MEN'S BASKETBALL
2001-02
PRE-SEASON OUTLOOK

2000-01 RECAP: In 2000-01, the New Jersey Athletic Conference was represented in the national spotlight by William Paterson University. The NJAC champion Pioneers traveled the long road to the Final Four, before bowing in the Division III national title game. The conference was also dominant in the ECAC Metro Region Tournament, with bids going to four NJAC institutions: Rutgers University-Newark, Kean University, Richard Stockton College and the eventual 2001 champion, New Jersey City University.

Overall, the NJAC posted a solid non-conference record of 54-24 (.692 winning percentage).

2001-02 OUTLOOK: No news here: Look for a battle from top to bottom in the conference standings once again. The coaches' poll points to William Paterson and New Jersey City matching up in a repeat of last year's championship, but that does not preclude a serious challenge from a hungry group of seniors throughout the conference. Heading the list is the NJAC Pre-Season Player of the Year and Div. III News Pre-Season All-American Wade Walters (Old Bridge, NJ ), a 6-5 senior forward for Kean University. The only underclassman on the NJAC all-conference first team last season, Walters led the Cougars in scoring and rebounds (13.7ppg, 6.6 rpg) and the conference in field goal percentage (64.7%). In the spotlight with Walters will be a trio of fourth-year men from around the state: Ramapo College guard Robert Anderson (Lumber Bridge, NC), who averaged 15.2 ppg for the Road Runners last year; Rutgers University-Camden guard Brian Turner (Camden, NJ), the NJAC's second leading scorer in 2000-01 with 22.4 ppg; and guard/forward Asmar Fortney (Plainfield, NJ), who contributed 15.1 ppg and a 38.2 shooting percentage from behind the three-point line.

2001-02 NJAC
COACHES' POLL

1.) William Paterson University (1)*
2.) New Jersey City University (2)
3.) Rowan University (4)
4.) Kean University (3)
5.) Richard Stockton College (5)
6.) Montclair State University (9)
7.) Ramapo College (6)
8.) The College of New Jersey (8)
9.) Rutgers University-Newark (7)
10.) Rutgers University-Camden (10)

* number in parentheses indicates last year's regular season finish

Most Likely to Cause an Upset:
Rutgers-Camden

KEAN UNIVERSITY
COUGARS
Head Coach: Bruce Hamburger
2000-01: 11-7 NJAC, 16-10 Overall

The Cougars begin the 2001-2002 season with one of its most talented groups in recent years. Kean returns a core group of players that finished last season with a 16-10 record and advanced to the NJAC and ECAC Tournaments. Along with that nucleus, Kean has added a solid recruiting class that will bring some added size and speed to the program.

Kean will look to rely on the power inside game of senior center Wade Walters (Old Bridge/Old Bridge, NJ). Walters, a pre-season All-American, led the Cougars with 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest. Kean will need to fill a significant void in the backcourt following the graduation of two-time all-NJAC performer Alfonzo Thomas. However, junior Ralph Lora (Perth Amboy/Perth Amboy, NJ) and senior Nick Brown (Long Branch/Belmar, NJ) should be able to help shoulder the load.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
RED HAWKS
Head Coach: Ted Fiore
2000-01: 6-12 NJAC, 11-13 Overall

The Montclair State University men’s basketball team will be looking to get back on the winning track after finishing 11-13 overall a year ago, including 6-12 in the conference, Montclair, which opened the 2000-01 season with three consecutive victories, will seek to avoid the three-game and five-game winless strings down the stretch that effectively eliminated the Red Hawks from postseason play, one year after MSU claimed the 2000 ECAC Division III Metro crown.

The team’s biggest loss comes in guard Jermel Mayo, who graduated as the school’s all-time leader with 578 assists, including 116 helpers last year. Replacing him at the point will be junior guard Ben Martinez (Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS/Scotch Plains, NJ), who collected 6.7 points per game and was second on the squad with 52 assists in 18.6 minutes per outing. MSU will also miss the long-range skills of Michael Yearwood, who averaged 13.9 points per game and set a new school record with 54 three-point field goals, and A.J. Banks, who contributed 58 rebounds and 45 assists in a substitute role.

