Big Things in Newark

Newark East Side (25-7) won its first state since 2002 with Randy Foye at point guard, when it won the Group 3 championship with a 60-54 victory over Camden.

East Side's eight-player rotation included five juniors and a sophomore, but they played with poise, led by forwards Ismael Sanogo, Abdul Lewis and Will Joyce, along with guards Akbar Hoffman and Ahmad Harrison. The team allowed just 43.0 points per game this season, and just 37.4 in seven state playoff games, giving co-head coaches Bryant Garvin and Anthony Tavares the best defensive group in their 13 years at the helm.

"I think they bought in as a family that defense wins championships," Tavares said. "From day one, once we started practicing, we stressed that defense was going to be the key to our season. Statistically, it definitely was the best one."

All-Newark: First Team: Everson Davis, West Side; Akbar Hoffman, Newark East Side; Rakwan Kelly, Newark Tech; Jerrel Pruit, Arts; Keywon Savage, Newark Central.

Second Team: Abdul Lewis, Newark East Side; Jerrell Murray, University; Dwayne Murrill, Newark Tech; Ismael Sanogo, Newark East Side; Tyree Sykes, Newark Tech.

ALL-JUNIOR TEAM

First Team: Everson Davis, West Side; Akbar Hoffman, East Side; Jerrel Pruit, Arts; Tyree Sykes, Newark Tech; Keywon Savage, Central;

Second Team: Nasir Farmer, Newark Central; Abdul Lewis, East Side; Jerrell Murray, University; David Runcie, Columbia; Ismael Sanogo, East Side;

Third Team: Alex Kaslander, Verona; Eric Moore, Shabazz; Isaiah Scott, West Orange; Joe Slattery, Cedar Grove; Ramon Wright, Irvington.

Player of the Year: Akbar Hoffman, East Side

-ESSEX COUNTY

FIRST TEAM

Akbar Hoffman, Newark East Side, 6-1, 175 pounds, Junior

The junior was a feared outside shooter, especially in the big moments. He hit five 3-pointers, including the winner at the buzzer, against Newark Tech in the Essex County Tournament semifinals. The guard averaged 14.8 points over his last 13 games and 11.2 for the season.

THIRD TEAM

Al-Jahaad Bradford, Irvington

Jerrell Murray, University
Jerrel Pruit, Arts
Ismael Sanogo, Newark East Side
Tyree Sykes, Newark Tech

ALL-GROUP 3

FIRST TEAM

Brandon Federici, Colts Neck

Tavaris Headen, Camden

Joel Hernandez, Teaneck

Akbar Hoffman, Newark East Side

Shaakir Lindsey, Teaneck

ALL-JUNIOR

FIRST TEAM

Wade Baldwin, St. Joseph (Met.)

Matt Farrell, Point Pleasant Beach

Rashard Figures, Hackensack

Jay Howard, Paul VI

Quadri Moore, Linden

SECOND TEAM

Juwuan Carter, DePaul

Tavaris Headen, Camden

Zack Heeman, Mount Olive

Akbar Hoffman, Newark East Side

Marques Townes, St. Joseph (Met.)

THE STAR-LEDGER FINAL TOP 20 AND STATEWIDE RANKINGS

1-Roselle Catholic (25-5)

2-St. Joseph (Met.) (27-5)

3-St. Anthony (28-2)

4-Hudson Catholic (29-2)

5-Atlantic City (30-2)

6-Patrick School (24-4)

7-East Brunswick (26-4)

8-St. Peter’s Prep (23-7)

9-Linden (22-8)

10-Seton Hall Prep (26-3)

11-Ridge (27-2)

12-Elizabeth (18-7)

13-Newark Tech (23-9)

14-Newark East Side (25-7)

15-Teaneck (27-4)

16-Hackensack (27-5)

17-Gill St. Bernard’s (19-8)

18-Paul VI (27-3)

19-Notre Dame (25-4)

20-Pope John (20-8)

 

GROUP 3

1-Newark East Side (25-7)

2-Teaneck (27-4)

3-Sparta (25-5)

4-Mount Olive (23-6)

5-Irvington (14-12)

6-Camden (21-11)

7-Chatham (22-6)

8-Lawrence (19-11)

9-Colts Neck (22-6)

10-Morristown (18-8)

 

ESSEX

1-Seton Hall Prep (26-3)

2-Newark Tech (23-9)

3-Newark East Side (25-7)

4-Irvington (14-12)

5-Bloomfield (16-13)

6-Montclair (21-6)

7-Columbia (11-15)

8-University (19-9)

9-Newark Central (19-8)

10-Orange (13-10)