SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – In preparation and anticipation of the 2022-23 Greater Middlesex Conference boys basketball season, GMC Hoops put together previews for each team in every division of the GMC. The Blue Division has a new look this year with Carteret and J.F. Kennedy moving down from the White and Timothy Christian and Wardlaw moving up from the GMC Blue. Take a look at the preview capsules for the GMC Blue Division teams below.
School: Carteret
Team Nickname: Ramblers
Head Coach: Herman “Mugsy” White (14th Season)
Career Coaching Record: 190-123
Coaching Record At School: 190-123
GMC Hoops Pre-Season Rank: 18th
GMC Hoops Predicted Finish in Division: 4th
Last Year’s Overall Record: 2-17
Last Year’s Division Record: 1-13 (Tied for 7th in GMC White)
Last Year’s Conference Record: 1-15
Last Year’s PPG: 37.9 (31st in GMC)
Last Year’s PAPG: 63.8 (28th in GMC)
Last Year’s PDPG: -25.9 (30th in GMC)
Last Year’s Accomplishments: Returned to play after missing 2021 season due to COVID-19.
2022 Off-Season Leagues: Raritan Bay Summer League
Key Players Returning: CG Opara (10.6 ppg), Andre Diaz, Jordan Muniz, Matt Osifo, Hezekiah Ragland, Abraheme Lowman, Jahcere Robinson, Scott Basdeo, Mike Gomm
Key Players Lost: Angel Martinez (5’9” G)
Key Newcomers: Tyrece Parrott
Players Playing in College: Starell Hearns (Bloomfield College)
View the 2022-23 Carteret Ramblers Boys Basketball Roster
View the Carteret Ramblers Boys Basketball Roster Archive
View the 2022-23 Carteret Ramblers Boys Basketball Schedule
View the Carteret Ramblers 1,000 Point Scorers
View the Carteret Ramblers Sectional Championships
View the Carteret Ramblers State Championships
Summary: The Ramblers are looking to build off of the turnaround season by the football team. After not being able to play due to COVID in the 2020-21 season, Carteret returned to the hardwood against a tough GMC White schedule and struggled in 2021-22. Now the Ramblers are back in their usual confines of the GMC Blue, and with the likes of big man C.G. Opara returning as well as Andre Diaz and Jordan Muniz, they could be right in the thick of things.
School: J.F. Kennedy
Team Nickname: Mustangs
Head Coach: Sebastian de Voogd (7th Season)
Career Coaching Record: 29-81
Coaching Record At School: 29-81
GMC Hoops Pre-Season Rank: 27th
GMC Hoops Predicted Finish in Division: 8th
Last Year’s Overall Record: 1-16
Last Year’s Division Record: 1-13 (Tied for 7th in GMC White)
Last Year’s Conference Record: 1-15
Last Year’s PPG: 40.5 (29th in GMC)
Last Year’s PAPG: 68.1 (32nd in GMC)
Last Year’s PDPG: -27.6 (31st in GMC)
Last Year’s Accomplishments: Played full season after 2021 season ended abruptly due to COVID-19.
2022 Off-Season Leagues: N/A
Key Players Returning: Apurva Amin, Harsh Borkeheteria, and Abraham Louilus.
Key Players Lost: Josiah Garcia, Calvin Claiborne, Yusef Gethers, Shaimond Foye, Dhruv Rawal, Donovan Claiborne (not playing), Kasey Desuza (transferred to Woodbridge), and Victor Torres (transferred to St. Mary’s of Rutherford).
Key Newcomers: Angel Ruiz, Brandon Rivera-White, and David Reyes.
Players Playing in College: David Silva (Middlesex College)
View the 2022-23 J.F. Kennedy Mustangs Boys Basketball Roster
View the J.F. Kennedy Mustangs Boys Basketball Roster Archive
View the 2022-23 J.F. Kennedy Mustangs Boys Basketball Schedule
View the J.F. Kennedy Mustangs 1,000 Point Scorers
View the J.F. Kennedy Mustangs Sectional Championships
View the J.F. Kennedy Mustangs State Final Appearances
Summary: The Mustangs have a lot of upperclassmen on the roster, but not a lot of varsity experience. J.F. Kennedy will be led by the tandem of Apurva Amin and Harsh Borkeheteria, who has garnered some attention locally on the AAU circuit for the Garden State Heavyweights. Football standouts Angel Ruiz and Brandon Rivera-White could provide some athleticism and talent. JFK will also benefit from being the largest school in the division after a tough 6 year stint in the tougher GMC White.
