Plainfield All-Time Greats - #1 - Leon Kearny

Plainfield The Best:  All-Time Greats Nomination



Site of Plainfield's first State Championship

 #1 – Leon Kearny – 1976 - 

How do you determine the best?  First is individual talent, second is team player, third is character, fourth is to accomplish something no one else has, and last and most important, the heart of a champion.  With that said, the Cardinal Fanatic doubt that he would receive much of a challenge from anyone on this nomination. The one player that dominated all of these categories and that would be the late Leon Kearny.

Had the size, the individual talent, the character of a team leader, and the first leader to bring a championship to Plainfield.  Also won the Union County Crown in 1975 as a junior.  Leon Kearny is the best of the best!

 

Brought the first Group Championship to Plainfield – 1,000+point scorer – One time leading scorer in Plainfield History.  Leon is currently the 4^th leading scorer in Plainfield history.  Leon Kearny and his ‘76’ team would defeat some of the best talents the State of NJ has ever seen in a miraculous playoff stretch.  Leon led Plainfield over Kelly Tripuka of Bloomfield (considered by the Star Ledger as the greatest high school basketball player ever out of New Jersey who went on to play at Notre Dame, and a long career in the NBA) for the sectional crown.  Then he would lead Plainfield over Paterson East Side who featured former New York Knickerbockers, Rory Sparrow and the shortest man ever in the world to hold the world record in the high Jump, Franklin Jacobs.  Leon was not finish as Plainfield would play a 31-0 and #1 ranked Neptune for the State Group Championship in enemy territory at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ.  In front of a sold out crowd, Leon would help Plainfield win their first ever Basketball State Championship.

Plainfield All-Time Greats - #2 - Kenny Fields

Plainfield 2nd to One All-Time Greats Nomination

#2 – Kenny Fields – 1980 -

Plainfield’s greatest highlight filmmaker of all times – To appreciate the high flying clutch play of one of the greatest athletes to walk the hallways of Plainfield High you would have to be a witness.  All the stories that you have heard of this legend, its all true!  To all that have not witness the original Dr. Dunkadelic, imagine the gracefulness of Michael Jordan, the Dr. J leaping from outside the lane and the raw power of Dominique Wilkins, well Mr. Fields had all those attributes. The only player that the Cardinal Fanatic ever witness at any level to do a 360-degree dunk in a game!  The amazing thing about this, it was done against Weequahic High who at the time was ranked 5^th in the State.  In other words his sky-walking dunk was done against the best of the best. His ability to leap over defenders that were attempting to take charges, his moonwalking – bicycle pedaling in the air leg movements before slamming home dunks are mythical.  But there is no myth; this was actually done on a regular basis. Kenny Fields did one of the greatest 5-minute stretches by any baller from Plainfield.  Plainfield was down by near double digits to a top 10 ranked powerful Atlantic City. With less than 5 minutes in the game.  Fields would drop 21 points in the final 5 minutes to help Plainfield pull off the remarkable come back. The only 2-time First Team All-State Player ever from Plainfield.  Was 1st team All-State in 1979 as a junior and as a senior in 1980 Kenny was named 1st team All-State and the only Player ever out of Plainfield to be name player of the year for the State of NJ. – 9^th leading scorer in Plainfield history.  Kenny was spectacular in football and baseball as well. 


Next Up: "The Best of the Rest" - #1 The Legend

Plainfield All-Time Greats - #3 - Derrick Johnson

Plainfield Top Three All-Time Greats Nomination

#3 – Derrick Johnson – 1990 -

The all time leading scorer in Plainfield history. Johnson was a 4-year varsity player.  Considered to be the greatest offensive player and greatest scorer on the hardwood in Plainfield history.  Johnson would go on to earn a Division 1 scholarship to Virginia University of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). 


Next up: "Next to the Best" - The greatest athlete on the Hardwood ever - #2 - The Original Dr. Dunkadelic!

Plainfield All-Time Greats - #4 - Tyrone Johnson

Plainfield Top Four All-Time Greats Nomination

#4 – Tyrone Johnson – 2010 -

1,000+ point scorer, the 2^nd leading scorer of all time – First Team All State – Transferred to Montrose Christian in his senior year where he led that school to the National Championship over National Power Oak Hill Academy.  Johnson dominated the 4^th period and overtime to earn ESPN Rise MVP award in front of a Nationally televised audience.  Earned a scholarship to Villanova University.  Tyrone has since transferred to the University of South Carolina of the SEC.  Most fanatics believe if Johnson finished his career at Plainfield, he would have been the greatest scorer and greatest player from Plainfield High and may have guided Plainfield to overcome the powerful St. Anthony’s basketball team in the Tournament of Champions Final.  Tyrone also led his Pop Warner team to the National Championship Game at Disney World and started at the Quarterback position as a freshman and as a sophomore in which he helped Plainfield gain a playoff berth.  Johnson is only 1 of 2 players in the history of Plainfield Basketball to be named 1^st team All-State as an underclassman.

Next Up:  "Gotta to Get Buckets - #3 The Greatest Scorer"

Plainfield All-Time Greats - #5 - Justin Sears

Plainfield Top Five All-Time Greats Nomination

#5 – Justin Sears – 2012 -

1^st Team All-State – The only big man to earn Star Ledger 1^st Team All-State honors out of Plainfield – The only center to earn two Group State Championships, 3 Sectional Championships, 2 Tournament of Championships finals and Union County Championship - #1 shot blocker, #1 rebounder and 5^th leading scorer in Plainfield history – 1,000+ point scorer.  Sears joined Randy Young as the only basketball players in the history of Plainfield Basketball to attain the mythical 1,000 point 1,000 rebound.  Justin completed his first year at Yale University as the most efficient freshman per minute play for the IVY League.

