by Jim Whelan
2007-2008-Player of the Year
Desmond Wade
It seems like he has been around forever, the only bad thing about Des’ departures is the Direct TV packages that Linden fans will have to get to watch him play at the University of Houston. Becoming the all-time assist leader, scoring 1,500 points, two back-to-back state championships, one county championship, four sectional finals, and one T of C championship appearance for the four-year letter winner. Desmond is one of the best under 6’0 players to come out of New Jersey in a long time with a record of 103-20 (837). The torch has been passed from Coach Colicchio to Coach Tom Penders. In the next four years I am sure you will see Desmond and the University of Houston in the NCAA tournament.
2007-2008 Team of the Year
Scotch Plains
Winning their first championship in basketball since the Kennedy administration, Scotch Plains represented Union County in the T of C winning the Group III State Championship. Being only one of two Group III schools in the Watchung Conference, their schedule helped the Raiders prepare for the State Tournament. They might not have had the best record or the best talent, but remember the Super Bowl XLII champions New York Giants beat undefeated who ?????
Coaches of the Year
Dan Doherty-Scotch Plains
Michael Smith-Roselle
Scotch Plains coach Dan Doherty had to overcome a lot adversity with the purge of talent that left Scotch Plains to play elsewhere. The Raiders coach took a group that was underrated and led them to their first ever State Championship. Led by senior guard Bryan Dougher, the 2008 Scotch Plains team will be one that will be talked about for a long time.
Roselle Coach Michael Smith moved up from JV in 2005 and has not had much success coming off a 3-20 season. Roselle won a sectional title when they beat Weequahic High School. With only one returning starter, Roselle was led by the “Moody” brothers Anthony and Antoine Obery, Dahrin Worldis, Pierre Noel, and Ibn “Bris” Brister the Rams were a team that nobody wanted to face in 2008.
2008 All County
1st Team
Desmond Wade-G Linden
Dexter Strickland-G-St Patrick
Quintrell Thomas-C-St. Patrick
Bryan Dougher-F-Scotch Plains
David Bruce-F’Linden
2nd Team
Anthony Obery-Roselle
Simon Smith-Cranford
Ronnie Sawyer-Rahway
Parris Bennett-St. Patrick
Anthony Baskerville-Plainfield
3rd Team
Thomas Goubadia-Union
Jerrelle Louis-Linden
Will Flenoroy-Elizabeth
David Steinman-Dayton
Kevin Maroney-Scotch Plains
Honorable Mention: Union –Aishon White, David Jackson, Elizabeth-James Frazier, :Latif Rivers, St. Pat’s-Kevin Boyle Jr., Jermel Jenkins, Michael Gilchrist and Jamin Shumate, St. Marys-Tyler Roberson and Mudia Osemwegie, and Chris Canady, Hillside-Kelvin Amayo, Carron McCluney, Dayton-Rondre Kelly, Tyrone Maye, Roselle Park-Peter Van Loan, Brearley-Dallis Ricks, Dom Vitale, Taquan Abdullah, Cranford-Adam Ciecien, Chad Faulcon, Gl-Hoddy Mahan and Ryan Kelly, Plainfield-Isiah Epps and Tyrone Johnson, Linden-Rommell Bateman, Xavier Freeman, Carlton Wilson, and Elijah Hodge, Rahway-Jose Pena Benjamin, Demetrius Washington-Ellison, Ladonte Berry-White, Bryan Champagne,Roselle-Dahrin Worldis, Antoine Obery, Pierre Noel- Roselle Catholic, Matt Henn, Brian Faughnan, and Brendan Trelease, Johnson-Dustin Berry, Westfield-Mike Lessner, and Tony Diorio, Scotch Plains- Lordly Okator, Dan DeCataldo, and Greg Zabel, New Providence-Billy Beck, Dan Bucher, Eddie Morgan, Oratory Prep-Scott Miller, Steve Zychowski, Union Catholic- Mike Marciano, Marcus Dyson, Mike Buczynski, Summit Chris Kehoe and Chris Cafiero.
Union County All Junior Team
Dexter Strickland-St. Patrick
David Bruce-Linden
Anthony Baskerville-Plainfield
Parris Bennett-St.Patrick
Kevin Maroney-Scotch Plains
All Union County Watchung Conference (Union County)
Desmond Wade-Linden
David Bruce-Linden
Anthony Baskerville-Plainfield
Travis Taylor-Union
Will Fleneroy-Elizabeth
All Mountain Valley (Union County)
Anthony Obery-Roselle
Simon Smith-Cranford
Ronnie Sawyer-Rahway
David Steinman-Dayton
Jose Pena-Benjamin-Rahway
All Team-Underclassmen (Sophomore & Freshman)
Kevin Boyle Jr.-St. Patrick
Elijah Hodge-Linden
Michael Gilchrist-St. Patrick
Mike Marciano-Union Catholic
Tyrone Johnson-Plainfield
Union County Final Rankings
1. ST. PAT’S-25-5
2. LINDEN-23-7
3. UNION-21-7
4. SCOTCH PLAINS-23-8
5. RAHWAY-22-2
6. PLAINFIELD 18-8
7. ROSELLE 21-8
8. ELIZABETH 13-11
9. DAYTON 16-9
10. CRANFORD-14-9
11. NEW PROVIDENCE-13-11
12. ST. Mary’s 10-13
13. BREARLEY 13-12
14. GL-10-14
15. ROSELLE CATHOLIC-11-14
16. HILLSIDE-10-15
17. SUMMIT-10-13
18. UNION CATHOLIC-9-13
19. WESTFIELD-7-17
20. ORATORY PREP-5-18
21. JOHNSON-4-18
22. ROSELLE APRK-2-21
Recruiting News-Travis Taylor of Union will play for Monmouth University next year. Union County is continuing to be a fertile recruiting ground for Division I basketball. Taylor’s teammate Thomas Goubadia is being recruited also by Coppin State and Central Connecticut State as well as DII schools.
Jim Whelan can be reached at njhoops@hotmail.com.