School: Metuchen
Team Nickname: Bulldogs
Head Coach: James Cardillo (2nd Season)
Career Coaching Record:
Coaching Record At School: 11-14
GMC Hoops Pre-Season Rank: 21st
GMC Hoops Predicted Finish in Division: 6th
Last Year’s Overall Record: 11-14
Last Year’s Division Record: 4-8 (Tied for 5th in GMC Blue)
Last Year’s Conference Record: 8-11
Last Year’s PPG: 55.6 (14th in GMC)
Last Year’s PAPG: 52.0 (10th in GMC)
Last Year’s PDPG: 3.6 (13th in GMC)
Last Year’s Accomplishments: Advanced to GMCT Preliminary Round and Qualified for CJ Group 2 State Tournament
2022 Off-Season Leagues: East Brunswick Team Camp and Rahway Summer League
Key Players Returning: Max Cohn (237 career points or 7.6 ppg), Ben Santus, Marcus Malamug, Danny Kuhne, Cody Cardillo, Nic Van Leeuwen, and Sahil Gujrathi,
Key Players Lost: Dominic Schiappa (23.2 ppg and 1,372 career points), Liam Benderly, Alec Lataillade, and Caelan Esmile.
Key Newcomers: Janu Drejer and Ben Galeota
Players Playing in College: Dominic Schiappa (Widener University)
View the 2022-23 Metuchen Bulldogs Boys Basketball Roster
View the Metuchen Bulldogs Boys Basketball Roster Archive
View the 2022-23 Metuchen Bulldogs Boys Basketball Schedule
View the Metuchen Bulldogs 1,000 Point Scorers
View the Metuchen Bulldogs Sectional Championships
Summary: Losing last year’s leading scorer in Schiappa as well as Benderly, Lataillade, and Esmile, leaves Coach Cardillo and the Bulldogs in a bit of a bind in the new look GMC Blue. However, the Bulldogs upgraded their offseason schedule, and still have a good nucleus with the likes of Cohn, Santus, Malamug, Cody Cardillo, Gujrathi, and Kuhne coming back. All the returning players with the exception of Kuhne all saw a good deal of playing time a year ago thanks to Coach Cardillo’s willingness to play everybody.
School: Middlesex
Team Nickname: Blue Jays
Head Coach: Jared Goldstein (9th Season)
Career Coaching Record: 83-106
Coaching Record At School: 83-106
GMC Hoops Pre-Season Rank: 22nd
GMC Hoops Predicted Finish in Division: 7th
Last Year’s Overall Record: 12-15
Last Year’s Division Record: 6-6 (4th in GMC Blue)
Last Year’s Conference Record: 9-11
Last Year’s PPG: 53.9 (18th in GMC)
Last Year’s PAPG: 54.3 (13th in GMC)
Last Year’s PDPG: -0.4 (17th in GMC)
Last Year’s Accomplishments: Advanced to GMCT Preliminary Round and Qualified for CJ Group 2 State Tournament
2022 Off-Season Leagues: East Brunswick Team Camp. Bound Brook Summer League, Piscataway Fall League, and Middlesex JV Summer League
Key Players Returning: Tommy Lavornia and Jack Adamski
Key Players Lost: Mike Salvatore (led GMC with 24.1 ppg and finished with 1,010 career points), Stephen Young (402 career points or 5.2 ppg), Matt Venutolo (207 career points or 5.4 ppg), A.J. West, and Zach Chippendale.
Key Newcomers: Owen Reynolds, Sebastian Cano, Henry Lopez, Tyler Hurling, and Jayden Pearyer.
Players Playing in College: Jake Robel (Wilkes University) and Mike Salvatore (Misericordia University)
View the 2022-23 Middlesex Blue Jays Boys Basketball Roster
View the Middlesex Blue Jays Boys Basketball Roster Archive
View the 2022-23 Middlesex Blue Jays Boys Basketball Schedule
View the Middlesex Blue Jays 1,000 Point Scorers
View the Middlesex Blue Jays Sectional Championships
Summary: The Blue Jays lost five key players from a year ago including three that combined for 1,619 career points, or 34.7 ppg. The biggest loss was the graduation of 1,000 point scorer Mike Salvatore, who led the entire Greater Middlesex Conference with over 24 points per game. Tommy Lavornia and Jack Adamski return while newcomers such as Owen Reynolds, Sebastian Cano, Henry Lopez, Tyler Hurling, and Jayden Pearyer will be expected to contribute. GMC Hoops saw many of Middlesex’s key players for 2022-23 two summers ago at the 2021 Middlesex JV Summer League where they competed well against the likes of Ridge, New Providence, and Spotswood.
