OT: Mount Rushmore of NJ HS Basketball Players

[RU_PAYBACK]

Who are they? This list must be based solely on performance at the high school level in NJ, not how they did in college or the pros.
Here are some names to consider. I'm sure there will be many more names to add that are as good or better then these:
Dujuan Wagner, Tim Thomas, Kelly Tripucka, Kyrie Irving, Jay Williams, John Somogyi.......

 

[ImBadRU]

Cliff

 

[Loyal_2RU]

John and Kristin Smogyi
Les Cason
Paul Smith

 

[Jerseylegends]

I'm not well versed but I'd figure Al Harrington would make the list..

 

[RU to the Core]

Tim Thomas has to be on it.

 

[cm_13]

Karl Anthony Towns

 

[lion1983]

NJ.com did an article on this in 2017, ranking the top 50 all time NJ high school hoops players: https://www.nj.com/sports/2017/06/ranking_new_jerseys_50_greatest_basketball_players.html

But, that is a stupid list, since it includes not only players who played NJ high school hoops, but also players who were merely born in NJ, even if they moved out of State quickly.

Here is another list - but only ranked on their NBA accomplishments, not performance in high school - though at least these players PLAYED high school basketball in NJ: https://ainsworthsports.com/basketball_player_rankings_by_high_school_nj.htm

Here is a list of NJ high school basketball players who were selected to the McDonald's All American game: https://www.app.com/story/sports/20...igh-school-basketball-players-nj/73201695007/

List of the 25 greatest high school hoops players ever (plus an honorable mention list): https://www.usatodayhss.com/story/s...abbar-jason-kidd-wilt-chamberlin/76247345007/ ... NONE of the top 25 were from NJ, FYI - Though Dujuan Wagner made the honorable mention list.

For what it is worth, there have been 3 players in NJ history to score over 3000 career points in NJ high school hoops: Dujuan Wagner, John Somogyi and ... Paul Gause.

I would think Tripucka is in the top 10 ... Wagner ... Somogyi ... who else? I have no idea.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

any list without @Scangg isn't worth a read

 

[RULoyal]

Waliyy Dixon - I have no clue where he fits on the list but I was so pumped when he committed to RU and so disappointed how he panned out.

 

[seansherm]

any list without @Scangg isn't worth a read

Where did he play?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Where did he play?

some where in rural NJ...don't even think Pickleball has made it to his home town yet

 

[hinson32]

My father who coached in some capacity in NJ for over 40 years swears Brian Taylor of Perth Amboy is the greatest NJ player he has ever seen.

 

[mikeyo]

Mike Dabney

 

[SBP]

My father who coached in some capacity in NJ for over 40 years swears Brian Taylor of Perth Amboy is the greatest NJ player he has ever seen.

He was fantastic

 

[toby83]

Roderick Rhodes
Luther Wright
Lance Miller?

 

[seansherm]

Wasn't Luol Deng like 2nd in nation behind Lebron. Well rounded.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

John and Kristin Smogyi
Les Cason
Paul Smith

I'm not familiar with the bottom two. Can you tell us more about them.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

Waliyy Dixon - I have no clue where he fits on the list but I was so pumped when he committed to RU and so disappointed how he panned out.

You maybe saw, but he was at a recent RU game.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

Paul Gause from Pittsgrove is 3rd all-time in points with 3144. I didn't see him play in HS.

 

[RUEd]

Paul Gause from Pittsgrove is 3rd all-time in points with 3144. I didn't see him play in HS.

I assume he played varsity as a freshman, right?

 

[gregkoko]

Pretty sure I saw Al Harrington and St. Patrick take on Dajuan Wagner and Camden at the RexPlex in Elizabeth in the late 90s. That was a show.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

I assume he played varsity as a freshman, right?

Not sure, but I'd have to assume yes.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

I'm not familiar with the bottom two. Can you tell us more about them.

