A Fanatic pre-season outlook...

With the postponement of the St. Anthony’s game it leaves time to analyze the upcoming Cardinal season.

Next up Lakewood at the Neptune Holiday Jubilee. Lakewood returns the majority of their team from last season. Size, quickness, and dangerous behind the 3 point line, this game should be interesting.

The Cardinal’s starts off the season with a respectable ranking, according to the NJ Star Ledger of 14th in the state. The Born Power Index has Plainfield rated as high as 11th in the state including prep schools.

Locally, St. Patrick is the big favorite to win the counties. Plainfield is rated second with our nemesis Linden rated 3rd.
Others:
Elizabeth lossed a ton of talent last year but you can not count out the largest high school in the state. The talent is there. If they come out to play is another subject.
Union is without the best shooter in the state, Ashon White (Prep). Union has good size with athletic ability. Look for Union to upset a couple of teams this year.
Rahway lossed the majority of their starters.
St. Mary seems to be improving and could creep into the top 3 in the county.
New Providence is a team that is quietly improving every year.
Hillside has a solid returning shooting guard but their neighborly competition (Union, Elizabeth, Shabazz, and Irvington) are all probably better. It does not help that many Hillside residents (boys and girls) choose to play at one of the previously mention high schools.
Westfield is returning the majority of their starters and should improve compared to last year but the competition in Union is stiff for the Blue Devils to make some noise.
Roselle is a small school contender but may have problems against the other Union
County favorites.
Scotch Plains-Fanwood is going through a rebuilding year and should make some noise next year.
Favorites:
St Patrick’s, no need to enter them into the discussion. A #1 ranking nationally should be disqualification from the counties. (Especially since 2/5 of their starters are from Plainfield)
Plainfield will be battling with Linden, Union, and St. Mary’s for the #2 seed. Getting the #2 seed is as good as winning the counties this year.

Grp IV Section 2
Plainfield is the favorite in this section. Should receive stiff challenges from Linden, Elizabeth, Union, Ridge, Piscataway, and Columbia. Ridge was the original hands down favorite, but arguably the top player in the section Ishaq Pitt transferred to St. John Vianey.

Grp IV Statewide
The Star Ledger has Paterson Kennedy as the favorite and Cherokee as the South Jersey favorite. Last year Plainfield was the Star Ledger favorite but lost in the Grp IV semis to the team that upset Paterson Kennedy last year, Paterson Eastside (participating in Grp III this year). So far when Paterson and Plainfield meet in the playoffs, the underdog is 3-0.

When the current varsity players from Plainfield were playing recreation, this was their topic of discussion of the future starting 5 and reserves.

PG – 6’3” Junior – Tyrone Johnson
SG – 6’3” Junior – Miles Davis
SG – 6’3” Junior – Derrick Gordon
PF – 6’6” Senior – Chase Plummer
C – 6’8” Sophomore – Jamal Wormerly

Other’s fighting for playing time
G – 6’2” Senior – Mark Price
G – 5’8” Sophomore – Sekou Harris
F – 6’5” Sophomore – Diijon Allen-Jordan
F – 6’4” Senior – Nate Grant-Dewitt
C – 6’7” Sophomore – Justin Sears
F – 6’7” Senior – Mike Williams
G – 6’1” Senior – Ricky Terry
G – 6’0” Senior – Terrill Johnson
F – 6’3” Senior – Dominique Blackmon
G – 6’3” Sophomore – Jamal Lane
F – 6’4” Senior – John Noel
F – 6’5” Freshman – Denzel Christian

WOW – this team would be #1 in the country for the next 2 years....