2nd Team All-Efficiency

Top Efficiency Performance of the 2011 – 2012 Season in a Plainfield Game –

2^nd Team All Efficiency 2011-2012

6) Gill St. Bernard – Senior Alex Mitola 5’11” {ER-29} vs. Plainfield

It’s interesting that the top two Efficiency performers played round 1 today against each other.  The Dartmouth bound Mitola will be battling against Yale bound Justin Sears at the next level in the Ivy League next season.  Alex “Radar” Mitola was near perfect from well beyond the 3-point arc.  Mitola shot an eye popping 89% (8 for 9) from deep and shot 80% from the free throw line to score a game high 30 points.  Mitola also earned the Prime Time Player MVP Award.

-The best 3-point shooter in the state will be interesting to watch next year in the IVY League.  The IVY League is known for their exceptional outside shooters.  No doubt that Alex Mitola will live up to his billing and be a player to watch in college. Penn and Vermont were after the talents of Mitola but Dartmouth will be his home for next year.

7) St. Benedict – Junior Kamall Richards 6’7” {ER-26} vs. Plainfield

The Pocono Mountain East (PA) transfer was the unheralded hero for the Grey Bees.  His 2^nd half improvement on the boards proves to be the true difference maker in this game.  With Sears and Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan controlling the glass for the Cardinals, Kamall Richards took over the glass in the 2^nd half to grab a team high 13 rebounds.  Richards shot 63% from the floor to score 12 points with most of his points coming down the critical stretch of the game.  Kamall also reject a team high 2 shots and did not commit a single turnover.  St. Johns, Drexel, Penn State, Bucknell, Pitt, Rhode Island and St. Joseph are recruiting Kamall.  It must not have been a coincidence that the 2004 consensus National Coach of the Year, St. Joseph’s Phil Martelli, was in attendance paying close attention to the Grey Bee star.

-The chatter in the basketball world is saying that Kamal is drawing interest from Cincinnati, VCU, Louisville, Rhode Island, Fordham, LIU and Wagner in addition to the other colleges list above.  The Cardinal Fanatic did get some inside info that Kamal may be leaning to prepping before taken the next step to college.

8) Elizabeth – Junior Isaiah Davis 6’5” {ER-26} vs. Plainfield

Davis pulled the Minutemen within reach of the upset with his perimeter shooting.  Isaiah shot 80% below the arc, shot a sizzling 60% from behind the arc, and was perfect from the foul line to total a game high 19 points.  Davis completed a phenomenal night for his statistical profile by grabbing 4 boards, 3 steals, and 1 rejection.  Davis was also efficient with the ball by completing the night with only 2 turnovers.

-Davis will be one of several sharp shooters returning for the Minutemen of Elizabeth.  Opponents will be receiving a double dose of Isaiah’s next year with Isaiah Johnson (4^th Team All-Efficiency) and Isaiah Davis knocking down treys.  Hakeem Rogers (Honorable Mention) will be the other sharp shooter from deep.  The Minutemen will be rebuilding strong as the Minutemen won the Union County JV Tournament. With the added youth and Isaiah Davis’s ability to penetrate and flush it home or knocking down the deep shots, Elizabeth will be a problem for many opponents.

9) Robeson (NY) – Senior Dwayne Johnson 6’3” {ER-26} vs. Plainfield

Dwayne Johnson AKA “The Roc”, not the wrestler/actor, but Johnson was the rock of the team that held Robeson steady for the upset.  Dwayne’s near perfect shooting was impressive.  Dwayne shot 80% below the arc, 100% from beyond the arc, and 100% from the free throw line to score a team high 15 points.  With that type of precision the only bad shot Dwayne took, was when he did not shoot the Rock!  At 6’3”, Johnson surprises many with his positioning, quickness and leaping ability as he grabbed a team high 8 rebounds.  Dwayne was very efficient in handling the ball as well as he only committed 1 turnover for the entire game.

