Raaphorst, Delbarton
Luke Kennevan, Camden Catholic
FK Muntari, Union Catholic
Jacob Canton, Rutgers Prep
Andrew Kretkowski, Rutgers Prep
Jeremy Clayville, Saint Joseph's Metuchen
