Plainfield The Best: All-Time Greats Nomination
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| 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 4th 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.
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