The Red Hawks return their top all-around weapon in senior guard Omar Boothe (Teaneck HS/Teaneck, NJ), who led Montclair State with 14.8 PPG while also pacing MSU with 7.5 rebounds per game. Senior forward James Bradley (Englewood HS/Englewood, NJ) is back after a career year that saw him average 10.3 PPG and 6.8 rebounds per contest. Sophomore guard Harold Williams (St. Aloysis HS/Jersey City, NJ) returns for his second collegiate season after averaging 4.5 rpg and earning the team’s Schmidt Defensive Player of the Year Award.

THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY
LIONS
Head Coach: John Castaldo
2000-01: 7-11 NJAC, 11-13 Overall

TCNJ’s coaching staff will be looking for major contributions from its two returning starters, senior Brian Latour (Brick, NJ/St. Rose) and junior Gyl Vaught (Ewing, NJ/Solebury Prep). Latour, the team’s captain and lone senior, enjoyed a stellar junior campaign starting all 24 games with a 12.5 points per game average. Vaught stepped up his game as a sophomore, averaging 8.2 points per game in 16 starts.

Rounding out TCNJ’s junior class is guard Leroy Peterson (Trenton, NJ.McCorristin) and forward Marcel Grant (Mt. Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley). Both players contributed off the bench last season, and Castaldo will be looking for increased production and leadership this year. Expect sophomore Derek Brown (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains) to provide a presence in the paint for the Lions this season.

Another sophomore who will compete for time in the backcourt is red-shirt freshman, Alex Mahony (Martinsville, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan). The Lions welcome nine newcomers for the 2001-2002 season, and Castaldo hopes that they will provide an immediate impact for the Lions as they look to solidify the lineup. Look for sophomore Chris Wells (Columbus, NJ/West Orange) to give the Lions some much needed size on the inside. In addition to Wells, TCNJ has eight freshmen on the roster. The list is topped by Scott Findlay (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris), forward Bobby Davison (Princeton, NJ/Princeton), center Jody Crowley (Randolph, NJ/Randolph), and forward Jesse Allert (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville).

NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY
GOTHIC KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Charles Brown
2000-01: 12-6 NJAC, 20-9 Overall

A winning men’s basketball team at New Jersey City University has become common. In 2000-01, NJCU won 20 games, and advanced all the way to the NJAC Championship game, before losing to Horace Jenkins, and the eventual national runners-up, William Paterson University. And despite being snubbed a NCAA bid, NJCU did not waste their 19th appearance in the postseason in the 19-year career of head coach Charles Brown, garnering the No. 1 seed in the ECAC playoffs, and winning an unprecedented fifth ECAC Metro Championship.

Now it’s a new season, and NJCU has lost leading scorer Jeff Harrington and three-point man Marques Morris to graduation, and talented junior Najm Calhoun to ineligibility. But after losing to a Jenkins the past three years, the Gothic Knights have gone out and found their own. Senior shooting guard Irv Jenkins (Snyder/Jersey City, NJ), a former scholarship player at the University of South Alabama, has come home to his native Jersey City for his senior campaign. Jenkins will be NJCU’s go-to-guy, and probably be their leading scorer.

Rafi Hargrove (Sayreville War Memorial/Parlin, NJ) returns for his senior season as NJCU’s point guard. The starting small forward position will go to one of NJCU’s two junior co-captains…namely George Thomas (St. Mary's/Jersey City, NJ), who excelled as a fine defender last year, and Reginald Wright (McCorristin Catholic/Trenton, NJ), who proved he is capable of having the team ride his back to victories. Wright earned NJAC Player of the Week honors last January when, in the absence of Harrington, he led the Knights to several important wins.

Samar Battle (Clifford Scott/East Orange, NJ), the NJAC Rookie of the Year last season will start at power forward, while senior Marcisco Morrison (Spanish Town, Jamaica/Irvington, NJ), one of the biggest men in the league, is the starting center.

