Boys basketball: Players to watch in 2013-14

Karl Towns of St. Joseph Metuchen hops to lead his squad back to the Tournament of Champions final. (Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger)

Karl Towns of St. Joseph Metuchen hops to lead his squad back to the Tournament of Champions final. (Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger)

BRYCE AIKEN, THE PATRICK SCHOOL
The lightning quick, 5-8 point guard averaged 16.3 points and 7.1 assists per game as a freshman at Pope John last season. The sophomore transfer made 50 3-pointers and 142 free throws to indicate his inside/outside ability.

WADE BALDWIN, ST. JOSEPH (MET.)
The 6-3 senior guard committed to Vanderbilt is a complete player who is smooth to the basket with a deadly crossover, who can stroke the 3, who can run the point and who can defend. Baldwin, who averaged 16.3 points and 7.6 assists per game last year, has 1,293 career points.

NASSIR BARRINO, HUDSON CATHOLIC
Coming off on an injury plagued season, the 6-0 guard is poised for a breakout junior campaign. The skilled slasher averaged 8.3 points per game and is a superior perimeter defender.

TYUS BATTLE, GILL ST. BERNARD'S
The Somerset power graduated three Division 1 players from last year's squad. Lucky for them they still have Battle, a 6-5 guard who comes in at No. 10 in ESPN's class of 2016 rankings. With great handle and speed to go along with an improving shooting game, Battle (13.5 ppg., 5-5 rpg.) has offers from some of the best college programs in the country. He may have the brightest future of any player in New Jersey.

AMIR BELL, EAST BRUNSWICK
The slender 6-4 senior committed to Princeton has been running the point for East Brunswick since his freshman year, breaking down defenses with brilliant vision and ballhandling skills to set up his teammates. As a senior, Bell may have to take on more of a scoring role.

ISAIAH BRISCOE, ROSELLE CATHOLIC
The 6-5 combo guard transferred from St. Benedict's in the offseason and looks to fill the void left when Malachi Richardson transferred back to Trenton Catholic. An explosive scorer with dozens of major college offers.

ELI CAIN, ST. BENEDICT'S
The 6-5 junior who transferred from Medford Tech, can play both guard positions as well as small forward. His versatile play is a matchup nightmare for the opposition. He has been offered by Robert Morris, Drexel and Rider.

ERIC CARTER, JACKSON
The 6-8, 215-pound senior is an athletic post player headed to Delaware. Jackson averaged a double/double with 14.8 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

JUWUAN CARTER, DEPAUL
One of North Jersey's most versatile players, this 6-3, 180-pound senior guard can play the point or act as a slasher. Carter uses his size to be a superior rebounder for his position and averages 17.5 points per game.

TIM DELANEY, PITMAN
The 6-0 junior forward can run the floor, he's a presence inside and he can shoot the 3 as well. As a result, Viillanova has locked up the versatile player with a scholarship.

CEASAR DEJESUS, TEANECK
The 6-2 junior combo guard showed flashes of brilliance while playing In the shadows of more heralded players, but his overall play is expected to keep the Highwaymen as a state contender.

MOUSTAPHA DIAGNE, POPE JOHN
A 6-8, 230-pound junior, Diagne is a true center with a seven-foot wing span, which makes him play much bigger than his actual size. Diagne is developing his low-post game every day with hook shots and spin moves as the 20-plus Division I offers range from Oregon State to Rutgers.

KEVIN DOOLAN, RIDGE
Defending Somerset County champion Ridge graduated several great players, but return the squad's leading scorer from last season in this 5-10 senior guard, who was also a first team All-Somerset pick. A dangerous shooter who will likely score more than the 11 points per game he averaged a season ago.

DEVINE EKE, UNION CATHOLIC
After transferring to St. Benedict's last season, Eke, a senior, decided to come back to the school where he started his hoops career. A Fairleigh Dickinson commit with vicious dunking and rebounding ability, his 6-foot-6 frame will come in handy for the Vikings.

MATT FARRELL, POINT PLEASANT BEACH
The electrifying 6-2 senior point guard led Point Beach to its first state group title last year by averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 4.2 steals per game, dazzling crowds along the way with his fiery play. Farrell's college options are open since de-committing from Boston College.

