College Achieve Asbury Park seeks state title in first season: Preview, pick vs Newark Tech
TOMS RIVER – If ever there was a year to have a Tournament of Champions, this would be it. Because what for 33 years was a unique season-ending test involving all group champions to determine an overall state champion before it was eliminated by the NJSIAA two years ago is precisely what the New Jersey high school basketball needs to have closure this season.
Look around. St. Rose in Non-Public B, Don Bosco in Non-Public A, Camden in Group 2 all had dominating victories in state finals.
Which brings us to College Achieve Asbury Park, the startup charter school program expected to continue its march through Group 1 in Sunday’s final (noon) against Newark Tech at RWJ Barnabas Health Arena. The Knights beat Manville by 41 in the South section semifinals and Pitman by 37 in the final.
More: New Shore high school basketball super power now one game away from state championship
Whatever the NJSIAA decides to do with charter schools in the future – College Achieve has brought the issue to the forefront with its meteoric rise - they’re Group 1 now, and it’s expected to be another lopsided result in a state final.
We’ve come this far in the season, and you want to see is how College Achieve stacks up against St. Rose and Don Bosco and Camden, which was the beauty of the Tournament of Champions, with this year’s events highlighting how much it’s missed.
More: St. Rose stakes claim as best team in NJ with state final rout to close historic season
Here’s a look at the two teams in today’s Group final:
College Achieve Asbury Park (21-7)
Head coach Dave Boff is going for his seventh overall state championship, having won six Non-Public B crowns at Roselle Catholic, before the Tinton Falls resident took the job last year. And given his reputation for producing top college and professional talent, payers have flocked to the program.
It’s provided a great stage for guard Deuce Jones, a LaSalle commit with great range as a shooter and tremendous quickness. He’s averaging 20.5 ppg. 4.2 rpg. and four assists. Neptune native David Munro, a 6-8 junior who transferred from Bergen Catholic, has 10 points and nine rebounds against Pitman, while sophomore guard Jebron Harris had 15. Freshman guard Anthony Mauro has been solid with the ball in his hands, while 6-8 Nas Hart from Keyport had 13 points in the state semifinal.
The Knights have played a tough schedule. They’ve won 12 of their last 13 games, with the one loss coming against St. Benedict’s. They have a win over Ramapo, which plays Freehold for the Group 3 championship in the 6 p.m. game in Toms River Sunday, and beat some strong programs, including Middle Township, St. Peter’s Prep and Gill St. Bernard’s.
Newark Tech (22-7)
Newark Tech has its share of players who can put the ball in the basket, and they’ll need all the scoring they can muster against the Knights’ high-powered offense. Junior guard Marcus Bragg is averaging 12.6 points and 3.0 rebounds, coming of a 17-point performance against Paterson Charter in a 65-55 win in the semifinals. His brother, fellow junior Malcom Bragg is their leading scorer at 18.1 ppg., while grabbing 8.7 rebounds and dishing out four assists. Junior Jalen Baker scored 14 against Paterson Charter, and is averaging 14.3 points and 7.75 rebounds. Senior Ahzir Johnson had 11 points in the semifinals, and junior Rodney Tulllis is averaging 9.4 points and four assists.
But this is a big step up in class for Newark Tech, whose top wins have come against Group 3 West Essex, twice and Group 4 Irvington. But Newark Tech lost in the Group 1 final to Woodbury two years ago, and has a good tradition, winning the Group 2 championship from 2013-15.
Prediction
College Achieve 77, Newark Tech 52
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: College Achieve Asbury Park seeks state championship in first season
