EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ–On Wednesday and Thursday, GMC Hoops traveled over to both East Brunswick High School and Hammarskjold Middle School to take in the final two days of action at the 2010 East Brunswick Team Camp. The camp was being run for the third straight summer. There were fourteen teams in this event including 12 from the GMC. Over the two days the site covered the event, it saw 10 games. Five games at East Brunswick High School and five at Hammarskjold Middle School. One of the big stories of the camp this week was the heat. A small heatwave caused major discomfort at EBHS on Wednesday.
However, at Hammarskjold Middle School, a more recent construction with air conditioning, it was much more comfortable. Nevertheless, much of the contests played at both sites over the two games were competitive. Nine of the ten contests seen by GMC Hoops were decided by twelve points or less. Of those nine games, seven of them were decided by single digits including five on the final day of competition. Bishop Ahr (3-0), East Brunswick (2-0), and Immaculata (2-1) were three teams that stood out to the site over the two days of coverage. The Trojans may have been the most impressive with a good deal of ball movement and teamwork. BGA might have slipped a bit toward the end of the season in 2009-10, but still have plenty of firepower coming back next season with the likes of Pat Widdoss, Ryan Blakely, Rashad Kilgore, Roger Kilgore, Kenny Virden, Anthony DiBella, and Drew Uszenski among others.
The Bears may have lost the likes of Mauro Tucci, Anthony Gudzak, Miles Colmon, Kevin Lantz, Kevin McHenry, and Chris Villanueva, but they will still have a good deal coming back including a talented group of juniors consisting of Anthony Guisti, John Genco, Dan Sclafani, Bobby Fullem, Carl Thomore, and Nick Gudzak along with solid underclassmen such as sophomores Joe Ross, Abanoub Bestawros, and Mike Summerer, and freshman Rob Ukawuba. Next season, the Bears should have plenty of depth again to contend in the GMC Red, and for its first conference tourney title since 1996. Bishop Ahr, which lost to Bloomfield Tech in overtime in the opening round of the Scarlet Shootout, won all three games seen by GMC Hoops including victories over J.P. Stevens (42-37), Perth Amboy (61-54), and J.F. Kennedy (44-38). The Trojans appear to have a very solid starting five returning. The question will be their bench, and who will step forward to contribute next season.
Other teams that competed over the two days the site was there were Cardinal McCarrick, Sayreville, Dunellen, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, Perth Amboy, J.F. Kennedy, and J.P. Stevens. The Hawks look to improve from last season’s 1-21 campaign, and there’s nowhere to go, but up. So far this summer, JPS is off to a solid start with victories in its first two games at MCC before losing on Tuesday night, and a close loss to Bishop Ahr before defeating J.F. Kennedy in triple overtime on Thursday night. Perth Amboy showed some positives in their loss to Bishop Ahr. The Panthers appeared to be on the verge of getting blown out, but rallied to pull within three in the second half. Yoelbin Sanchez was much more aggressive to the basket, and ended up 7 of 12 from the field in the loss to the Trojans. Amboy will need Sanchez to play that way in order to get better for this coming season.
Another player that impressed on Thursday night was J.F. Kennedy’s, Nick Spoganetz. Known more as a hustle player, who would do a lot of the little things to help his team win the past two seasons, has stepped up his game offensively. In the 44-38 loss to Bishop Ahr, Spoganetz netted 25 points on 8 of 13 shooting including a scintillating 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. His stepping up offensively along with more production from A.J. Pichalski will be key to complement Daishon Robinson if the Mustangs are going to fill the void left behind by Joe Marciano and Rasheed Howard. Josh Kamenas will also have to contribute more as well for JFK. Cardinal McCarrick along with Bishop Ahr and East Brunswick will be one of the teams to watch next year in the GMC. Without the likes of Dana Raysor and Mohammed Ali, the Eagles were still able to hang with EB thanks to the play of Jumanne McDaniel, who fought through the heat and humidity to turn in a good effort. Marques Townes looks to be a real good one for McCarrick. The freshman, who played for the Sayreville Stars in the Raritan Bay Summer League, shows no fear and plenty of poise for a player yet to step into high school.