RAMAPO COLLEGE
ROADRUNNERS
Head Coach: Chuck McBreen
2000-01: 8-10 NJAC, 11-13 Overall

With a strong group of returning leaders, and a powerful group of newcomers, Coach McBreen hopes to see his team in the NJAC Championship in February. McBreen returns a solid nucleus of key players which includes three 3-year starters: Robert Anderson (St. Paul's HS/Lumber Bridge, NJ), Tennyson Whitted (St. Anthony HS/ Jersey City, NJ) and Kevin Stokes (Ramapo HS/Wycoff, NJ). Team captain Anderson is an all-conference player who averaged 16 ppg and 6 rpg last year. Whitted will run the show for the Roadrunners from the point. He was named NJAC Defensive Player of the Year last season and also led the NJAC in assists and steals while finishing 2^nd in the country in assists.

All-American and former NJAC Rookie of the Year Charles Ransom (Dickinson HS/Jersey City, NJ), senior Rasheen Gadsen (Dickinson HS/Jersey City, NJ) and junior Chad Watson (West Orange HS/West Orange, NJ) will return for the 2001-2002 season to lead Ramapo to the another winning season. Forward Jared Milligan (Lakeland Reg. HS/Ringwood, NJ), Jay DeGroat (Middletown HS/Middletown, NY) and Damien Whittington (Union HS/Newark, NJ) will also get significant minutes off the bench.

RICHARD STOCKTON COLLEGE
OSPREYS
Head Coach: Gerry Matthews
2000-01: 10-8 NJAC, 15-11 Overall

The Stockton men's basketball team seeks a return to the upper echelon of the NJAC after missing the conference playoffs last season. The Ospreys will rely upon a solid nucleus of players this year. Senior center B. Woolford (Trenton/Central) can be a force at both ends of the floor. Woolford averaged 12.7 points on offense last year while ranking 14th in the nation with 67 blocks at the defensive end. Stockton should benefit from the return of senior forward Conrad Burnside (Pleasantville/Pleasantville), a solid all-around player who missed last season after scoring 13.6 points per game in 1999-00.

Senior point guard James Spell (Lindenwold/Overbrook) runs the offense with a steady hand as well as the ability to score from three-point range or going to the basket. Although undersized at power forward, senior Isaac Howard (Plainfield/Plainfield) is a hard-working player who possesses good shooting touch from medium range and at the free throw line. Athletic junior guard Jorge Arroyo (Mystic Island/Pinelands) should see his role increase this season and could move into the starting lineup. Transfers Eddie Dean and Dave Graham also are expected to make an immediate impact for the Ospreys.

ROWAN UNIVERSITY
PROFS
Head Coach: Joe Cassidy
2000-01: 10-8 NJAC, 14-11 Overall

This season the Rowan men's basketball team is without its top two scorers from last year, forward B.J. Johnson and guard Shawn Anstey. Head coach Joe Cassidy is looking for the unproven players to step up this season.

The Profs return two players from the starting lineup, sophomore guard Tylee Thomas (Wildwood/Wildwood, NJ) and senior forward Wayne Bucknor (Franklin/Somerset, NJ). Thomas was third in scoring with 8.8 points per game. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Buckner contributed with 5.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Bucknor and senior forward Rob Ferguson (Simon Gratz (PA)/Willingboro, NJ) are the only two seniors and are the team's co-captains. Rowan's top newcomer is junior guard Chris Arnold (Bishop Eustace/Sicklerville, NJ) who transferred from Division II Philadelphia University. Last year, Arnold averaged 5.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY - CAMDEN
SCARLET RAPTORS
Head Coach: Jim Flynn
2000-01: 3-15 NJAC, 6-18 Overall

Head Coach Jim Flynn, who returns for his fourth season at Rutgers-Camden, is looking forward to a competitive season with the Scarlet Raptors. The Raptors went 6-18 overall last season, which was the most wins at Rutgers-Camden since the 1989-90 season (9-16).

Flynn plans to build on that mark and has the nucleus for his best team yet, including All-NJAC Honorable Mention Brian Turner (Camden/Moorestown Friends), a senior guard who played in 18 games in his first season at Rutgers-Camden after recovering from a broken hand. He averaged 22.4 points, second in the NJAC, and was seventh in the conference in free throw percentage (78.9) and ninth in rebounding (6.4).

