The Express-Times area boys basketball programs in Hunterdon and Warren have the supreme challenge of trying to win division titles in the Skyland Conference, a league which boasts a high level of talent which has caught the attention of college recruiters everywhere.
The most notable talent has headed for the hills, in Gladstone, at Gill St. Bernards, the favorite to win the highly competitive "big boy" division, the Delaware. Three starters return to the Somerset County champion which was 26-3 last year. Dominic Hoffman, a senior center, averaged 15 points per game and 10 rebounds. Senior Alex Mitola averaged 16.2 points and junior point guard Jaren Sina had four 30-point games while dishing 196 assists.
Hillsborough took that team into double overtime in the county semifinals. Immaculata returns Wade Baldwin and Watchung Hills' Steve Weidlich bears watching.
The Raritan Division will feature a battle for the top among perennial power Montgomery and a North Plainfield team that has returning forward Anthony Hubbard and guard Sean Lubreski. Warren Hills and Delaware Valley are athletic enough to mount a challenge.
Bound Brook, the defending Valley Division champ, went 24-4 last year, playing up-tempo basketball averaging 66 points per game.
With only two returning letter winners, North Hunterdon faces a schedule filled with challenges in the Delaware Division. Ridge defeated the Lions three times last season, including the state tournament.
"We play in a very tough league, where there are teams that run and score a lot and others that keep the scores in the 40s. We have a team that can play either the transition game or the half-court game," North Hunterdon's second-year coach Kyle Rehrig said. "We'll have to try to slow down the running teams and put pressure on the teams that want to be deliberate.
"We lost all our scoring from the team that won the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament and had 14 wins last year," he said. "Only Derek Jenkins (5-9 senior guard) and Graham Senour (6-4 junior forward) have varsity experience of any consequence, so we have a work in progress, at least in the early going. I like what I've seen in our scrimmages and we're moving in the right direction. I've seen what the guys can do and what they can't and I'm putting the pieces together accordingly."
Colin Macri, the football quarterback who stands 6-3, missed last season due to knee surgery.
"Colin is a competitor who keeps in shape and he can help us under the boards, along with Jacob Johnson (a 6-6 sophomore) who stood out in practice. Jacob has worked on his footwork, he's been in the weight room and is developing into a solid varsity player."
Hunterdon Central coach Brian Glennon heads into his 25th season with 309 career victories and has a plethora of experienced seniors who could provide him a season of serendipity if all goes well.
If the Red Devils were a TV show, it could be titled "Sing Along With Mitch," as 6-4 Mitch Miller, 6-8 Jed Dreswick and 6-3 Nick Kuzmak give him some height while 5-10 guard Evan Klimchak comes into the season 289 away from 1,000 career points. If life were not already sweet, he's getting 6-4 Jack Welti, a transfer from Immaculata with two years experience.
Other experienced seniors are Dan Scaramella (6-0), Jon Alves (6-1) and 5-11 Zack Schreck.
"Callahan could score in double digits for us," said coach Stan Kubbishun. "We have some height this year," he added, in discussing the potential contributions of backup center Jimmy Freeman (6-6 junior) and 6-3 junior forward Cory Dickerson.
Senior Tyrell Thompson, the football wide receiver, is a returning starter at guard.
"He's had an excellent preseason and sophomore Darrien Pinkman also returns to handle most of our ballhandling and will be looked upon for outside scoring," Kubbishun said.
Mike Mullen and football quarterback Zach Martin, both juniors, are also competing for a significant role in the Blue Streaks' guard rotation. Senior Quinn Knudsen, who can play guard or forward, gives Kubbishun some match-up options.
"We will be inexperienced varsity-wise at the beginning of the season," the veteran coach said. "We are striving to play as a cohesive unit and are making strides."
Delaware Valley coach Eric Jacobs has a healthy Chris Fennell coming out of the football season. The explosive quarterback only played in seven basketball games before a nagging shoulder injury from football sidelined him last year. At 6-3, Fennell can rebound and use his mobility to drive to the basket, the way he did in scoring 19 points in the Terriers' opening game last year.
