The boys basketball season tips off next week and NJ Advance Media is highlighting the best players back in the state in 2021.
That continues today with a look at the top playmakers returning in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference.
Essam Assaf, Elmwood Park, So.
Assaf was an all-division player as a rookie and should be even better in his second year at Elmwood Park. The young guard averaged 9.6 points per and 4.1 rebounds per game a season ago. Assaf also made an impact on defense, with 1.9 steals per game.
Jamar Belfield, Paterson Charter, Jr.
As a sophomore, Belfield carved out a role for himself, scoring 9.8 points per game for a team that won 27 games. Senior guard Jahar Pierce is another key contributor who will be back for the Passaic County squad.
Ashanti Caviness, Bogota, Sr.
Caviness is one of a trio of top scorers back for Bogota this season, returning after putting up 14.6 points per game. Bogota is also back with senior guard Taj Collins and junior forward Evan Meberg in the mix. Both players averaged double-digit points for a team that won 19 games.
Zachary Cook, Garfield, Sr.
Cook was one of the leading scorers last year for a strong Garfield team with 12.3 points per game. The senior is back for another run this year and will be a go-to scorer for this squad. Senior Mihajlo Bebekoski will also be a veteran leader for Garfield.
Jeremiah Donmartin, Leonia, Sr.
The senior wing averaged 15.1 points per game last winter and will be one of the best players back in the conference this season for a team coming off a 19-win season. Leonia needs to fill holes in the lineup, but having Donmartin back is key.
Marcus Duran, Becton, Sr.
Duran and fellow senior Robert Esposito were playmakers on a veteran team a year ago that won 21 games. The pair will take on bigger roles in 2021 and lead Becton as it looks to reload.
Chris Eelman, Hawthorne Christian, Sr.
Eellan will be one of the best post players back in the conference this winter. The senior averaged 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds a year ago for Hawthorne Christian.
Steven Faussette, Hasbrouck Heights, Sr.
Faussette will be the leader of this team in 2021, taking on a bigger role after the transfer of Kunga Tsering. The senior point guard averaged 12.2 points, 5.9 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals last season. Senior Jaden Castro will also take on an expanded role for Hasbrouck Heights, which won 20 games a year ago.
Sebastian Giannotti, Saddle River Day, Sr.
The senior guard returns after averaging 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds for a team that won 22 games. The senior headlines a returning cast that also features seniors Sean O’Neill and Ryan Cassels as well as sophomore Rich Machado. Saddle River Day won 20 of its last 22 games a year ago and is looking to pick back up where it left off in 2020.
Asim Jones, Paterson Charter, Jr.
Jones had a great sophomore season, averaging 17.4 points per game for a Manchester Regional team that won 19 games. The junior is back as one of the state’s top returning scorers, but he’ll be suiting up for a new team in 2021. Jones is now at Paterson Charter, transferring in along with junior forward Jashair Rosa – another former Manchester Regional player.
Jamling Lama, Secaucus, Sr.
Lama is one of the most explosive scorers back in the state, returning after scoring 20.3 points per game last season. The senior guard also pulled down 5.3 rebounds a game for a Secaucus team that won 19 games. Having Lama back will be key for Secaucus.
Roland Leiva, Lodi, Sr.
The senior guard came through with 18.1 points per game last season and will be a top scorer back in the conference this winter. Leiva will lead a team that also comes back with senior Aaron Moravick and Nick Williams in the mix.
David Luberoff, Midland Park, Jr.
Luberoff was awesome last season for Midland Park, putting up 21.3 points per game for an 18-win team. His ability to score in the paint made it hard for teams to find ways to slow down the Bergen County squad. Midland Park is even more dangerous with Brett Murray back after he connected on 62 shots from beyond the arc last winter.
David Mager, Dwight-Englewood, Jr.
The talented junior guard has been drawing D1 interest and will be Dwight-Englewood’s go-to player in 2021. Mager will take on an even bigger role this winter, especially after Jayden Lemond transferred to Blair. The junior is coming off a season in which he averaged 18.8 points per game for a team that won 18 games.
Gianni Mandile, Emerson Boro, Sr.
The senior is going to be a leader on this year’s team along with senior guard Jimmy Csapo. Mandle led Emerson Boro in scoring a year ago and will be the go-to option on offense once again in 2021.
Kiel McGee, Cresskill, Sr.
The senior forward is one of the top players back for Cresskill, which finished last season 21-9. McGee put up 9.6 points for his team. He’ll be a veteran leader for a team that is looking to retool in 2021. Senior forward Daniel Ferrara is also back in the mix.
Will McLoughlin, Glen Rock Sr.
The senior forward was an all-division player last winter for Glen Rock and will be one of the team’s top playmakers in 2021. McLoughlin put up one of his best games last winter when he dropped 21 in a win over Lodi.
Miguel Melendez, Hawthorne, Sr.
The senior point guard is back for a team that won 17 games a year ago. Melendez averaged 12.7 points per game and will be one of Hawthorne’s go-to scorers in 2021.
Justin Price, Ridgefield, Jr.
The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 13.8 points per game a year ago and will look to have a similar impact in 2021. Price started last year with a bang, hitting six 3-pointers and scoring 32 points in a two-point win over Lynhurst. If Price can have games like that this winter, Ridgefield is going to be a team to watch.
Patrick Rogers, Rutherford, Jr.
Rogers was an impact player a year ago, finishing with 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The talented forward put together a handful of double-doubles a year ago and also made an impact with his ability to force turnovers and block shots. Senior guard Dominick Ciani is another player to keep an eye on this winter at Rutherford.
Anthony Scrivanich, New Milford, Jr.
The junior was an all-division player last year and should be even better with more experience under his belt in 2021. Scrivanich averaged 11.5 points per game last season and showed an ability to make defensive plays in the paint by blocking shots.
Andrew Sepp, St. Mary (Ruth.), Sr.
The senior guard averaged 11.4 points per game a year ago and will be the team’s go-to scorer in 2021. Senior forward Nick Gillies is another player who will play a lead role for the Bergen County squad along with fellow seniors Julian Hernandez and Allan Konopka.
Jordan Spagnola, Park Ridge, Sr.
The 6-foot-2 point guard is back as one of the top playmakers for Park Ridge. Spagnola will be in the backcourt with junior guard Evan Burns. Those all-division players will give Park Ridge a good foundation to work with going into 2021.
Jordan Vega, Wallington, Jr.
Vega averaged 11.6 points per game a year ago for Wallington. The junior guard is back as one of the team’s go-to players along with senior Salem Ahmemulic.
Chris Verrico, Butler, Sr.
Verrico averaged 9.2 points, 5 rebounds and 1.7 steals last season for Butler. The senior forward is back and will be one of the leaders of this year’s squad. Senior Nicholas Flinn will have a chance to take a step forward and make an impact as well.
Logan Wejnert, Waldwick, Jr.
The junior scored 18.9 points per game a year ago for Waldwick and will be one of the better scoring threats back in this conference. Wejnert and junior Kyle Jahnke will be players to watch on the defensive end as well with their ability to force turnovers.
Brandon Gould may be reached at bgould@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BrandonGouldHS.
