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New Jersey In The NCAA Tournament

The 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has New Jersey representation throughout. Use this guide to help you follow the teams and players from New Jersey as they all try to make a deep run in this years tournament.

Every year, New Jersey high schools produce their fair share of college basketball players. High School basketball in New Jersey is very competitive. A great example of that was this season as the top two high school teams in the country are from the Garden State. Many of the players on those two teams, among others, will go on to play college ball.

The 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has New Jersey representation throughout. Use this guide to help you follow the teams and players from New Jersey as they all try to make a deep run in this years tournament.

Teams

Princeton Tigers: The Tigers finished this season with a 25-6 record as Ivy League Champions. Princeton defeated Harvard, 63-62 in a one game playoff for the right to represent the conference in this years tournament. The Tigers will be making their 24th appearance in the tournament and their first since 2004. Kareem Maddox and Ian Hummer lead the team in scoring at 13.9 per game. The Tigers were 12-0 at home this season and 3-1 on neutral courts.

The 13th-seeded Princeton Tigers will play the 4th-seeded Kentucky Wildcats on Thursday in the second round in Tampa, Florida.

St. Peter’s Peacocks: St. Peter’s College earned an automatic bid into the tournament by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament. The small school from Jersey City had it’s first 20-win season since the 1994-95 season. The Peacocks finished the season witha 20-13 record. They defeated Iona in the conference tournament final, 62-57. Wesley Jenkins leads the team with 12.8 points per game but Jeron Belvin, Nick Leon, Ryan Bacon all average double figure points. They are all seniors.

New Jersey All-Tournament First Team

Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh

G – Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh -Ashton Gibbs is a Junior from Scotch Plains, NJ and attended Seton Hall Prep.  Gibbs led the Panthers in minutes per game and scoring at 16.7 per contest. He also contributed 2.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game. Gibbs is a 90% free throw shooter and 48% from long range.

G – Corey Fisher – Villanova – A Bronx native who attended high school at St. Patrick’s, Fisher has been slowed by injury of late but put together a solid senior season. The guard averaged a team high 15.4 points per game this season while also averaging 2.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists. On the defensive end, Fisher averaged 1.5 steals.

F  – John Holland – Boston – Another Bronx, NY native who attended high school in New Jersey. Holland graduated from St. Benedict’s Prep. Now a senior at Boston U., Holland led the team with 33.9 minutes, 19.2 points, and 5.9 rebounds per game. He also had 47 steals this season. Holland plays both the guard and forward positions and is a 86% free throw shooter.

F – Ryan Bacon – St. Peter’s  – This senior forward from Maplewood, NJ averaged 10.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season. He was a force on the defensive end as well with 62 blocks. Bacon, who went to high school at St. Benedict’s Prep shoots 53.9% from the floor.

C – Kenneth Faried – Morehead State – Faried (Pictured in Headline) is a Newark, NJ native who graduated from Technology High School. Now a senior at Morehead State University, Faried became college basketball’s best rebounder – ever. He recently topped Tim Duncan’s all-time rebounding record. Fariedalso led the team with 17.6 points per game and 14.5 rebounds. He recorded 65 steals and 79 blocks while playing 34.6 minutes per game. Faried was named to the Mid-Major All-America Team by FoxSports.com. His 27 double-doubles led all Division 1 players.

New Jersey All-Tournament Second Team

G – Corey Stokes – Villanova A senior guard from Bayonne, New Jersey, Stokes averaged 15 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game for Villanova. Stokes, who played his high school ball at St. Benedict’s Prep, is a 89% free throw shooter.

 
 

Wesley Jenkins, St. Peter's College

G – Wesley Jenkins – St. Peter’s – Jenkins is a Newark, NJ native that graduated from Bloomfield Tech. Jenkins leads St. Peter’s with 12.8 points per game while also grabbing 4.9 rebounds. He is a 42% three-point shooter and 74% from the free throw line.

G – Tyshawn Taylor – Kansas – Taylor is from Hoboken, New Jersey and played his high school ball at St. Anthony’s. Now a junior at Kansas, Taylor averages 27 minutes per game. He has appeared in 32 games, including 27 starts. Taylor averaged 9.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game this season. He shoots 39% from three-point range.

F – Charles Funches – Hampton – Funches is a senior forward from Jersey City, NJ. He has started all 32 games for Hampton this season and averages 10.7 points and a team high 7.8 rebounds.

F – Rashad Bishop – Cincinnati – Bishop is from Paterson, New Jersey and attended Kennedy High School. The senior forward averaged 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He appeared in 33 games including 31 starts for the Bearcats. Bishop shoots 82% from the free throw line and 36% from behind the three-point line.

More Players

G – Dexter Strickland – North Carolina Strickland is a sophomore at North Carolina. He hails from Rahway and attended St. Patrick’s. He averages 26.4 minutes, 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game for the Tar Heels.

G – Chris Smith – Louisville – Smith is a junior guard from Millstone, New Jersey. He is one of many very athletic players for Louisville. Smith averages 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He has started 19 games while appearing in a total of 34.

G – Kyrie Irving – Duke – Irving is a West Orange native who played at St. Patrick’s. Through the first eight games, this freshman was one of the best guards in the country before suffering an injury. He has missed most of the season and is unlikely to play in the tournament. In his eight games, Irving averaged 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.5 steals.

F – Billy Oliver – Penn State – The Chatham native is a redshirt freshman for the Nittany Lions.  Oliver averages 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per game while playing 14.3 minutes.

F/C – Alexis Wangmene – Texas – Originally from Maroua, Cameron, Wangmene attended Blair Academy in New Jersey. He has played 9.8 minutes per game for Texas this season. He averages 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest.