"We are a Group 2 playing a lot of Group 4s," said Voorhees coach Sparky Nanni, looking at a schedule that includes North Hunterdon, Phillipsburg, Hunterdon Central and Montgomery. "How did Montgomery ever get into our division? They are one of the best teams in all of Central Jersey. Not only are we smaller than those schools enrollment wise, but we don't have any real size on the court either. I don't have anyone over 6-1, so we'll have to be scrappy and chase people around a bit.
"We have a nice group of six juniors and a spirited bunch of sophomores and they are working hard and fitting in. We'll be deep. Nobody will be loafing and we'll pressure teams. Ryan Wall will be my junior center and Collin Bravoco (5-10 senior) is developing into a leader. Dantaun Bernstein, Matt Bonavita and Jack Caffrey have also grown into senior leadership roles."
Phillipsburg suffered a major blow when Mike Diamond, the Stateliners leading scorer, tore both his ACL and MCL in the Thanksgiving Day game against Easton and is lost for the season. He scored 18.8 points per game last year. Dajuan Lee, also victimized by a football ACL injury, has also been lost.
That leaves Robin Custodio, a football running back, as the lone returning starter from last season's 8-13 team for coach Kevin Lloyd.
"He'll be a pass-first point guard. He has excellent ball handling and leadership skills," Lloyd said. Ryan Hash (6-1) will fill a need for a senior leader.
At least Phillipsburg has some players who are tall, though lacking in varsity experience. Senior Devon Flowers (6-4) played on the junior varsity last season, along with 6-6 sophomore Dan Martin. Lloyd said he is excited about what sophomore Tyler Troxell has shown him as a 3-point shooter and sophomore Manny Cargagnana also made a case for playing time when Phillipsburg scrimmaged a strong team at Hopatcong last week.
"Some new kids are getting a chance to grow," Lloyd said. "This is Phillipsburg, so you know it will be a tough group who will give their all and compete."
New Belvidere coach Dennis Riley may be living "The Life of Riley" if his four returning starters and three centers continue to improve. He can count on senior leadership from Willie Harris, who is a 6-3 forward. Other returning senior starters are forward Bryan Mason and guard Craig Tompkins. Sophomore Noah Barofski returns as a starting guard.
Senior John Shanahan, junior Tyler Grogan and sophomore Tom Schnezler will share time at center and Tyler Tutka, Erik Novack and Steve Adamczyk will be guards and/or forwards off the bench.
"We are looking to improve our season this year. We are implementing our offense and defense around this year's personnel and our goal is to have a winning season," Riley said.
Third-year North Warren coach Mike Farrell (16-32 overall) hopes to improve on the Patriots' 10-14 record and possibly win the division title with six returnees and three promising newcomers.
His veteran squad will feature 6-3 senior Garret Becker at center, 6-3 sophomores Glen Nanius and Hunter Ackerson and 5-10 senior Eric Williams in a rotation at forward and 5-9 seniors Kevin Conlon and Denver Greene at guard.
"Newcomers that will help us are Troy Berninger (6-6 senior), Matt Olah (6-2 guard/forward) and Hunter Stevens (5-6 junior guard)," Farrell said, adding that a high state tournament seeding is one of the team's goals.
"With a statement like this comes the pressure to perform and the kids welcome that pressure," he said.
South Hunterdon coach Jason Miller also has high hopes, coming off a 15-9 season with a school record 29 players in the program, including four returning starters.
Max Whitaker and Javon Mitchell, both 6-2 seniors, were first-team All-Valley Division selections last year. Whitaker is 254 points from being the fifth Blue Eagle to reach 1,000 career points.
Andy Loigu's predicted order of finish:
Delaware Division: 1. Gill St. Bernards, 2. Hillsborough, 3. Hunterdon Central, 4. Immaculata, 5. Bridgewater-Raritan, 6. Franklin, 7. Ridge, 8. North Hunterdon, 9. Watchung Hills.
Raritan Division: 1. Montgomery, 2. North Plainfield, 3. Warren Hills, 4. Delaware Valley, 5. Somerville, 6. Voorhees, 7. Phillipsburg.
Valley Division: 1. Bound Brook, 2. South Hunterdon, 3. Bernards, 4. North Warren, 5. Belvidere, 6. Pingry, 7. Manville.