Two other returning starters are junior center Homer Hemmings (Moorestown/ Moorestown), who was fifth in the NJAC in rebounding (7.1) and third in blocked shots (1.5) and junior guard Chuck Walter (Haddon Heights/Paul VI). Newcomers include freshman center/forward Chinedu Ibeh (Colonia/Colonia), junior forward Rob Scott (Long Branch/Long Branch), who sat out last season with an injury, and junior forward Stephen Parker (Sharon Hill, PA/Academy Park), who played during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons, averaging 12.3 ppg his second season.

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY - NEWARK
SCARLET KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Joe Loughran
2000-01: 8-10 NJAC, 14-11 Overall

Joe Loughran begins his first campaign as a head coach at Rutgers-Newark, with three starters and six other lettermen back from last season’s 14-11, ECAC playoff team. At 30-years of age, Loughran will be stepping into the highly-competitive New Jersey Athletic Conference and into the shoes of the league’s latest men’s basketball coach of the year. A veteran assistant with stints at his alma mater American International, the University of Hartford and Stonehill College, he replaces Chris Casey who moved to the top assistant’s spot at Division I Central Connecticut.

Loughran will be able to rely on the scoring talents of senior Asmar Fortney (Middlesex/Plainfield, NJ), a second-team All-NJAC pick last year, who averaged 15.0 points per game and drained 36 3-point shots. Missing from the starting lineup will be departed seniors Jeron Rayam, the emotional leader of last year’s team, and Leo Yanagacio, the defensive stopper.

The Scarlet Raiders will get an immediate shot in the arm with the return of junior guard Samaad Taylor (Science/Newark, NJ) who was averaging 16.7 points per game last season when he was injured in the fifth game of the season. His replacement, senior Jafar Martin (Milton Hershey/Newark, NJ) returns after leading the team with 61 assists and 45 steals. The duo makes the point a strength for Rutgers-Newark. Sophomore Ronnie Melendez (Memorial/West New York, NJ), a versatile post player who averaged 6.6 points and 4.6 rebounds as a freshman, started 22 games last season.

Sophomore long-range shooter Chris Hernandez (Weehawken/Weehawken, NJ) nailed 26 3-pointers last season while quick, cagey sophomore Donald Parrish (St. Patrick/Newark, NJ) brings instant energy to both ends of the court. Parrish had 28 steals and 41 assists as a rookie while shooting 51.6% from the floor. Sophomore Jahad Campbell (Science/Newark, NJ) is a strong shooting guard who possesses tremendous court sense and a soft shooting touch. Sophomore Drizzban Richardson (Hackensack/ Bogota, NJ) made a team-high 52.9% of his field goal attempts while providing rebounding muscle at both ends of the court. Brookdale College junior transfer Semone Morant, an Irvington resident, brings a much-needed 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame to the rebounding wars. Freshman forward Jeff Stapfer from Jonathan Dayton High School is another strong inside player who is very active around the boards.

WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
PIONEERS
Head Coach: Jose Rebimbas
2000-01: 15-3 NJAC, 26-5 Overall

Despite losing National Player of the Year and all-time leading scorer Horace Jenkins, the Pioneers return three senior starters in 6-3 guard Rashaan Barner (Hillside HS/ Hillside, NJ) who contributed 9.2 ppg; 6-6 forward Dag Christensen (Don Bosco HS/Garberville, NJ) with 7.4 ppg; and 6-5 forward Michael Everett (Seton Hall Prep/Orange, NJ) from a team that won a school-record 26 games and reached the Division III national championship game. The Pioneers are ranked #14 in the Div. III News pre-season poll.

In order to compete for a third consecutive conference crown, however, the Pioneers will rely on some fresh faces. Brandon Constantine (Teaneck HS/Teaneck, NJ), a talented 5-11 sophomore, could take over as the starting point guard, while 6-5 sophomore Taurean Fisher, a transfer from Ocean County College, should see big minutes on the wing as should 6-6 freshman Larry Press (East Brunswick HS/East Brunswick, NJ). Junior Seth Brown, a 6-6, 230-pound transfer from FDU- Teaneck, is William Paterson's biggest player and most formidable post presence.