-Dwayne may be one of the last good players out of Paul Robeson in Brooklyn, New York.  Robeson started off as a gifted and talented school and was achieving academic success but with the closing of multiple high schools in New York City, Robeson was force to accept students from closing schools.  The one time academically successful school suffered with declining test scores to the point where the school is now down to possibly one more basketball season with a city enforced school closing of its own.  Dwayne took on the game time character of Robeson’s head coach, Todd Myles.  Myles, a Brooklyn native, played big time college ball at Mississippi State and came back to his hometown to make a difference.  Myles even saved a student’s life that was bleeding to death from a knife attack on school grounds. 

10) Linden – Senior Shakir Phelps 6’5” {ER-26} vs. Plainfield

Shakir was matching Sekou with his scoring basket for basket.  Shakir shot 62% from the floor to score a team high 26 points.  Shakir also grabbed 6 rebounds and picked up 2 steals.  Phelps had a very Efficient night, as he did not commit a turnover for the entire game.

-Coach Colicchio once quoted as saying, “Shakir is my best player”.  Shakir is an All – Union County Watchung Division player.  Shakir displayed his talents in the North – South All-Star Game by dropping 22 points against the best seniors in the State of New Jersey.  Shakir academics are just as good if not better than his basketball skills.  Phelps is planning to major in Architectural Technology in college. 

Next up:  1^st Team All-Efficiency – The top 5 performances in a Plainfield Game for the 2011-2012 Season….

3rd Team All-Efficiency

Top Efficiency Performance of the 2011 – 2012 Season in a Plainfield Game –

3^rd Team All Efficiency 2011-2012

11) Gill St. Bernard – Dominic Hoffman {ER-26} vs. Plainfield

The Bucknell bound Hoffman earned the 3^rd double double performance of the game.  Hoffman was perfect from the foul line to help him score 12 points to go along with his team high 13 rebounds.  Hoffman also dropped off 2 assists, picked up a steal and rejected a team high 3 shots.

-Arguably the best big man in Somerset County and a first team Central Jersey player, Bucknell will be getting a quality player.  Penn, Lafayette and Rider were all looking for Hoffman to come to their schools.  Dominic should do well in the Patriot Conference in 2012-2013.

12) St. Benedict – Melvin Johnson 6’3” {ER-25} vs. Plainfield

Melvin Johnson is another long list of guards out of New York City.  Melvin transferred from Rice (NY), which shut its doors at the end of the previous scholastic year.  A resident of Harlem and headed to the University of Miami, the Cardinal Fanatic knew that Johnson would play a key role for the Grey Bees.  Johnson did just that by earning Hoops Group MVP with his game high 27 points.  Johnson also had 2 steals and 3 assists.  Melvin was very efficient as the guard had a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio.

-Melvin is one of the East Coast best long-range shooters.  Will Melvin make the University of Miami Fanatics forget about former Hurricane James Jones long distance exploits (currently with the Miami Heat)?  Melvin has the ability to do just that.

13) Asbury Park – Amir Conover 6’1” {ER-25} vs. Plainfield

The Twins played exceptional.  Amir shot 70% from below the arc, which was impressive considering he was shooting over defenders with a 5-inch advantage!  Amir was able to score 14 points, grabbed a team high tying 6 rebounds (Armond Conover also with 6 rebounds), a game high 5 steals, a game high tying 6 assists (Plainfield’s Sekou Harris also with 6 assists) and 1 rejection.

-After suffering through scholastic eligibility requirements during his freshman and sophomore years, Amir (and twin brother Armond) has blossom very well.  Coach Lubreski of Plainfield explained, “Amir and Armond have grown as young men as individuals and athletes.”   Amir who was a stand out member of the state championship football team for Asbury Park may have multiple options on which sport to play at the next level. 

14) Colonia – Senior Jordan McDaniel 6’5” {ER-24} vs. Plainfield

Jordan McDaniel may be one of the most talented bball players from Middlesex County that no one has really heard about.  After putting up 32 points to upset Somerville in the first round, Jordan did his best to pull off another upset.  Jordan shot 67% from beyond the arc and was perfect from the foul line to score a game high 21 points.  Jordan also grabbed 5 rebounds, picked up 1 steal and dropped off 1 assist.  Plainfield played an excellent defensive game but McDaniel’s only committed 1 turnover.

