NJ boys basketball: Ranney's Bryan Antoine picks Villanova University

The best playmaking guard in the Shore Conference and one of the best in the state of New Jersey has announced his college decision just before the start of the 2018-2019 academic school year. 

Bryan Antoine, a five-star recruit for the Ranney School boys basketball program located in Tinton Falls,  announced Monday  on Twitter his intention to wear the navy, white and light blue for Villanova University men's basketball starting in the 2019-2020 season. 

Antoine, a 6-foot-5 combo guard, told Pat Lawless, a senior editor for PrepCircuit.com, that he has a long-term vision by picking Villanova, "I would say the main goal is for me to get to the NBA, and Villanova gets players to the NBA no matter if it's one, two, three or four years."

Villanova Men's Basketball Coach Jay Wright and several members of his coaching staff made an appearance at the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals in Toms River on Feb. 18 to see Antoine and fellow Ranney School star Scottie Lewis.

On that day, Antoine and Lewis put on a dunking display that clearly impressed Wright and his staff. Now seven months later, Antoine decided to play for the Wildcats, the defending national champions.

Last season, Antoine helped the Panthers (28-5) achieve some of the biggest moments in school history, which included making it to the Shore Conference Tournament final for the first time in school history and winning the school’s first SCT title.

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In the 2018 NJSIAA tournament, Antoine, a two-time All-Shore First-Team selection, led the Panthers to the Non-Public South B sectional title, the first in school history, and that vaulted the Ranney School on a path to the Non-Public B state final for the first time.

Jay Gomes, NJHoops.com publisher and leading New Jersey talent evaluator,  says Antoine and Villanova basketball are a perfect fit. 

“Bryan’s got the whole package. He can really shoot the ball, he’s very athletic, he’s got range, he can get to the rim, he can create his own shot. Very talented kid," Gomes said. "Obviously they’ve had a lot of success with their guards, and he’s another kid who is going to thrive there. He’s good enough to go in there and make an impact right away. He’ll have a great career there.”

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During the 2017-2108 season, Antoine played in 32 games and averaged 21.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. For his career, Antoine has played in 84 games, scored 1,745 points (20.7 average) and averaged 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.65 blocks per game.

Antoine was selected by the Shore Conference Basketball Coaches Association as its Shore Conference Player of the Year and its Class B Central Player of the Year, and he was awarded the Asbury Park Press Player of the Year. 

Contributing: Asbury Park Press Columnist Jerry Carino 

Staff Writer Sherlon Christie: schristie@gannettnj.com

Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sherlonapp             

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