Chiefs Standout Trims College List Down to Final Four
PISCATAWAY, NJ—Recently, GMC Hoops revealed that Piscataway’s Keshawn Peterson-Fish committed to Rutgers-Camden of the NCAA D3 New Jersey Athletic Conference. Meanwhile, another Piscataway standout is still working on finalizing his college choice. Jonathan Livingston, Piscataway’s leading scorer this past season, has narrowed his college selection to four schools.
Livingston, who averaged 18.2 points per game during the course of the 2019-20 season, has reduced his college list to Lincoln College of the NAIA and Illinois, NCAA Division 2 University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, American International College of the NCAA D2 Northeast 10 Conference, and Bridgewater State University of NCAA D3.
During the 2019-20 season, Piscataway was only 6-18, but Livingston was one of the bright spots. In 24 games, Livingston made 86 field goals, 43 three pointers, and 130 free throws for a total of 436 points along with 111 rebounds, 72 assists, 71 steals, and 11 blocks. Livingston led the team in four statistical categories this past season according to nj.com: points, assists, steals, and blocks. He also was second in rebounding.
Averaging 18.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, Livingston also led the team in total field goals made, threes made, and free throws made, Livingston stood tall in a rebuilding season after Piscataway lost 12 players from a year ago including Antonio Chandler (Franklin Pierce) and Tyree Barba-Bey (Olympus Prep). Livingston as well as Peterson-Fish were also contributors to last year’s Chiefs squad that reached the GMCT Boys Championship and the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 semifinals.
A year ago, Livingston played varsity in only 9 games, and made 9 field goals, a three, and 5 free throws for a total of 26 points or an average of 2.9 points per contest. The Chiefs finished 18-11 overall after going 23-4 two seasons ago. In two varsity seasons at P-Way, Livingston made 95 field goals, 44 three pointers, and 135 foul shots for a total of 462 points in 33 games, or an average of 14.0 points per contest.
The Piscataway senior scored in double figures in 23 of the 24 games he played this season including 11 games where he scored 20 points or more. He scored a career high 26 points on 6 field goals, 3 treys, and 5 free throws in a 68-50 loss to Colonia on January 4th in Colonia. He also tallied 5 rebounds, 5 steals, and 2 assists. Like Peterson-Fish, Livingston excelled in a losing cause in three defeats to South Brunswick.
Over the three games versus South Brunswick, Livingston made 14 field goals, 5 threes, and 11 free throws for a total of 54 points, or about 18 points per games. He also collected 19 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 4 blocks for averages of 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per contest. Livingston had varsity career high of 8 rebounds twice: Against South Brunswick on January 9th, and on January 30th at Old Bridge.
This past season, Lincoln College finished 20-13 overall, and went 22-8 in 2018-19. The University of Bridgeport, which competes in the NCAA D2’s East Coast Conference, and where big man Manute Bol played college ball, went 24-4 overall including 15-1 in conference play. The Purple Knights reached the ECC finals before losing to St. Thomas Aquinas and qualified for the NCAA D2 Tournament. Bridgeport finished 18-13 overall including an 11-7 mark in conference play in 2018-19.
Meanwhile, American International of the Northeast 10 finished 9-19 overall including a 6-13 mark in conference play this past season after finishing 11-17 overall and 7-13 in conference in 2018-19. American International has many standout players from the GMC in its football program including: Samad Davila (New Brunswick), Kyle Boyer-Tucker (Edison), Jayson DeMild and Antwan Golson (Sayreville), and Kequan Jamison (Colonia).
In addition, many former GMC basketball standouts have gone on to play at schools in the Northeast-10 including: Chandler and Jordan Lackey (South Plainfield and Piscataway Tech) at Franklin Pierce, Jermaine Clark (Perth Amboy) at St. Rose, A.J. Rudowitz, (Monroe), Nick Smith (Colonia), Vince Rosario (Cardinal McCarrick), and Danny Brix (Monroe/St. Joseph’s) at Stonehill, Gary Battle (Colonia) and Jeff Adkins Jr. (Piscataway) at New Haven, and Branislav Vujadinovic (St. Joseph’s) at Assumption. Bridgewater State University, located in Massachusetts, finished 10-15 this past season including a 7-5 mark in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. In 2018-19, the Bears completed the season at 9-18 overall including a 6-6 record in conference play.
All the best in making that important final college choice, Jonathan, and best of luck going forward.