- Jordan has exceptional talent and good size.  The future college student is looking to major in Criminal Justice.  The Cardinal Fanatic predicts if Jordan does not go D1 or D2, McDaniel will be a problem at the D3 level.  Jose, (William Paterson) I think this would be a good pick up for you.  Jordan is the Cardinal Fanatic sleeper of the 3^rd Team All Efficiency.

15) Plainfield – Senior Ahmid Williams 5’9” {ER-23} vs. Linden

Ahmid shook off the early game nervousness to drop 16 points.  Ahmid amass his scoring output by shooting a sizzling 80% below the arc and 40% from behind the arc.  Ahmid added to his efficiency by dishing out a game high tying 5 assists.  Williams finished the game with an efficient 5:2 assist to turnover ratio.

-The lightning quick Ahmid Williams was an added plus to the already talented back court of Plainfield.  His on the ball defense may be the best in the state. Ahmid was first team All Middlesex County last year with Cardinal McCarrick.

Next up 2^nd Team All-Efficiency

4th Team All-Efficiency

Top Efficiency Performance of the 2011 – 2012 Season in a Plainfield Game -

4^th Team All Efficiency 2011 – 2012

16) Roselle Catholic – Junior Tyler Roberson 6’9” {ER-23} vs. Plainfield

Tyler played his best game against the Cardinals.  Roberson showed the fans why he is one of the most sought after underclassmen by Div 1 recruiters in the nation.  Roberson shot 57% from the field to score a team high 16 points.  Roberson completed a double double night by grabbing a game high 11 rebounds.  Tyler was not finish with his stat line as he dropped 3 assists and rejected 1 shot.

- The Cardinal Fanatic will predict that Tyler may be the NJ Player of the year for 2012-2013.  The Cardinal Fanatic will go even further and predict that the young lad can make it to the upper echelon of basketball if he puts in the work.  Multiple top 10 nationally ranked collegiate teams are seeking Mr. Roberson talents.  Rumor has it that Syracuse is a front-runner.  With Tyler Ennis of St. Benedicts also being recruited by Syracuse, it looks like the NJ kids will be running the show in upstate NY.

17) Elizabeth – Junior Isaiah Johnson 6’3” {ER-22} vs. Plainfield

Isaiah was on fire!  Johnson shot 67% below the arc, 60% from beyond the arc and 100% from the free throw line to score a team high 21 points.  Johnson also grabbed 3 rebounds and only committed 1 turnover for the entire game.

- Isaiah is only 1 of a ½ dozen returning key players for the Minutemen of Elizabeth.  Next years Elizabeth team may be a favorite to reach the Union County finals. 

18) Roselle Catholic – Senior Jameel Warney 6’8” {ER-22} vs. Plainfield

The Plainfield resident dropped 15 points and just missed a double double by grabbing 9 rebounds.  Warney also picked up 2 steals, dropped off 2 assists and rejected a team high 2 shots.  Warney completed a very Efficient night by only committing 1 turnover.

- Many Plainfield fans only could wonder what would have been if Jameel stayed at Plainfield.  Jameel will be taken his talents next year to Stony Brook University.

19) Teaneck – Junior Shakir Lindsey 5’10” {ER-22} vs. Plainfield

Shakir did all he could do to will the Highwaymen.  Lindsey shot 60% from below the arc, 50% from beyond the arc and shot 83% from the free throw line to score a game high 29 points.

- Shakir will be the leader of another strong Teaneck team next year along with Joel Hernandez.

20) Linden – Sophomore Quadri Moore 6’9” {ER-21} vs. Plainfield

If there is a better sophomore in the state, please call the Cardinal Fanatic at 1-800-OMG!  Do not let the big man fool you.  His nifty moves down low will only get better for the young lad as he mixed up his game on arguably the best defensive big man in the state (Sears).  Moore also shot 100% from the free throw line to drop a game high 26 points.