F – Quintrell Thomas – UNLV – This Newark, New Jersey native averages 6.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Runnin’ Rebels. Thomas shot 53% from the floor this season.

G – Mike Rosario – Florida – Rosario is from Jersey City and transferred to Florida after a couple seasons at Rutgers. He had to sit out this season due to transferring.

G/F – Lamar Patterson  – Pittsburgh – Patterson is a redshirt freshman for Pittsburgh. He attended St. Benedict’s Prep. This season, Patterson averaged 12.6 minutes in 30 games. He averaged 2.7 points and 1.9 rebounds.

G – Jio Fontan – USC – Fontan is a Paterson native who played high school ball at St. Anthony’s. He averaged 10.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 4 assists for USC this season. Fontan is a 38% three-point shooter.

G – Yvon Raymond – St. Peter’s  – Raymond started five games while appearing in 28 this season for the Peacocks. He averages 3.9 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 37.5% from behind the arc. Raymond is from Maplewood, New Jersey and attended Nia Prep.

F – Paris Bennett – George Mason – This Linden native played his high school ball at St. Patrick’s before moving on to college. Bennett averaged 9.1 minutes in 31 games this season. He scored 37 total points while averaging 1.5 rebounds per game.

Dominic Cheek, Villanova

G – Dominic Cheek – Villanova – A sophomore guard from Jersey City, New Jersey, Cheek averaged 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for Villanova. He averages 19.6 minutes per game. Before attended Villanova, Cheeks played for St. Anthony’s.

G – Douglas Davis – Princeton – A native a Philadelphia but attended The Hun School in Princeton. Davis averages 11.9 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. His 37 steals led the team. Davis is a 40% three-point shooter.

G – Dion Waiters – Syracuse – From Philadelphia but attended Burlington Life Center Academy, Waiters is now a freshman at Syracuse. He averages 6.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Waiters shot 33% from three-point range and 81% from the free throw line this season.

F – Travis Taylor – Xavier – A junior from Union, New Jersey. Taylor has no stats this season.

G – Casey Peters – Duke – From Red Bank and attended Red Bank Regional High School, Peters is now in his senior year at Duke University. He has appeared in nine games this season and recorded three rebounds and one steal.

G – T.J. DiLeo – Temple – DiLeo is from Cinnaminson, New Jersey. In 31 games, he averaged 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds for the Owls.

G/F – Lance Goulbourne – Vanderbilt – Goulbourne is from Brooklyn, NY but attended The Hun School. This season, Goulbourne appeared in 31 games including 20 starts. He averaged 6.9 points, 1.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds.

G – John Caprio – Georgetown – Caprio is from North Caldwell, New Jersey and attended Seton Hall Prep. He is now a freshman at Georgetown and appeared in four games this season. He has totaled two points and one rebound.

G – Travon Woodall – Pittsburgh – Paterson native who attended high school at St. Anthony’s is now a redshirt sophomore at Pittsburgh. He averages 21.7 minutes, 6.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists for the Panthers.

G – Isaiah Epps – Pittsburgh – A freshman guard from Plainfield, New Jersey. Epps does not have any stats this season.

G – Brandon Hall – St. Peter’s – Hall is from Colonia, New Jersey. He has appeared in 27 games and started four. He has totalled 21 points, 23 steals and 40 assists this season as a junior.

G – Jordan Costner – St. Peter’s – Montclair native who attended Seton Hall Prep, Costner is now a senior at St. Peter’s. He does not have any stats this season.

G – Dallas Ouano – Villanova – From Holmdel, this former Christian Brothers Academy player is now a junior for the Wildcats. He has appeared in three games this season.

G – Kurt Joseph – Long Island – Joseph attended Marlboro High School and is a native of Morganville, New Jersey. As a sophomore, he has appeared in 11 games and totalled three points this season.

G – Nick Resavy – Syracuse – A junior from West Milford, New Jersey. Resavy has appeared in seven games this season and totalled four points, two rebounds, and three assists.

F  – Jimmy McDonnell – Temple – From Jackson, New Jersey, McDonnell does not have any stats this season.

G – Chris Burke – St. Peter’s – A freshman from Willingboro. Burke has played in 28 games this season and is averaging 1.1 points in 8.7 minutes per game.

C – Mat Piotrowski – Boston – This 7’1 freshman is from Port Republic, New Jersey and attended Atlantic Christian School. He does not have any stats this season for Boston U.

F – Joe Willman – Bucknell – Willman is from TintonFalls and attended Monmouth Regional High School. He appeared in 33 games as a sophomore this season, including 29 starts. He is averaging 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 81% from the free throw line.

G – Kelsey Grant – St. Peter’s – Grant is a sophomore from Elizabeth, New Jersey. He has seen a little bit of action in six games this season.

 
 

Aaron Brown, Temple

G – Aaron Brown – Temple – Brown attended St. Benedict’s Prep and is from Hackensack, New Jersey. Now a freshman at Temple, Brown averaged 3.4 points and one rebound. He appeared in 27 games while making seven starts.

C – Anthony McClain – Cincinnati – McClain is a senior center from Trenton, New Jersey. He appeared in 25 games  this season including one start. McClain averaged 6.6 minutes, 1.7 points, and 1.8 rebounds this year.

F – Derrick Williams – Richmond – From Harlem, New York but attended St. Anthony’s High School. This season, as a freshman, Williams appeared in 25 games and averaged 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 4.5 minutes per contest. He is a 43% three-point shooter.

Follow all of these New Jersey basketball products as they compete in the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament which begins with first round games tonight. Second round matchups begin Thursday.


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