ALPHONSO GEE, PATERSON KENNEDY
This 5-10 sophomore point guard burst onto the scene last season, averaging 18.9 points per game thanks in large part to 64 3-pointers. Gee is capable of creating for others as well, averaging 4.8 assists per game.

T.J. GIBBS, SETON HALL PREP
Few guards are as strong attacking the basket as this 6-2, 175-pound sophomore point guard. Gibbs is good at both the foul line and beyond the arc as he averaged 14.4 points per game last season.

ASANTE GIST, ROSELLE CATHOLIC
The fiery 5-11 sophomore ran the point well for last year's Tournament of Champions as a freshman, earning third team All-Union honors. Already catching looks from some big Division 1 programs.

ISAIAH GRAVES, ATLANTIC CITY
The 6-1 senior guard who can slash to the hole or pull up, has led Atlantic City to back-to-back Group 4 championships by knocking down big shots at crunch time.

ZACH HEEMAN, MOUNT OLIVE
At 6-8, 270 pounds, Heeman looks more like an offensive lineman. In fact, that's where he will be playing at Rutgers next season. But the reigning Morris County Player of the Year is very agile on the hardwood as he averaged 18.5 points and 14.2 rebounds per game last winter.

TAVARIS HEADEN, CAMDEN
The versatile 5-9 senior guard is a left-handed playmaker who averaged 18.5 points per game last season to lead the resurgence of Camden basketball.

RASHAAN HOLLOWAY, SCHALICK
The imposing 6-9 senior center has improved his overall game, his footwork and his conditioning as he prepares for a career at UMass.

JAY HOWARD, PAUL VI
The 6-3 senior guard, who is leaning toward the Naval Academy, is a versatile talent who excels in the open floor for the South Jersey Non-Public program.

JUWAN JONES, LINDEN
Jones has three brothers who played for Linden, and all three of them won a state championship. The 6-1 senior guard will try to make it four after spending the off-season working on his dribble-drive ability.

PAUL JORGENSEN, DON BOSCO
The George Washington-bound senior is a true point guard who can create off the dribble, stroke the 3 and even post his man up at 6-3.

MATT KLINEWSKI, EASTERN
The 6-8 senior forward headed to Lafayette is a non-stop worker who pounds the backboard on both ends of the floor and has a knack for getting to the foul line.

ABDUL LEWIS, NEWARK EAST SIDE
At 6-8, this South Alabama commit can dominate the game as a rebounder and shot blocker. The senior forward is also capable of scoring from mid range, giving Newark East Side an added dimension.

ASHTON LOFTON, UNION CATHOLIC
After averaging more than 12 points and four assists per game last season as a junior, the 6-1 Lofton has even more toys to play with at the point guard position. A deft distributor who will miss Damon Lynn, now lighting it up at NJIT, but will work well with the new additions to the squad.

TREY LOWE, EWING
The 6-3 junior combo guard is an explosive player who can beat you off the dribble or stroke from long range. The lanky playmaker has offers from Temple, Saint Joseph's, Rider, Drexel, Boston University, Hofstra and Monmouth.

STEFAN MINIC, PASSAIC VALLEY
This 6-5, 205-pound wing is a matchup nightmare for opponents. The senior hit a staggering 90 3-pointers a season ago, making him one of the state's elite outside scoring threats. Minic averaged 17.5 points and is drawing Division 1 interest.

QUADRI MOORE, LINDEN
A 6-8 Cincinnati commit with the size and post moves to dominate inside and the shooting touch to make him a threat from beyond the arch. Led the Union County squad to the Group 4 final last season and was third team All-State.

CHEDDI MOSELY, ST. ANTHONY
The 6-3, 175-pound combo guard was limited by a knee injury last season, but the Boston University commit is healthy and poised for a breakout season. Mosely's a skilled outside shooter and an improving player on defense.

MYLES POWELL, TRENTON CATHOLIC
A transfer from Medford Tech, Powell is a quick, 5-9 junior point guard who can create and fill it up in a hurry. Powell averaged 20.7 points per game last season and hit 78 3-pointers.

