Group III State Tournament Preview

Group III is one of the most interesting in the entire state tournament. There are a number of schools who could fall into the favorites category with a number of top contenders. It will be an interesting week and a half at this level.

FAVORITES

Ramapo

Record: 19-8

Best Wins: Newark Tech(70-56), Northern Highlands Twice, St Marys(57-43), Bergen Catholic(69-57), Ramsey(50-42)

The defending Group III state champions have taken on all comers this year and scored a number of quality wins. All of their losses are to teams in the Top 25, plus Blair, whom if we included, would be in the Top 5. Ramapo enters ranked #14 in the latest ReportIt Top 25.

Ramapo is led by 6'4" Princeton commit Peyton Seals, Johns Hopkins commit Wyatt Eglinton Manner, who is also a 1,000 point scorer; Chris Cervino has had a huge senior season and 6'5" junior Charlie Wingfield provides muscle under the basket.

Ramapo has size and depth to be among the top teams in Group III.

Colonia

Record:18-8

Best Wins: Saint Thomas Aquinas Three Times, Ewing(66-43), Monroe Twice, South Plainfield(70-37)

The defending sectional champions are flying high of late, winning the GMC Tournament in the process. They feature 6'6" sophomore Aiden Derkack, who is among the top prospects in the state for the class of 2026. He gets help from senior guard Jaeden Jones, senior forward James Curet and junior Zachary Smith.

Colonia has played a tough slate, including tough matchups with Middle Twp, Phillipsburg and Elizabeth to prepare for the state tournament.

Camden Eastside

Record: 17-9

Best Wins: Parkland(PA)(68-58), Atlantic City(64-51), Lenape(57-52), Linden(60-52), Camden Catholic(46-34), Paul VI(64-48), Kipp Cooper Norcross(87-49), Franklin(65-58)

Kenny Avent's group may have faced the toughest schedule of any team in the Group III field, including a brutal divisional slate with Camden High, Camden Catholic, Paul VI and Bishop Eustace.

They're coming off a loss to Camden in the county semis, but they're a battle tested group led by an athletic scoring trio of seniors in Jahaan Green, Will Love, Jalen Long and Mahdee McNair. They can go 9 deep if they have to and will pose matchup problems for the entire field.

Mainland

Record: 22-6

Best Wins: Cinnaminson(50-49), Timber Creek(57-50), Lenape(55-38), CBA(67-37), Lower Cape May(66-51), Ocean City(55-50)

Led by New Hampshire football commit Cohen Cook, who is set to likely become the program's all time leading scorer should they advance past the first round, Mainland is near the top of the favorite heap. Senior guard Tim Travagline is a 1,000 point scorer as well. Mainland will need some additional scoring from the bench in the big games down the stretc to ease that burder on their senior leaders, but this is a team as capable as any to win the state title.

CONTENDERS

Cranford

Record:19-6

Best Wins: Millburn(72-64), Plainfield(62-54), South Plainfield(68-57), New Providence(77-61)

The Cougars made a run to the semifinals of the Union County Tournament behind the stellar play of 6'6" senior Nick Amitie. The senior has had a fantastic career for the Cougars and was the most under-recruited senior in the state. Fellow senior Chris Santarelli has had a good season offesively while sophomore guard Dylan Aveno has shown poise to lead the backcourt as the season has gone on.

They're in the mix to win North II Group III.

Northern Highlands

Record: 18-7

Best Wins: Demarest(69-56), Ramsey(41-35), Dumont(46-33), Ridgewood(55-43), St. Thomas Aquinas(60-54)

Northern Highlands has stepped up its competition level this year, scored half a dozen marquee wins and played some quality opponents in its defeats, including Don Bosco Prep, Ramapo twice and Saint Mary's of Rutherford. Their "worst" loss is to a battle tested RBC team--Which isn't a bad loss at all.

They're led by 5'10" junior Lucas Dipasupil--Who can handle the ball, faciliate and score. Seniors Fred Kanning and Sawyer Chapler have played well this season and they've got depth to compete with most teams in Group III. Third time could be the charm with Ramapo.

Ocean City

Record: 23-3

Best Wins: Shawnee(54-41), Lower Cape May(52-45), Mainland(59-52), Wildwood(59-42), Lower Cape May(67-53)

Kori Segich is one of the leading scorers in New Jersey at nearly 25ppg. The team isn't very deep, but its four senior leaders have driven them to a magical season under coach John Bruno. The only thing keeping them out of the Favorites line is depth. Their first five can flat out play. Their only losses are to Middle Twp and Mainland on a banner year.

On The Fringe

The following teams have had solid seasons and are capable of making a run in the playoffs. If they get hot this week, they'll be Sectional Shakers.

North I

Wayne Valley(20-5)

Demarest(19-5)

North II

South Plainfield(19-7)

Millburn(19-6)

Payne Tech(18-8)

Mendham(18-7)

Central Jersey

Red Bank Regional(18-4)

Nottingham(19-6)

Burlington Twp(20-6)

Colts Neck(15-8)

Hopewell Valley(19-5)

Freehold Borough(19-7)

South Jersey

Moorestown(17-8)

Timber Creek(19-4)

Cherry Hill West(19-7)

Absegami(20-6)