Mustang Hoops Player to Join Jersey Blues of NJCAA Region 19 D3
J.F. Kennedy’s David Silva fires up a free throw in the first half against South River in a GMC Crossover back on February 5, 2019 in Iselin. Silva will be attending Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey this coming fall.
ISELIN, NJ—The 2018-19 season will not show much in terms of overall or division record for the J.F. Kennedy Mustangs. However, the season did prove to be a step in the right direction for the program. After losing 29 straight games dating back to the end of the 2016-17 season, Kennedy finished 4-15 including a last second win over eventual GMCT semifinalist, New Brunswick on January 17, 2019.
The group of seniors such as Jonathan Bragg, Dennis Howard, Abhishek Dave, and David Silva endured much of the difficult times, but managed to persevere and help contribute to the positive steps made by JFK in 2018-19. One of those seniors, David Silva, looking to make an even bigger step this coming fall by taking his game to the next level. Silva informed GMC Hoops earlier this spring that he will be attending Brookdale College in the fall.
Silva played at least some varsity in each of the past three seasons at J.F. Kennedy. During that span, Silva played in 36 games, made 103 field goals, 3 three pointers, and 74 foul shots for a total of 293 career points. Silva scored 145 total points in each of the past two seasons, but averaged 9.7 points per game in just 15 games played in 2018-19.
Silva played the most games during his junior year when he played in 20 of the Mustangs 22 games. Despite playing five fewer games as a senior, Silva still managed to be more productive with 57 field goals, a three pointer, and 26 field goals for his total of 145 points, or 9.7 points per game. Silva scored in double figures 9 times this past season including 7 of his last 8 games.
During that solid 8 game stretch to end the season, Silva scored a career high 28 points on 10 field goals and 8 foul shots versus Sayreville on February 7th. Kennedy withstood a 32-22 showing by the Bombers in the fourth quarter to post a 63-62 victory in that game. Prior to that, Silva’s career high was 19 points in a 75-48 loss to Spotswood on January 13, 2018 at the Spotswood Athletic Center.
As a sophomore two years ago, Silva was mostly a JV contributor, but saw one game at the varsity level on a Kennedy squad that was led by the likes of Pete Obertan and Bendiji Pierre to the 10th seed in the 2017 GMCT. There, the Mustangs avenged an early season loss by knocking off 7th seeded Bishop Ahr in the Round of 16, and then losing to 2nd seeded South Brunswick in the quarterfinals. It was the first time JFK reached the GMCT Elite Eight since 2011.
Over his last two years at the varsity level for Kennedy, Silva scored in double figures a total of 14 times. Silva will be joining a Brookdale squad that is coming off a successful season cut short by a loss to Cumberland Community College in the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Region 19 Division 3 playoffs. The Jersey Blues finished the season at 19-9 overall including a 13-7 mark in Garden State Conference and Region 19 play.
In the previous year, Brookdale went undefeated at 34-0 overall including a 24-0 mark in conference play. The Jersey Blues not only won the D3 Region 19 and GSAC regular season title, but also the Region 19 Tourney tite, but also defeated Minnesota West Community and Technical College (94-72), Columbus State Community College (109-79), and Nassau Community College for the 2018 NJCAA Division III National Championship.
Two seasons ago, the Jersey Blues went 24-11 overall including a 16-4 mark in conference play. Brookdale also won the Region 19 Tournament and qualified for the 2017 NJCAA Division III National Championship Tourney before losing in the opening round, and the two remaining consolation games. There are a number of former GMC standouts that have played at Brookdale over the years. Some of those players have moved on to even better things afterward.
The list of former GMC players that have played at Brookdale include: Jonard Hall (Dunellen), Dalonte Grant (Spotswood), Matt Martinez (South River), Johnson Akerle (Old Bridge), Noel Garay and Jordan Little (Perth Amboy Tech), Sky Harris (Cardinal McCarrick and J.P. Stevens), Dante Whipple (Old Bridge), Dillon Salva (Bishop Ahr and North Brunswick), Mehki Morgan (Piscataway), and Fres Cabrera (Perth Amboy).
Harris moved on to Drew University, where he was a contributor to the Rangers best season ever including a regular season Landmark Conference Championship, and an appearance in the Landmark Conference Tournament finals before losing to defending champion, Moravian. The Rangers then went on to reach the ECAC Tournament Semifinals before losing to Brandeis College of Massachusetts. Drew finished the 2018-19 season at 23-7 overall including a 12-2 mark in the Landmark Conference.
Salva moved on to be a two sport start at Merrimack College of the Northeast 10 and Massachusetts. He played two years on the football team and one season on the men’s basketball team. He played in 20 games over his football career at Merrimack, and ended up with 16 catches for 230 yards, and 3 TDs. Salva also played in five games for the Warriors’ men’s basketball team during the 2016-17 season. He is now playing professional football in The Spring League after having stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins over the past year.
Little, who was a teammate of both Harris and Salva during his time at Brookdale, has since moved on to play at Morgan State University in Baltimore. After transferring during the 2016-17 season, Little, now a redshirt junior MSU, started in 14 of the 28 games in 2018-19 for the Bears, and averaged 12.5 minutes, 4.0 points, and 3.1 rebounds per game. He shot 50.5 percent from the floor, and 51.7 percent from the foul line. He scored in double figures 3 times including a season high 14 points against Binghamton on December 5, 2018. Congratulations David, and best of luck moving forward.