Next up:  Mr. Floor General - #4 The best point guard...

The Best of the Rest Summary

1^st Team All-Plainfield Basketball Greats Nomination Summary

We are now down to the final 5.  The Cardinal Fanatic would take these 5 and challenge any team of any time.  Some will say #6 - #10, (#6 Jazzie, #7 Herb, #8 Nokey, #9 Mike, #10 Randy) could probably beat the 1^st team in a match up. 

The first team comprises off all skill sets. The top 5 may be the best ever at their respective positions.  We have big man dominance, we have undeniable floor general leadership, we have athleticism that many have never seen, we have the greatest scorer, and then we have one that have all of the attributes previously mentioned. 

Some will argue that some should be replaced but the final 5 have achieve milestones that no other in the history of Plainfield Basketball can claim on the hardwood while in high school.

 

Next up:  The Best of the Rest!! We will start with “Big Man Dominance - #5 The best big man"

Plainfield All-Time Greats - #6 - Jazzie McDaniels

Plainfield Top Ten All-Time Greats Nomination

#6 – Jazzie McDaniels – 1967 –

To have the name Jazzie exemplifies the mystique of one of the greatest scorer ever out of Plainfield.  The one time leading scorer in Plainfield High history, Jazz was the first 1,000 point scorer in an era where scoring was at a premium.  Jazz is currently the 10^th leading scorer in Plainfield history.  Averaged more points per game than any other Plainfield player.  Jazzie can easily be mentioned as the best of all times.  Looking over the history of Plainfield Basketball, McDaniels could be the player that was the catalyst of the amazing stretch of great basketball in Plainfield in the 70’s.

Next up: The best, 1st team All-Time Plainfield greats.

Plainfield All-Time Greats - #7 - Herb Billups

Plainfield Top Ten All-Time Greats Nomination

 

#7 – Herb Billups – 1975 – Before Kenny Fields Herb held the title of Mr. Entertainer.  At 6’7” he could play any position on the floor. Dunking was not allowed during Herb’s playing period but he still played above the rim.  Herb had the outside touch, could back you down or could take you off the dribble. His repertoire of offensive exploits is 2^nd to none. There was no doubt his talent was contagious as the “75” team is considered to be the most talented team overall in the history of Plainfield Basketball.  The underclassmen stud, Leon Kearny, was positively affected from the day in and day out practice of the elder statesman Billups

Plainfield All-Time Greats - #8 - Benjamin Johnson

Plainfield Top Ten All-Time Greats Nomination

#8 – Benjamin 'Nokey' Johnson – 1975 –
Pure shooter, the leader of Plainfield’s only undefeated regular season.  Considered by many to be the best guard to ever come out of Plainfield.  As a true freshman, Nokey was the leading scorer of his collegiate team prior to his tragic passing.  Nokey Johnson was another great player off of arguably the most talented team in Plainfield’s history (Class of 75).  Nokey could easily be mentioned as the best of all time.

Plainfield All-Time Greats - #9 - Mike Gordon Jr.

Plainfield Top Ten All-Time Greats Nomination

#9 – Mike Gordon – 2004 –

1^st team Star Ledger All-State – Put Plainfield back on the map as a dominant team.  Led Plainfield to its first State Sectional Championship in 21 years.  Became at the time, only the 2^nd player in Plainfield history to be named Star Ledger 1^st team All-State.  There was a 23-year gap between the previous All-State player Kenny Fields.  Mike went on to Play Division 1 Basketball and play professionally over seas.  Mike has touch Plainfield sports from youth sports all the way to coaching at the high school level.  Coach Lubreski acknowledged Gordon as one of his assistant coaches that was directly responsible for Plainfield’s 4-year consecutive Sectional State Championship run.  An athletic stud out of Plainfield, Mike played football as a quarterback before focusing on basketball.  Mike was also an outstanding baseball player.  A member of one of the best little league team that Plainfield ever had that won the Babe Ruth Little League New Jersey State Title and went on to compete for the National Title.

Plainfield All-Time Greats - #10 - Randy Young

Plainfield Top Ten All-Time Greats Nomination

 

#10 – Randy Young – 1980 –

A member of one of the best Plainfield High School Basketball teams ever.  Randy is 2^nd all time in rebounds and the first of only two players in Plainfield Basketball history to earn the remarkable double-double of 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points. Randy helped guide the Cardinals to the last Union County Championship before the Class of 2012 regained the crown.  Arguably the best passing big man ever.  Randy is the 1^st 4-year varsity player in Plainfield History and the only 4-year varsity player in Basketball and Football in Plainfield history.  Randy would go on to Arizona University on a football scholarship.  Randy is a member of the Plainfield High School Hall of Fame.

 

Next up:  Mike Gordon Jr.

Plainfield All Time #11 - #25

Here is a review of the nominations of the top #11 - #25 Basketball Players of All-Time.

#11 – Sekou Harris – “2012”

#12 – Lionel McGill – “1976”

#13 – Eric Felder – “1984”

#14 – Andre Dabney – “2001”

#15 – Jihad Muhammad – “2001”

#16 – Anthony Nelson – “2007”

#17 – Jerrell Thompson – “2007”

#18 – Jahmal Lane – “2012”

#19 – Rico Parenti – “1952”

#20 – William Johnson – “1980”

#21 – Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan “2012”

#22 – Rodney Tucker Sr. “1977”

#23 – Isaiah Epps “2009”

#24 – Reggie Vitelli “1976”

#25 – Jabar Jones “1991”

#25 – Tim Harvey “1982”

 

Next up #10 - Randy Young