School: South River
Team Nickname: Rams
Head Coach: Brandon Walsh (4th Season)
Career Coaching Record: 31-35
Coaching Record At School: 31-35
GMC Hoops Pre-Season Rank: 8th
GMC Hoops Predicted Finish in Division: 1st
Last Year’s Overall Record: 20-8
Last Year’s Division Record: 10-2 (2nd in GMC Blue)
Last Year’s Conference Record: 14-5
Last Year’s PPG: 65.6 (3rd in GMC)
Last Year’s PAPG: 53.9 (11th in GMC)
Last Year’s PDPG: 11.6 (6th in GMC)
Last Year’s Accomplishments: Won South Amboy Holiday Tournament, Reached GMCT Round of 16 and CJ Group 2 Quarterfinals.
2022 Off-Season Leagues: Rider Team Camp,East Brunswick Team Camp, Hoop Group Headquarters Summer League, and Monroe Sports Center Fall League
Key Players Returning: Lazaro Rodriguez (12.2 ppg in 2021-22 and 983 career points or 14.9 ppg), Roman Santos (14.1 ppg in 2021-22 and 399 career points or 13.3 ppg), Jeremy Grospe (10.9 ppg in 2021-22 and 560 career points or 9.0 ppg), Kobe Taylor (490 career points or 8.0 ppg), and Alex Grospe (222 points or 8.2 ppg).
Key Players Lost: Darren Barberio (262 career points, or 5.8 ppg), Jared Grospe, and Servio Familia.
Key Newcomers: Gavin Franco and Isaac Linarez.
Players Playing in College: Joey Nigro (FDU-Florham)
View the 2022-23 South River Rams Basketball Roster
View the South River Rams Boys Basketball Roster Archive
View the 2022-23 South River Rams Boys Basketball Schedule
View the South River Rams 1,000 Point Scorers
View the South River Rams Sectional Championships
View the South River Rams State Championships
Summary: The Rams look to be the division favorite and be a regular fixture in this season’s GMC Hoops Top Ten. South River returns its entire starting five with a combined scoring average of 53.2 ppg as well as a number of reserves. Coach Walsh raised the bar a bit this off-season by putting the Rams in the Rider Team Camp and East Brunswick Team Camp along with return appearances in the Hoop Group Headquarters Summer League and Monroe Sports Center Fall League. Laz Rodriguez enters the new season just 17 points shy of 1,000 for his career and his teammates will be playing up against the likes of St. Joseph’s, Piscataway, South Plainfield, Wayne Valley and Scotch Plains-Fanwood (Rahway Summer League champion).
School: Spotswood
Team Nickname: Chargers
Head Coach: Steve Mate (28th Season)
Career Coaching Record: 397-335
Coaching Record At School: 357-303
GMC Hoops Pre-Season Rank: 10th
GMC Hoops Predicted Finish in Division: 2nd
Last Year’s Overall Record: 16-9
Last Year’s Division Record: 7-5 (3rd in GMC Blue)
Last Year’s Conference Record: 12-7
Last Year’s PPG: 63.2 (7th in GMC)
Last Year’s PAPG: 50.5 (6th in GMC)
Last Year’s PDPG: 12.7 (5th in GMC)
Last Year’s Accomplishments: Most Improved Team in GMC, Reached GMCT Round of 16, and Qualified for CJ Group 2 State Tournament
2022 Off-Season Leagues: Bound Brook Summer League, Bridgewater Summer League, and Monroe Sports Center Fall League.
Key Players Returning: Aiden Scher (11.4 ppg in 2021-22 and 437 career points, or 11.2 ppg), Daniel Yarus (306 career points, or 8.3 ppg), Casey Cumiskey (424 career points or 8.2 ppg), and Dominic Perez.
Key Players Lost: Roman Carone (19.1 ppg in 2021-22 and 673 career points or 14.0 ppg) and Chris Stanaway.
Key Newcomers: Kiye Walker, Rion Ahmetaj, and Solan Adams.
Players Playing in College: Roman Carone (Centenary College)
View the 2022-23 Spotswood Chargers Basketball Roster
View the Spotswood Chargers Boys Basketball Roster Archive
View the 2022-23 Spotswood Chargers Boys Basketball Schedule
View the Spotswood Chargers 1,000 Point Scorers
View the Spotswood Chargers Sectional Championships
Summary: If there is any team in the GMC Blue that at least on paper can contend for the division title with South River, it is arch rival Spotswood. The Chargers did lose top scorer Roman Carone as well as top defender Chris Stanaway, but they return everyone else. This year’s group of Chargers may be the tallest team that Steve Mate has ever coached at the school. Spotswood also has a good amount of depth as well as a nice blend of youth and experience. Walker and Ahmetaj will be players to watch along with returnees such as Cumiskey, Scher, Yarus, and Perez.