- Quadri will be a player to watch next year and will be a contender for first team all county and challenging for all-state honors if his game continues to progress.  Many major D-1 schools must see the same thing as the Cardinal Fanatic.  Here is a list of schools showing interest in the Moore; Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Ohio St., Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. Joseph’s, Temple and Providence has put an offer on the table!

Next up:  3^rd Team All-Efficiency

Honorable Mention

Top Efficiency Performance of the 2011 – 2012 Season in a Plainfield Game –

Honorable Mention

Hudson Catholic – Junior Reggie Cameron – 6’7” {ER-21}

Elizabeth – Junior Hakeem Rogers – 6’3” {ER-21}

Hillside – Senior Rudy Delva – 6’0” {ER-21}

Asbury Park – Senior Armond Conover – 6’1” {ER-21}

Hudson Catholic – Junior Kavon Stewart – 5’11” {ER-20}

Hudson Catholic – Junior Michael Young – 6’9” {ER-20}

Ridge – Senior Dylan Kerwin – 6’4” {ER-20}

St. Patrick – Junior DeAndre Bembery – 6’6” {ER-20}

Roselle Catholic – Senior Wesley Cherry – 6’5” {ER-20}

St. Anthony – Junior Tariq Carey – 6’3” {ER-20}

St. Patrick – Junior Elijah Davis – 6’5” {ER-19}

Westfield – Senior Ozan Yecetep – 6’5” {ER-19}

Newark Eastside – Sophomore Ishmael Sanogo – 6’8” {ER-19}

Newark Eastside – Senior Jamal Reid – 6’2” {ER-19}

Plainfield – Senior Taylor Plummer – 6’5” {ER-18}

Neptune – Senior Ikie Caledron – 5’10” {ER-18}

St. Joseph of Metuchen – Senior Danny Brix – 6'4” {ER-18}

Roselle Catholic – Senior Chris Gross – 6’7” {ER-17}

Asbury Park – Senior Thomond Hammary – 6’3” {ER-17}

St. Anthony – Senior Kyle Anderson – 6’9” {ER-17}

Newark Eastside – Senior Aaron Bodie – 6’6” {ER-16}

MSIT (NY) – Senior Fernando Salomons – 6’5” {ER-15}

MSIT (NY) – Junior Osa Slayton Izevbuw – 6’4” {ER-15}

Ridge – Senior Jack Kerwin – 6’4” {ER-15}

Henry Wise (MD) – Junior James Palmer – 6’5” {ER-15}

St. Anthony – Junior Halice Cooke – 6’2” {ER-15}

Gill St. Bernard – Senior Larry Pieretra – 6’5” {ER-15}

Neptune – Junior Keith Kirkwood – 6’5” {ER-15}

St. Benedict – Junior Tyler Ennis – 6’4” {ER-14}

Hillside – Senior Jordan Young – 6’4” {ER-14}

Plainfield – Senior Edward Anderson – 6’4” {ER-13}

Gill St. Bernard – Junior Jaren Sina – 6’3” {ER-13}

Teaneck – Senior Naville Fincher – 6’10” {ER-13}

St. Joseph of Metuchen – Senior James Long – 5’10” {ER13}

Governor Livingston – Senior Rendyll Moorman – 6’4” {ER-12}

Plainfield – Junior Denzel Christian – 6’6” {ER-12}

Colonia – Senior Greg Jones – 5’11” {ER-12}

St. Joseph of Metuchen – Senior Quenton DeCosey – 6’6” {ER-12}

Paul Robeson (NY) – Senior Tyree Harvey – 6’0” {ER-11}

Union – Senior Jalel Chain – 6’0” {ER-11}

Union – Senior Marcus Carter – 6’5” {ER-11}

Neptune – Senior Jaheem Woods – 6’1” {ER-11}

St. Joseph of Metuchen – Freshman Karl Towns – 6’10” {ER-11}

Piscataway – Senior Thaddeus Dalton – 6’6” {ER-9}

St. Patrick – Junior Darrian Collins – 6’0” {ER-9}

Henry Wise (MD) – Junior Wayne Langston – 6’4” {ER-9}

St. Anthony – Junior Josh Brown – 6’4” {ER-9}

Governor Livingston – Senior Victor Candeloro – 6’5” {ER-8}

Gill St. Bernard – Junior Jon Schreer – 6’3” {ER-8}

Scotch Plains-Fanwood – Senior Ian Johnston – 5’9” {ER-8}

Next up - 4th Team All-Efficiency...

