GMC Hoops Player of the Week–Week Two–December 26, 2014 to January 3, 2015

South Brunswick’s Jack Engel Earns Week Two Honors As Vikings Win Four Straight

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–Coming into the season, there were high expectations for South Brunswick.  GMC Hoops ranked the Vikings fifth in the pre-season poll.  However, after losing to top ranked St. Joseph’s by double digits on opening night, the Vikings had to regroup quickly because Old Bridge was waiting on the following Tuesday before holiday tournament action at the Brunswick-Windsor Classic, and a pivotal match-up against second ranked East Brunswick on the first weekend of 2015.

Now, here we are some two weeks later, and South Brunswick stands at 4-1 after a 59-56 win at home over EB, and senior Jack Engel had a lot to do with that.  Scoring a team high 20 points, Engel turned in his second 20 point game during week two of the season.  His first 20 point effort of the young season came in a 61-45 victory over West Windsor-Plainsboro North in the first of two round-robin games at the Brunswick-Windsor Classic held at SBHS.  Firing in a game high 21 points, Engel scored 11 straight points including several threes for the Vikings from the latter portions of the third quarter to early in the fourth.  Engel ended up with 5 treys in the victory.

Then, in the game against East Brunswick, Engel fired in four three pointers en route to his second 20 point performance of the season in a huge win for a South Brunswick program trying to prove that they belong in the discussion of top teams in the GMC.  Engel is a four year varsity player, and a veteran player that many of the talented younger players at South Brunswick look to for leadership.  The Vikings have a bumper crop of talent coming up from the freshmen and JV levels, and it is up to the likes of Engel along with returning teammates from last season such as Eric Savage, Tyjuan Dugger, and Terrence Wong to show those youngsters the way.  

So far this season, Engel is averaging 14.2 points per game.  Through five games, he has connected on 14 three pointers, 11 field goals, and 7 made foul shots.  Over the last four games, Engel has scored just under 16 per contest.  Most importantly though, he has helped lead the Vikes to four straight wins including victories over two ranked teams in the GMC Hoops Top Ten, and a quality win over a solid West Windsor-Plainsboro South squad from the Colonial Valley Conference.  Congratulations Jack on the fine week, and best of luck the rest of the season.

Other players getting consideration for Player of the Week honors:  Matt Ross and John McHenry of East Brunswick, Eric Savage of South Brunswick, L.J. Williams of North Brunswick, Eric Dadika of Spotswood, Jehvye Floyd of Sayreville, Jordan Little of Perth Amboy Tech, Branislav Vujadinovic of St. Joseph’s, Sean Darrar of South River, Lamont Williams of South Plainfield, Matt Cocorikis of Monroe, Chase Barneys of Colonia, Dante Whipple and Connor Romano of Old Bridge, Carlos Done of Perth Amboy, and Nick Dooley of J.P. Stevens.