School: Timothy Christian
Team Nickname: Tigers
Head Coach: Dennis McNulty (4th Season)
Career Coaching Record: 41-24
Coaching Record At School: 41-24
GMC Hoops Pre-Season Rank: 17th
GMC Hoops Predicted Finish in Division: 3rd
Last Year’s Overall Record: 14-11
Last Year’s Division Record: 13-1 (1st in GMC Gold)
Last Year’s Conference Record: 14-8
Last Year’s PPG: 61.1 (8th in GMC)
Last Year’s PAPG: 56.7 (18th in GMC)
Last Year’s PDPG: 4.4 (12th in GMC)
Last Year’s Accomplishments: Won GMCT Gold, Reached GMCT Round of 16, and Qualified for Non-Public B North State Tournament
2022 Off-Season Leagues: Bound Brook Summer League
Key Players Returning: Jalen Fleming (15.5 ppg) and Brandon Johnson.
Key Players Lost: Gian Wagner (12.1 ppg in 2021-22 and 1,043 career points or 13.4 ppg), James Hayes (11.0 ppg in 2021-22 and 435 points or 10.9 ppg), Jonathan McNulty (317 career points or 5.4 ppg), and Rakeen King (out of eligibility).
Key Newcomers: Joel Sierra, Jett Phillips (transferred in from St. Thomas Aquinas), and Myles Dickerson (transferred in from Monsignor Scanlan NY)
Players Playing in College: Abdul Momoh (Central Connecticut State)
View the 2022-23 Timothy Christian Tigers Basketball Roster
View the Timothy Christian Tigers Boys Basketball Roster Archive
View the 2022-23 Timothy Christian Tigers Boys Basketball Schedule
View the Timothy Christian 1,000 Point Scorers
Summary: Timothy Christian continues its quest to “Raise the Bar” as it moves up to the Blue after winning the GMC Gold crown a year ago. Gone is 1,000 point scorer Gian Wagner along with veterans such as James Hayes and Jonathan McNulty. In addition, one of the 2021-22 season’s top newcomers in Rakeen King is out of eligibility. Nevertheless, TCS still looks to compete with the likes of GMC Hoops Freshman of the Year, Jalen Fleming returning along with the athletic Brandon Johnson while newcomers Joel Sierra, Jett Phillips, and Myles Dickerson have Coach McNulty optimistic.
School: Wardlaw-Hartridge
Team Nickname: Rams
Head Coach: Brendan Wagner (4th Season)
Career Coaching Record: 45-19
Coaching Record At School: 45-19
GMC Hoops Pre-Season Rank: 19th
GMC Hoops Predicted Finish in Division: 5th
Last Year’s Overall Record: 16-9
Last Year’s Division Record: 12-2 (2nd in GMC Gold)
Last Year’s Conference Record: 15-4
Last Year’s PPG: 64.3 (5th in GMC)
Last Year’s PAPG: 55.6 (16th in GMC)
Last Year’s PDPG: 8.7 (9th in GMC)
Last Year’s Accomplishments: Beat Timothy Christian twice, Reached Prep B State Semifinals, GMCT Preliminary Round, and Non-Public B North Quarterfinals.
2022 Off-Season Leagues: N/A.
Key Players Returning: Gyrord Gregoire and Harrison Kilpatrick
Key Players Lost: Mehkai Huey (21.4 ppg in 2021-22 and 1,009 career points or 16.0 ppg), Jordan Severino (12.9 ppg in 2021-22 and 426 career points or 10.9 ppg), Evan Benson (16.4 ppg in 2021-22 and 529 career points or 13.9 ppg – transferred to Piscataway), and Xavier Hinds (287 career points or 4.9 ppg – going out for Winter Track).
Players Playing in College: Jordan Severino (Drew University)
View the 2022-23 Wardlaw-Hartridge Rams Basketball Roster
View the Wardlaw-Hartridge Rams Boys Basketball Roster Archive
View the 2022-23 Wardlaw-Hartridge Rams Boys Basketball Schedule
View the Wardlaw-Hartridge Rams 1,000 Point Scorers
View the Wardlaw-Hartridge Rams State Championships
Summary: Wardlaw moves up to the GMC Blue not only without the likes of 1,000 point scorer Mekhai Huey and Jordan Severino, who both graduated in June, but also two other starters from a year ago. The Rams lost shooting guard Evan Benson, who transferred to Piscataway and point guard Xavier Hinds, who is now focusing his efforts in Winter Track. Coach Wagner’s squad has a lot of new faces, but veterans Gyrord Gregoire and Harrison Kilpatrick return to lead the way.