Cardinal Fanatic Pre-Honor Roll Summary

This was a great year of individual performances for both opponents and the Cardinal’s Basketball Team.  The Efficiency honor roll will be based only for the games that Plainfield played in.

There were some epic battles that came down to the wire.  There were the well known players such as St. Patrick’s DeAndre “Dr. Jay” Bembry who’s afro caught in the rim dunks were phenomenal.  Then there was 6’9” Kyle “Slow Mo” Anderson.  The Cardinal fanatic has been watching this young phenom since he was a 6’5” freshman at Paterson Catholic running the point.  Kyle improved every year on the hardwood floor.  His best years are ahead of him and he may be the best prospect out of the 2012 class in Jersey to make it to the dream level of the NBA.  Now before you discredit the Cardinal Fanatic, the Cardinal Fanatic predicted that Kyrie Irving and Michael Gilchrist would be future NBA players.  Kyrie Irving went #1 after only playing less than a dozen games his freshman season at Duke University.  Now Michael Kid-Gilchrist will be going pro after winning the National Championship at the University of Kentucky.  ESPN has already projected him to go as high as the #2 pick in the draft.  There was Harlem’s own Melvin Johnson for St. Benedict’s whose range was anything within binocular site. Then there was the most recruited point guard in the nation, Canada’s Tyler Ennis of St. Benedicts.  Ennis has more than a dozen scholarship offers on the table from every major conference in the nation.  By the way, Ennis is only a junior.

Alex Mitola may have given the best exhibition of long distance shooting that the Cardinal Fanatic has ever seen in a game.  The only other shooters I can remember that could shoot with that type of long distance range and with accuracy was one of our own Plainfield’s legendary shooter, Will Johnson (“79” & “80”), Camden’s Milt Wagner (“80”), Union Catholic’s John Hempel (“82”), and Johnson Regional’s Kevin Boyle (“81”).  Milt Wagner would literally launch shots after taking 2 steps pass half court. Will Johnson’s outside touch use to drive opposing coaches insane when he was left open. Johnson shots were so pure that the ball would never touch the rim and would whip the net so loud you could hear it from the cheap seats.  John Hempel once dropped 38 points against my beloved Cardinals.  The amazing thing about Hempel’s performance was his shooting hand was in a cast!  Kevin Boyle was another dagger of a shooter if left open you would pay.  His fiery competitiveness was on display as he led Johnson Regional into Cardinal country and defeated Plainfield by double digits.  Johnson Regional would go on to win the Union County Tournament that year.  The same can be said about Alex Mitola.  It will be interesting to see how he does at Dartmouth next basketball season.

But the 2012 Plainfield Cardinals were the most Efficient team as a whole in the Cardinal Fanatic history of Efficiency rating.  Justin Sears holds the Efficiency highest rating ever recorded.  Sears 24 points 26 rebounds and 8 rejections in the 2011 Group 3 Section 2 State Championship against the #1 seeded Mendham Minutemen was arguably the greatest performance by a Cardinal.  Sears earned an Efficiency Rating (ER) of 47 and at the time became only the 2^nd player to ever score higher than 40 (Kyrie Irving was the previous record holder at an ER of 40).  As a senior, Sears continued to show that basketball is more than shooting the ball.  Sears accomplished the rear double double of 1,000 + career points along with 1,000 + rebounds.  After passing Randy Young (“80”) record of total career rebounds, Sears has caste his own vote as Plainfield’s all-time best big man.  Sears completed his season by being honored by the Star Ledger as a member of the 1^st Team All-State and becomes the first Plainfield All-State Basketball First Team member that was not a guard.

