Panthers Senior Becomes 3rd GMC Player to Take Post-Graduate Route
PERTH AMBOY, NJ—After only winning four games in 2018-19, and enduring its third coaching change over the past five years, the Perth Amboy boys basketball team put together an outstanding turnaround season in 2019-20 by improving its win total by 10 games, and posting a 12-10 record to end up in the final GMC Hoops Poll of the season. One of the key players to the turnaround was senior Quasim Jackson, who earned GMC Hoops All Red Division Team honors among a slew of post-season awards.
Now, Jackson is looking to his future, and has decided to take the post-graduate route. On Friday, GMC Hoops learned via NJ Hoops and confirmed with Jackson that the Amboy senior will be attending Quality Prep Academy of Plainfield in the fall. He becomes the third senior from the Greater Middlesex Conference to go the post-graduate route. According to stats compiled at NJ.com, Jackson played in all 22 of the Panthers’ games this past season, and made 69 field goals, 45 threes, and 48 foul shots for a total of 330 points along with 79 rebounds, 31 steals, 28 assists, and 2 blocks.
Jackson averaged 15.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 assist this past season, and collected 17 double figure scoring games including 7 games of 20 points or more. He registered a career high of 27 points on 5 field goals, 7 threes, and 6 free throws while also picking up 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist in a 68-60 overtime win at Old Bridge on January 2nd. Jackson led the team in scoring, was third in the team in rebounding, third on the team in steals, and 3rd on the team in assists during the 2019-20 campaign.
As a junior, Jackson played in 18 games and made 56 field goals, 31 threes, and 19 free throws for a total of 227 points, or an average of 12.6 points per game. Jackson ranked 2nd in scoring on the team behind Emmanuel Lora (295 points), but was ranked first on the team in three pointers made. He scored in double digits in 13 of the 18 games that he played including three games where he scored 20 points or more. Amboy was only 4-18 overall including an 0-14 mark in GMC Red play in 2018-19.
Two seasons ago, Jackson was a sophomore when the Panthers reached the quarterfinals of the 2018 GMCT as the 12th seed. Perth Amboy got there by defeating then GMC White Champion, Sayreville in the Round of 16 before falling to Carteret in the Elite Eight. Competing in the 2018 NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 playoffs, the Panthers battled 2nd seeded Scotch Plains in the opening round with tough first half defense only to lose 48-34 to the Raiders.
During the 2017-18 campaign, Jackson saw action in 17 games, and made 29 field goals, 6 threes, and 15 foul shots for a total of 92 points from off the bench along with 11 rebounds, 11 assists, 8 steals, and a block. Scoring double figures in two of the games he played in, Jackson scored a season high 14 points in a 57-56 loss to North Brunswick at home on January 30, 2018. He also scored 11 points in the state playoff loss at Scotch Plains. Amboy finished 12-14 overall that season including a 7-7 mark in the GMC Red.
Jackson saw limited action as a freshman at Perth Amboy by playing in only two games and getting one point and an assist. For his four year varsity career at Perth Amboy, Jackson played in 59 games, made 144 field goals, 82 threes, and 83 free throws for a total of 617 points, or an average of 10.5 points per game with 32 double digit scoring games including 10 contests with 20 points or more. During his four years at Perth Amboy, the Panthers went 39-58 overall including an 18-38 mark in GMC Red play.
Quality Academy Prep is a new post-graduate school opening up in the Plainfield, NJ area this fall. Quality Academy, which is joining up with the likes of Prestige Prep, Covenant Academy, Patrick School, Pioneer Academy, and Hamilton Hall Academy to form the NJSPGAA, the New Jersey State Post Graduate Athletic Association for the 2020-21 season. Anwar King will be the head coach for Quality Academy Prep, and he comes with recent experience of coaching and recruiting at the County College of Morris after playing college ball at New Jersey City University.
Joining King at the school is former Newark Shabazz standout, Devonne Giles, who helped lead the Bulldogs past Camden for the 2001 Group 3 State Championship. Giles then played JUCO ball at Seward County College before moving on to play two seasons for the legendary Bobby Knight at Texas Tech., and helped the Red Raiders to a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16. He went on to play professionally for 13 years in many parts of the world including China, Japan, Finland, Holland, France, and Hungary.
Besides Jackson, three other players have committed to play for Quality Prep Academy including Kadeem Placide of Tilden High School, Marquise Paulin of Opportunity Charter School, and Deon McLaughlin from Brooklyn College Academy.
Congratulations Quasim on your decision to go post-graduate, and best of luck next season and beyond.