PISCATAWAY, NJ–Recently, GMC Hoops had a chance to talk with Star-Ledger boys basketball and football beat writer, Mike Kinney at the Hoop Group Tip-Off Classic, and during the conversation, we talked about all the Piscataway players that have gone on to bigger and better things. Of course, you have to start out with the success of the likes of John Celestand, who went on to play basketball at Villanova in college, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the pros. He was a member of the first L.A. Lakers squad led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal to win an NBA Championship back in 2000. He later went on to play in Europe.
However, there has been a recent crop of P-Way athletes on both the hardwood and the gridiron that have gone on to either play in college, the pros, or both. Here’s a list of players from Piscataway now in the pros:
- Malcolm Jenkins–New Orleans Saints
- Anthony Davis–San Francsico 49ers
- Kyle Wilson–New York Jets
- Brandon Renkart–Pittsburgh Steelers
Then, you take a look at all the players from Piscataway now playing in the colleges:
- Jeff Adkins–University of New Haven
- Elijah Grant–Temple
- Rodney Freeney–Monclair State University
- Tristan Benjamin–Harcum Junior College
- Marvin Booker–Rutgers
- Aaron Hush–Temple
- Bryan Waluk–Middlesex County College
- Steven Miller–Nassau Community College
- J.D. Griggs–Nassau Community College
- Justin Blake–Nassau Community College
- Jawaun Wynn–Rutgers
- Jackson Maurer–Rutgers
- Malcolm Griggs–University of New Hampshire
- Antoine Beverly–Raritan Valley Community College
- Tony Logan–University of Maryland
- Jeremy Crayton–Central Connecticut State
- Anthony Tillman–University of New Haven
- Terrance Fox–University of New Hampshire
I would imagine that there are many that I left off this list. If so, feel free to e-mail me at gmachos@gmchoops.com, and I will add them to the list.
The important thing is that Piscataway Athletics whether it is football or basketball, has paved the way for many young men to become successful. Not only in just sports, but in other aspects of life as well. Prowess in the athletic world has allowed these standouts to get quality educations, which in turn, will make them more rounded people. Piscataway has also been honored as one of the top sports towns in the United States by Sports Illustrated.
This year’s crop of Chiefs have already accomplished a great deal. The likes of basketball standouts Tajae Sharpe, Kendall Marks, Danny Cole, and Temi Adebayo were contributors to a GMC Red Division football championship, North Jersey Section 2 Group IV title, and a number one ranking in many local area gridiron polls. Let’s not forget about the likes of Nadir Barnwell, Kyle LaPorte, Brandon Stout, and Tevin Shaw. Sharpe, Marks, Cole, and Adebayo have also joined the likes of other hoopsters Vik Singh, Tyjohn Young, Jelani Jackson, Thierno Diallo, Greg Davis, Donovan Kirkland, David White, Marcus Freeney, Herbie Donerson, and Byron Benjamin to lead the Chiefs to a 6-1 start this season on the hardwood.
The success of Piscataway sports programs are a tribute to not only the coaches and players, but also to the faculty at the school, and the parents. In addition, players, who have gone on to further success, have not forgotten their roots, and often come back to the school to help out kids that are now coming out through the program. This giving back from former players helps P-Way continue its winning tradition.