Sekou Harris has caste his own vote as one of the best guards of all time.  Sekou became the 11^th b-baller from Plainfield to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau.  Harris had a phenomenal 3 years.  The Cardinal Fanatic predicted when Harris went down, as a sophomore with a season ending injury, that the Tyrone Johnson led Cardinals would fall short in the State Championship to Cherokee. Sekou brings another element to the game.  His lightning quickness is second to none.  Some reporters wrote, “Harris is the best open court player in the state of New Jersey.”  Harris proved this with incredible games against Linden and undefeated Teaneck.  Fios 1 reported at the Linden game, “Call the Fire Department because Sekou Harris is on Fire!”  In the Teaneck game, he pulled up on a fast break to knock down a trey.  Immediately after his converted 3-pointer, the fire alarms went off.  Fans stated it was Harris that set off the alarms because his hot shooting set off the smoke detectors!  Harris will forever be mentioned with the all time great guards out of Plainfield.  Harris completed his season by being named to the Star Ledger 2^nd team All-State.

One of the fan favorites, Jahmal Lane, put in the work during the off-season and it surely paid off.  He added muscles to his 6’4” frame that made him a problem against other guards.  The only 4-year varsity player and the only basketball player to wear a Cardinal uniform to win 4 State Sectional Crowns, Lane came up big this year.  His outside touch was consistent, his penetrating moves were clutch, and defensive efforts made him one of the most valuable players in the state.  Lane’s effort did not go un-noticed, as he was the un-official team MVP.  Lane picked up some honors from the Star Ledger as he earned first team Central Jersey and first team all County and was named Union County Player of the Year.

Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan bka Dr. Dunkadelic or Mr. Rim-attacker or The Dunk Master, or some times Mr. Buzzer-beater or Like the Mustard, you understand the talent of the 6’6” power forward.  Allen-Jordan alley-oop dunk against Mendham was so spectacular there was rumor that it was going to be shown on ESPN.  If you do not believe the Cardinal Fanatic, check it out on you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXClVyxIokc

Every other Plainfield player had a particular task, Justin – Captain rejecter, Jahmal – Mr. Microwave – lets get this party started, Sekou “Trey Swish” but Dii’Jon was like an outlaw with multiple aliases.  Not many athletes can change the momentum of a game with one play, but Dr. Dunkadelic was notorious for just that.  Probably his most remarkable dunk was in the Group 3 State Championship game against Neptune.  The Rim-attacker took off just inside the foul line and just extended like Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic 4 and slammed it home http://vimeo.com/38298503.  The Cardinals never looked back and would go on to win their 2^nd consecutive Group 3 Crown. There are not too many names that can be put in the same sentence with arguably Plainfield’s greatest dunker (Kenny Field’s) but Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan will be talked of as one of Plainfield’s greatest dunkers of the 21^st century.

Here are some other skywalking action!

http://vimeo.com/38298434

http://vimeo.com/38551729

http://vimeo.com/38546856

Previous years Efficiency honor roll was dominated by underclassmen but those underclassmen are now seniors.  It showed with the best 2011-2012 Efficiency performances dominated by seniors.  The following is just a sample before we honor the 2011-2012 best Efficiency performances in a Plainfield game.

December 2011 – Players of the month

Justin Sears – Plainfield

Kamall Richards – St. Benedicts

Isaiah Davis – Elizabeth

Melvin Johnson – St. Benedicts

Ahmid Williams – Plainfield

January 2012 – Players of the month

Justin Sears – Plainfield

Sekou Harris – Plainfield

Dwayne Johnson – Paul Robeson (NY)

Jahmal Lane – Plainfield

Reggie Cameron – Hudson Catholic

February 2012 – Players of the month

Justin Sears – Plainfield

Alex Mitola – Gill St. Bernard’s

Sekou Harris – Plainfield

Jahmal Lane – Plainfield

Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan – Plainfield

March 2012 – Players of the month

Jerome Frink – St. Anthony’s

Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan – Plainfield

Sekou Harris – Plainfield

Jahmal Lane – Plainfield

Justin Sears – Plainfield

Next up – The Cardinal Fanatic ER Honorable Mention 2011-2012

ER (Efficiency Rating)