Les Cason played for Dick Vitale at East Rutherford. At time was #1 or 2 for all time scoring ( other was Smogyi). Went to Rutgers, was a bust. Tragic story. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/19/...sketball-star.html?smid=nytcore-android-share

Paul Smith, played under Okie at Rutgers Prep, graduated maybe 73, was third leading scorer. Went to Fordham, was a bust.

Gary Brokaw of NBHS, UND, and Bucks would be another.

Brian Taylor of PAHS and Princeton is another...

 

[mikeyo]

Hate to say it, but..... Kyrie Irving

 

[wheezer]

Les Cason played for Dick Vitale at East Rutherford. At time was #1 or 2 for all time scoring ( other was Smogyi). Went to Rutgers, was a bust.

Paul Smith, played under Okie at Rutgers Prep, graduated maybe 73, was third leading scorer. Went to Fordham, was a bust.

Gary Brokaw of NBHS, UND, and Bucks would be another.

Brian Taylor of PAHS and Princeton is another...

Les Cason was dumb as rock
He failed out

 

[Loyal_2RU]

Bill Willoughby

 

[Loyal_2RU]

Les Cason was dumb as rock
He failed out

Didn't want to say that. But neither can i argue.

 

[wheezer]

Didn't want to say that. But neither can i argue.

After all this tine , I think it is ok, not going to offend anyone I hope
He should never had graduated high school

 

[RutgersFbFan]

JR Smith - Lakewood and St. Benedicts, straight from HS to the Pros and Co-MVP of the McDonalds All-American game

 

[Kbee3]

My father who coached in some capacity in NJ for over 40 years swears Brian Taylor of Perth Amboy is the greatest NJ player he has ever seen.

Your father is right. Best player I've ever seen.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

Your father is right. Best player I've ever seen.

I thought Brokaw slightly better skilled.
Perth Amboy had better players and beat NB several times.

Taylor may have had a little edge in competitive fire although both were high.

Taylor has great Genes. His brother Bruce played CB for the 49ers.

 

[FireBugOBJC]

Are we leaving off the NCAA assist leader because we don't like his family or because his pro career was cut short?

 

[ScarletNut]

Bill Willoughby

First high school player to go straight to the NBA

 

[ScarletNut]

Les Cason played for Dick Vitale at East Rutherford. At time was #1 or 2 for all time scoring ( other was Smogyi). Went to Rutgers, was a bust. Tragic story. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/19/...sketball-star.html?smid=nytcore-android-share

Paul Smith, played under Okie at Rutgers Prep, graduated maybe 73, was third leading scorer. Went to Fordham, was a bust.

Gary Brokaw of NBHS, UND, and Bucks would be another.

Brian Taylor of PAHS and Princeton is another...

Cason started out at Long Beach State and played for Jerry Tarkanian, transferred to Rutgers. Died homeless with AIDS. Very sad story.

 

[Kbee3]

Are we leaving off the NCAA assist leader because we don't like his family or because his pro career was cut short?

I was actually gonna mention Bobby Hurley. Best point guard this state has ever produced.
And he led the best high school team I've ever seen...Jerry Walker, Roderick Rhodes, Terry Dehere, Sean Rooney.
Coached by the GOAT...Bob Hurley sr.
I was blown away the first time I saw them play. I think it was vs. North Bergen. It was amazing to see them run the fast break.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

I was actually gonna mention Bobby Hurley. Best point guard this state has ever produced.
And he led the best high school team I've ever seen...Jerry Walker, Roderick Rhodes, Terry Dehere, Sean Rooney.
Coached by the GOAT...Bob Hurley sr.
I was blown away the first time I saw them play. I think it was vs. North Bergen. It was amazing to see them run the fast break.

I meant to mention Bobby H too.....

 

[toby83]

Hate to say it, but..... Kyrie Irving

he played on Patricks with Kidd-Gilchrist for a year, right?

 

[zebnatto]

John Shumate, who passed just this month.

 

[toby83]

i remember watching Slow Mo at Tournament of Champs thinking how the hell is this guy so good

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

How was Milt Wagner compared to Dujuan & DJ?