Boys Basketball Players Poised for a Breakout Season
Photo by: Charlie Wall (@shotsonchip)
The 2022-23 season is finally here! With a lot of great players returning, we take a look at some of the under the radar names that are poised for a big year.
Pete Mauro - St. Rose, Soph.
The transfer from GSB is looking to have a big year with his new squad at St. Rose. Mauro comes into his sophomore campaign averaging 5.4 PPG and 2.8 AST last year. Although those numbers don’t jump off the page, Mauro was a part of one of the most talented starting 5’s in the state, with now Georgetown guard Denver Anglin, Mackenzie Mgbako, and Naas Cunningham, who are ranked Top 5 in their respective classes. With a year of experience on a squad that talented, Mauro can bring something special to this new look St. Rose team
Tobe Nwobu - Camden Catholic, Soph.
Camden Catholic’s leading scorer is back for his second season with the Irish. Nwobu averaged 13.6 PPG last year, with a season high of 28, against solid competition around the state. Camden Catholic lost some key players to graduation, but the bulk of their top scorers are back to join Nwobu this year. The sophomore looks to once again lead his team to another solid season.
London Carson - Elizabeth, Junior
Elizabeth enters this season as the defending Group 4 champions. The Minutemen lost most of their starting lineup due to graduation and most notably, their top scorer Sebastian Robinsion who transferred to Roselle Catholic. Among those who remain, London Carson looks to have his biggest season yet, as he contributed to Elizabeth’s Group 4 title averaging 6.3 PPG last season. Keep an eye on London throughout the season, as he looks to lead this tough Elizabeth squad to another deep postseason run.
TJ Robinson - Montclair Immaculate, Junior
One of the most electric players in the class of 2024 has returned back to Jersey for the upcoming season in his home state. Robinson averaged over 10 PPG for Bishop Walsh (MD) last season. Robinson competed in the NIBC, which is home to some of the best players in the country. TJ looks to bring his out of state experience back home to help lead his team to a successful 2022-2023 season.
Spencer Joyner - Arts, Senior
Joyner is back in action this year after missing most of his junior season due to injury. Prior to that, Joyner averaged almost 15 PPG as a sophomore. With a solid supporting cast, a healthy Spencer Joyner has an opportunity to elevate his game to new heights this season. Getting their senior guard back is a huge addition for Arts, as they look to put together a championship caliber season.
Jackson Bleecker - SHP, Senior
The Pirates’ top scorer returns for his final season ready to do some damage. Bleecker’s 13.7 PPG helped the Pirates obtain a 23-4 record last season. Although SHP still has solid players all throughout the lineup, 3 out of their 4 top scorers have graduated. The senior guard will look to piggyback off of his strong junior campaign and lead his squad through a rigorous schedule for the 2022-2023 season.
Alex Massung/Omari Moore - Hudson Catholic, Junior and Soph.
Hudson Catholic starts the season without their top two players. Nationally ranked guards Tahaad Pettiford and Eli Gertrude are both out for a little while due to injury. Enter Alex Massung and Omari Moore. These two were the Hawks’ top 2 scorers, outside of their stars. Both players averaged around 8 PPG a piece last season and played an integral role in Hudson Catholic’s great season. As the season progresses, look for these two to have huge seasons, as they have the opportunity to be the primary point of the offense.
Josh Eli - Paul VI, Senior
One of the top scorers in the state is taking his talents to Paul VI for his senior season. Josh Eli put together a stellar junior campaign at Deptford, averaging around 19 PPG. Paul VI lost a bulk of their scoring to graduation, but Eli is the perfect addition to help pick up that scoring slack. Look for the senior to be a leader for his new squad and continue adding to the scoring column at an elite level.