TRAYVON REED, LIFE CENTER
A 7-1 shot-blocker who runs the floor and has soft hands, the senior who played in Georgia last year is a developing offensive player committed to Maryland.

MALACHI RICHARDSON, TRENTON CATHOLIC
The recent Syracuse commit made his mark as a sharp-shooting freshman at Trenton Catholic two years ago, then helped lead Roselle Catholic to the Tournament of Champions title last year by displaying a big-time all-around game to go along with his silk shot. Now, the 6-5 junior is back at Trenton Catholic.

MATT RISSE, PAUL VI
The 6-5 senior forward is a do-it-all type who is exceptionally effective from deep range. A four-year varsity player and three-year starter, Risse is headed to James Madison.

MICHAEL RUNCIE, COLUMBIA
One of Essex County's top point guards, the 6-2 junior is capable of a double-double on any night thanks to his passing and ability to attack the basket. He averaged 12 points per game last season.

ISMAEL SANOGO, NEWARK EAST SIDE
A versatile defender capable of being both an intimidating presence in the paint while guarding out on the perimeter. This 6-7 senior forward and Seton Hall commit also has a developing perimeter shot.

JUNIOR SAINTEL, HOLY SPIRIT
A 6-7 forward, the senior has a variety of moves and is a dunking machine with superiority jumping ability. He has drawn interest from lower Division 1 schools, but that interest is expected to grow higher.

MARIAL SHAYOK, BLAIR
The gifted 6-4, 200-pound senior from Canada can do it all. An excellent ballhandler, Shayok plays guard and forward and can do all the things those two positions require. He is headed to Marquette.

CHRIS SILVA, ROSELLE CATHOLIC
The 6-8 junior held his own against Karl Towns in the T of C final last season, and will be called upon to do even more with Tyler Roberson graduating. An excellent interior defender whose offensive game is developing, he's garnered interest from the likes of Duke, Syracuse and Cincinnati.

TARIN SMITH, ST. ANTHONY
The 6-0 point guard is ready for a starring role thanks to his quickness off the dribble and good decision making with the ball in his hands. Smith is tough defender and has offers from multiple Division 1 programs.

ERIC STAFFORD, PITMAN
The 6-5 senior guard can score from anywhere on the floor and is exceptional from long range. Heading to Lafayette, Stafford is the No. 1 senior in his class. He averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

TYREE SYKES, NEWARK TECH
Few are stronger in the paint than this 6-6, 230-pound power forward. Sykes, a senior, averaged more than 12 rebounds per game last season for the Group 2 champions.

MARQUES TOWNES, ST JOSEPH-METUCHEN
An open-court dynamo who also excels in a halfcourt setting because of his ability to get to the rim, to shoot and to jump, the 6-4 senior from South Amboy 14.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and has 1,363 career points. Towns will decide on a Division 1 career in basketball or football.

KARL TOWNS, ST. JOSEPH METUCHEN
The 7-1 Kentucky-bound Piscataway resident went from being a sophomore last year to a senior as he re-classified last year. Last season, Towns averaged 20.6 points, 14.0 rebounds, 5.3 blocks per game and made 32 3-pointers. Towns has 1,002 career points and 96 3-pointers.

DOMINIQUE UHL, POINT PLEASANT BEACH
A 6-8, 190-pounder from Germany, Uhl is a versatile/athletic player who can run the floor and post up, while possessing a solid stroke. Uhl is commited to Iowa.

AUSTIN WHITE, ST. PETER'S PREP
A dangerous outside shooter, this 6-0 senior combo guard drained 51 3-pointers and averaged 15.9 points per game. The High Point commit is expected to lead a young, but very talented St. Peter's Prep squad.

JONATHAN WILLIAMS, ST. BENEDICT'S
Playing in the shadows of such guards as Tyler Ennis and Isaiah Briscoe, Williams was the one who ran the show from his point guard spot as St. Benedict's was recognized as one of the top teams in the country. A 5-11 senior, the lightning-fast Williams with a non-stop motor is committed to Virginia Commowealth.

SHAQUAN WORTHY, TRENTON
The 5-7 dynamic senior played in the shadows of Rasheed Wallace last year, but the flashy point guard averaged 14.2 points, 10.2 assists and 6.0 steals per game with 31 3-pointers.

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