Game 7 Sharks ELITE

Game 7 Sharks ELITE have completed Summer Phase I. The first phase of our summer play included the Hamilton Park Summer League in Jersey City, NJ, the National Invitational in Springfield, MA, and the Joe Brown Memorial in Wayne, NJ. Here is a recap of those events:

Hamilton Park

After a Final Four finish in 2010, the Sharks are back at Hamilton Park with their sights set on the championship. They opened upagainst Long Branch High School on June 20th. Hunter Wysocki (6’6’’,G, 2012, Middletown North) was too much for the Green Wave, putting up an impressive 23 points and 10 rebounds in his Hamilton Park debut. Jim Dzugan (6'5'', F, 2012, Middletown South) recorded another double-double, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Baby Sharks Dylan Frawley (6’4’’, F, 2015, Middletown North) and Matt Deickman (6’0’’,G/F, 2014, Middletown North) both played up a few age levels and held their own. They proved that the future is bright for the Sharks.

The Sharks next played June 22th against Snyder High School. The Sharks picked up a 45-40 win with Wysocki leading the way once again, scoring 16 markers. Bobby Brackett (6’7’’, F, 2012, Lawrence) followed suite, finishing with 15 points. The Sharks next two games were sloppy, as they were upset by Newark Tech and squeezed out a 48-41 win over St. Joseph’s Metuchen. On June 29th the Sharks rebounded with a 70-28 victory over Old Tappan. Jason Huelbig (6’4’’, G, 2012, Middletown North) got the Sharks rolling with a baseline tomahawk slam over a defender. The game was never in doubt as the Sharks held Old Tappan to under ten points at the half. Brackett, who has become known as the Human Highlight Film, threw down what is now known as the dunk heard around the world. In the second half, after a missed three-pointer, Brackett took off from his vertical leap one step inside the foul line and caught the ball way behind his left shoulder and threw it down in one motion. The crowd, initially in shock at first, went wild. The rest of the game was highlighted by a Huelbig dunk on a defender where he caught the pass off the backboard in transition.

On July 6th, after being upset by Don Bosco Prep, the Sharks put Bergen Catholic away early by a score of 53-23. The Sharks are yet to be at full strength at Hamilton Park, but will be for the remainder of the season. They have their sights set on the championship.

National Invitational

The Sharks were the talk of the town on the firstday at the Hall of Fame tournament. The Sharks started off the tournament with a showdown against Raising Champions (NY). The Sharks lost a very close game to Raising Champions last year at the Shock Exchange Comes to Harlem. Raising Champions was led last year by high-scoring point guard and currently Division I Marist stud, Isaiah Morton (5’9’’, G, 2011, St. Augustine’s Prep), a 2,000-point scorer. However, this time wasn’t last year. The Sharks came out firing and getting out in transition for easy buckets. Brackett caught four alley-oops in the first half to get the crowd going. Wysocki set the tone by diving on the floor for loose balls. Huelbig turned in his best defensive effort of the year, forcing several steals that led to breakaway dunks. The Sharks ran away with the game by a score of 66-36.

Later on in the afternoon, the Sharks squared off with New Hampshire 17U state champions, Bishop Elite (NH). Eric Youncofski (5’10’’, G, 2012, Middletown North) set the tone for the game by getting out in transition and pushing the ball, creating baskets for his teammates. Youncofski finished with a double-double, 10 points and 12 assists. Mike Aaman (6’8’’, F, 2012, Raritan) demolished the Bishop Elite frontline on a variety of dunks, put backs, quick drives, back to the basket moves, and 15-foot jump shots. Aaman finished the contest with a monster 25 point 20 rebound performance. RJ Bohnert (6’1’’, G, 2012, Shore Regional) provided the Sharks help in the backcourt and energy on defense. The Sharks cruised to a 75-55 victory to win their pool. The Sharks advanced to the 17U Elite Gold Bracket, where they were eliminated by a very talented Connecticut Select team by a score of 51-61.

Joe Brown Memorial

On July 15th the Sharks took to the prestigious Joe Brown Memorial, also known as the Playaz Ball. The Sharks opened up against a very talented New York Panthers team that featured several post-graduate players. The Panthers were led by former Rutgers commit MikeTaylor (6’3’’, G, 2011, Boys & Girls (NY)) and ACC/Big EAST recruit Tariq Carey (6’2’’, G, 2012, Newark East Side). Youncofski did a good job defensively on Carey, holding him to 7 points. The Panthers jumped out to a ten point lead towards half time, but a big Sharks run in the beginning of the second half swung the momentum. A Huelbig steal and dunk put the Sharks up 54-44 with 11 minutes remaining. The Panthers, however, did not die and clawed back into the game to regain the lead. Down one point with 40 seconds, the Sharks could not put the ball in the hole and dropped the game, 73-77.

Angered with the Panthers game, the Sharks rebounded against Positive Direction (NY). After a back and forth first half, the Sharks started the second stanza on an 11-0 run that was ignited by long-range assassin Jack Donnelly (6’0’’, G, 2012, Rumson-Fair Haven). Donnelly, recovering from an ankle injury, looked sharp in his return and hit several deep three-pointers. Aaman continued to be too much to handle, scoring 19 second half points, including six dunks. Tim Frawley (6’4’’, G, 2012, Middletown North) caught the attention of college coaches by hitting a couple of three-pointers in transition. Huelbig pumped in 16 points, Wysocki 10 points, and Youncofski 7points and 8 assists.

The Sharks closed the tournament with a late night game against the New Jersey Gym Ratz (White). The Sharks and Gym Ratz would go to battle for the third this year. At the March Madness Showdown, the Sharks defeated Gym Ratz (Black) 72-32 and then defeated Gym Ratz (White) 64-54 in the championship game. The Gym Ratz jumped out to a quick eight point lead. The Sharks trailed by six at half time, and then Wysocki decided enough was enough. Wysocki hit a three-pointer and converted on several and-1 baskets, dominating the opening minutes of the second half. Bill Wrightson (6’9’’, F, 2012, Toms River North) was able to use his size on both ends to the Sharks advantage. Aaman once again proved superior to the opposition’s frontline and was able to score inside. The Sharks took a 61-51 lead with eight minutes left. The Gym Ratz would make one more run, but the Sharks held on to complete the hat trick and win the game, 82-77.

Reebok Breakout Challenge

ELITE team standout and Wagner-bound Mike Aaman attented the prestigious Reebok Breakout Challenge camp, July 5-9. Aaman was a standout at a camp that featured several highly ranked players in the Classes of 2012, 2013, and 2014. Aaman recorded 16 points and 14 rebounds in his first game, and averaged a double-double for the week.