South Jersey boys' basketball tournament primer
Here's a closer look at the South Jersey boys' basketball tournaments, which begin this week: South Jersey Group 4 Defending champion: Cherry Hill East.
Here's a closer look at the South Jersey boys' basketball tournaments, which begin this week:
South Jersey Group 4
Defending champion: Cherry Hill East.
Top seed: Toms River North.
Best first-round game: No. 9 seed Eastern at No. 8 seed Rancocas Valley is an opener that could produce a sectional finalist, if not a sectional champion.
Second-round showdown I: If form holds in the opening round, No. 6 Cherry Hill West will face crosstown rival and No. 3 seed Cherry Hill East in a renewal of one of South Jersey's best rivalries.
Second round showdown II: The same scenario applies to the other side of the bracket, as No. 4 Cherokee could meet sister school No. 5 Lenape in the second round.
Dark horse: No. 10 Shawnee is battled-tested from a demanding schedule.
Player to watch: Cherry Hill East senior guard Jake Silpe, a Penn recruit, led the Cougars to the first title in program history last season.
Final prediction: Atlantic City over Rancocas Valley.
South Jersey Group 3
Defending champion: Delsea.
Top seed: Delsea.
Dark horse: No. 7 Moorestown has won seven of eight with the lone loss to Cherry Hill East in overtime.
Second-round showdown: No. 4 Timber Creek would host school-district rival and No. 5 Highland if both teams win their openers.
Player to watch: No. 2 Winslow Township has a top guard in junior Mike Cubbage.
Final prediction: Delsea over Winslow Township.
South Jersey Group 2
Defending champion: Camden.
Top seed: Haddonfield.
Best first-round game: No. 10 West Deptford at No. 7 Deptford is a rematch of a regular-season game won by the Eagles, 86-85.
Second-round showdown: Collingswood stunned Camden in the football playoffs and the school could meet again if the basketball teams win their openers.
Dark horse: No. 4 Bridgeton has creative guards in Ty'Trel Stubbs and Stefon Bowman and a force in the paint in 6-foot-5 Nazir Williams, a UConn football recruit.
Players to watch: Haddonfield's DePersia twins, Nick and Rob, are four-year varsity players on a mission to win their first sectional title.
Final prediction: Camden over Haddonfield.
South Jersey Group 1
Defending champion: Pitman.
Top seed: Paulsboro.
Best first-round game: No. 9 Lindenwold at No. 8 Gloucester will feature top scorers in the visitor's Malik Muldrow and the home team's Jaleel Hatcher.
Dark horse: No. 6 Woodbury has won five in a row and enters the tournament off an impressive victory over Eastern on Friday night.
Players to watch: Paulsboro seniors Theo Holloway and Saleem Little are big-game veterans determined to lead the program to its first state title since 1996.
Final prediction: Paulsboro over Schalick.
Central Jersey Group 2
Defending champion: Matawan.
Top seed: Lakewood.
Best first-round game: No. 9 Pemberton at No. 8 Bordentown will feature a pair of high-scoring juniors in the Scotties' Myron Gordon and the Hornets' I'Javion Ivory.
Player to watch: Barring a huge upset, Willingboro's high-scoring senior, Jeff Haddock, will play his last game under his father, Willingboro coach Jeff Haddock, in the opener at Lakewood.
Final prediction: Lakewood over Manasquan.
Non-Public South A
Defending champion: Paul VI.
Top seed: St. Augustine.
Home sweet home: As a No. 2 seed, Camden Catholic will play at least three games on its own court if it advances through the semifinals.
Dark horse: No. 6 Gloucester Catholic is a senior-heavy squad with four starters who average in double figures.
Player to watch: St. Augustine junior Sa'eed Nelson is the kind of creative lead guard who often shines in the state tournament.
Final prediction: St. Augustine over Camden Catholic.
Non-Public South B
Defending champion: Roselle Catholic.
Top seed: Roselle Catholic.
Best first-round game: No. 6 Wildwood Catholic will host No. 11 St. Joseph in a clash of Cape-Atlantic League United Division rivals.
A tough draw: No. 8 Holy Spirit will face No. 9 Gill St. Bernard's, which struggled early but has surged since the return from injury of guard Tyus Battle, the No. 15 player in the country in the class of 2016, according to ESPN's rankings.
Players to watch: Roselle Catholic's Isaiah Briscoe is a Kentucky recruit and Trenton Catholic's Malachi Richardson is a Syracuse recruit.
Final prediction: Roselle Catholic over Trenton Catholic.