With the end of the 2007-08 season, and the pending graduations of four of Piscataway’s five starters, many around the Greater Middlesex Conference may be wondering if the Chiefs will be coming back down to earth next season. The answer to that question is no. Piscataway has a solid group returning including the likes of current juniors Justin Blake, Thomas Bennett, Jeff Adkins, Aaron Hush, and Antoine Beverly along with sophomores Wayne Newsome and Malcolm Griggs.
In addition, the Junior Chiefs of Piscataway’s JV have a number of talented players coming up including Jamar Rose, Scott Kinney, Aaron Riggins, and Julius Nadarajah. The JV was seeded fourth in this season’s East Brunswick/GMC JV Tournament, and reached the Elite Eight before losing to eventual finalist, Bishop Ahr. Looking farther into the future, Piscataway’s freshmen have a number of talented players including Bryan Wong, Isiah Carrington, Thiemo Diallo, Danny Cole, Brandon Williamson, Herbie Donerson, Aaron Alexander, and Evan Wilkinson all coming up from a team that defeated Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tourney top seed and finalist, East Brunswick twice during the regular season.
The late season play of Hush, Bennett, Blake, Adkins, and Newsome was particuarly encouraging. Hush played inspiring basketball the last month of the season from the Oak Hill game through to the state final while Bennett provided a nice change of pace off the bench during the state tourney drive. Blake, Adkins, and Newsome scored pivotal baskets when the Chiefs needed them particularly in their Quarterfinal round victory over Watchung Hills in the North Jersey Section 2 Group IV State Tournament.
Malcolm Griggs has been touted as one of the top players in the country for his age group, and has been patiently waiting for his chance the past two seasons at the JV level as a freshman and sophomore. He comes in along with Newsome as part of the much heralded P-Way freshman class from two seasons ago. Add all of this to the fact that another junior, Tristian Benjamin will be the lone returning starter from this year’s championship squad, and you have a team that will still be one to reckon with in 2008-09.