Unruly & Fakehead's Boys Basketball Picks

Welcome to another addition of the End of the Week High School Boys Basketball Picks presented by your own IronHillsSports.com. If you haven't told a friend about this site then it is time you do. Link us up to your MySpace pages and text your buddies with our link. This site should definately saved on your "Favorites".

Every week I, Unruly Jets Fan, and Fakehead (my friend since Catholic grade school...yes Fakehead went to Catholic grade school) will weigh our predictions on the end of the week Boys Basketball games.

I will also do a beginning of the week, I will make predictions for another sport (either Girls Basketball, Wrestling, Track, etc.). Plus, we will add another post in the middle of the week (a player profile or something like that) as well to keep the content fresh.

This site is gaining more and more popularity and we appreciate all the emails and feedback you are providing. I am a writer for one of the local papers in Morris County and started this site as a goof. But since it is gaining momentum I have decided to keep it going.

I have employed my long time buddy, Fakehead, to add color commentary. Some people have commented that Fakehead is nuts. Well, I know he is. But he is my friend...and I just don't ditch friends because they had to make a few visits to the Funny Farm.

But we are doing our best to keep this site entertaining and somewhat accurate. If you feel we are missing something or dissagree with what we are saying let us know. Feel free to comment or email us.

Okay, enough with the mushy stuff...lets get into the games!!!

Thursday

7 Columbia (2-0) at East Orange (2-0)

Unruly: This is the biggest game of the year so far in the Iron Hills Conference. Ali Mix has some major skillzzz for East Orange and is money from the 3 point line. Dajuan “Wagner” Williams and Kris “Kross” Taylor help to solidify this team. But I have gotten more emails and phone calls about this Columbia team in the past few weeks it is crazy. People think they are the flat out best team in the conference. And Jameel Grace and Yvon Ramond fell asleep while beating Seton Hall Prep twice last week. I think this has the making of a good game. But Jameel Grace will drop 25 while taking his Cougar team to 3-0.
PICK: Columbia

FAKEHEAD: I don't know if Sir-Mix-A-Lot can help carry the day for East Orange in this early season game of the week, but either way I heard he likes girls with some junk in their trunk. Seriously though, Ramond and Grace are going to show that Columbia is no joke and beating Seton Hall Prep wasn't a fluke. Look for Columbia to win by at least 5 points, it's going to be a close one and a good game.

PICK: Columbia

Friday

7Weequahic (3-0) at Dover (0-1)

Unruly: I like a team that has a lot of people who can score. And that is what Dover has. Henry Saltos, Harriel Lacy and Jaquan Jones can all put up big numbers. Michael Brown can be deadly from the perimeter. But there is one problem, Weequahic is freaking good. Dashwan Eagie can put up 20 points while sitting on the bench. Jashon Mixon can put up 20 points while going to the bathroom. Shahid Brown, Naeem Gayles and Everette Martin hurt ya when you focus too much on Eagie and Mixon. Weequahic is not ready to give up their undefeated status just yet.
PICK: Weequahic

FAKEHEAD: Weequahic rolls in this one. I have nothign at all against Dover High School or their hoops' players, but Dover itself has problems. Like, for instance, I have started a recycling program at work and on three separate occassions I put out the f*cking recycling and it has not been picked up. I spoke to Dover officials three times and they tell me to just keep putting out on the curb. Meanwhile, it is a ton of sh*t, bottles, newspapers, cardboard, magazines, it is an office for Christ's sake. Dover has done nothing to help me out in my effort to "Go Green." Therefore, I have no choice to boycott all things Dover until this is resolved. The Quac are going to win big.

PICK: Weequahic

7Chatham (2-1) at Hanover Park (1-1)

Unruly: My Alma Mater always has a special place in my heart. And I loved what Phil Gatti and Pete Nagy did on the football field this year. Gatti is just explosive on the basketball court as he was on the grid iron. Greg Baruka is good too. I also like Andrew Walsh from downtown. But I am going with my gut and not my heart on this one. Chatham is too many go to guys, and the coach to boot. They begin with Bill Oliver who shoots like J-Mac did in his two minutes of glory. Even if Oliver was not on the team, Chatham would be a real contender with the likes of Josh Toolajian and Pat Bulter (both of whom can put down 15 points a game). Mike Sweeney and Burton Gildersleeve (who might just have my second favorite name in the conference…next to Sassy Weinstein of Mendham girls b-ball) add the perfect support for this team.
PICK: Chatham (Gatti puts up 22 in the loss though)

FAKEHEAD: The "Telfon Guard" Phil Gatti is going to light it up, but I don't know if it will be enough to beat those guys from Chatham. Rumor is, the rats in Chatham have grown so large they scrimmage the boys' hoops' team. Uncovered video footage showed that the Rats almost beat the boys last week. I'm not sure but I think the Rats would beat Dover. (Kidding!)

PICK: Chatham

7Summit (0-2) at Parsippany (1-1)

Unruly: I don’t want to be mean, but I am not exactly going to be calling up PayPerView to make sure I don’t miss this one. I am saying this to call out these two teams to wake up a little bit. I think they have the talent to be better. Kehoe and Baker of Summit can put up the points. Healy can hit from the outside. But basketball consists of defense as well. Parsippany is not going to get off easy hear either. Sean Connolly needs to rally his troops and start playing some ball. And Tariq Yaqoobi needs to have his name in the paper more. Bro, if they pass it to you just shoot it. I don’t care if you are open or not. Just start draining them from down town. Your name needs to be in print more.
PICK: Summit

FAKEHEAD: My brother is buddies with a guy named Steve Connolly, I doubt there is any relation to the Connolly on Parsippany, but I heard that kid is pretty good. I mention Connolly because he owns a bar in Boston that is pretty popular. I always wanted to own a bar but he said it is tough because the bartenders are constantly giving drinks away and getting hammered on the job. It almost convinced me that it wasnt' a good idea, but I think the "Iron Hills Bar" would be pretty successful. Of course, no althletes in the conference would be allowed to drink. Sorry kids, you got about 4-5 more years of being underage. (That being said, I see more kids doing coke and percocets in high school than I even imagined - not for nothing but getting caught with that stuff will f*ck up your whole life, trust me - don't do it).
Regardless, Kehoe and Baker have been bright spots for Summit so it's going to be a close one, but I think the Parsippany Red Storm is going to prevail. (I have no clue what Parsippany is called).

PICK: Parsippany

7Roxbury (1-1) at Morristown (0-2)

Unruly: What is up with my favorite player Georgie Bass??? He must be under the weather. I had one guy email me and tell me that G. Bass was the best player in the league. I love this kid, so I didn’t doubt it. But I need to see more. Georgie, I am calling you out. This is your team pal; let’s show Roxbury what MoTown b-ball is all about. Colvin and the Breeman boys need to get off the schnyde as well. To me, this is Morristown’s playoffs. Because Eric Vaccacio, Alex Szarejko and Tom Rosatelli of Roxbury can all score and gel on D. Brian Mohr is a freaking animal too. But, I am going on a limb here and seeing if the Colonials can answer my call.
PICK: Morristown

FAKEHEAD: The "Vac Attack" is going to lead Roxbury over Motown this week. That's right, Eric Vaccacio has been playing great thus far and will continue to do so, even against Unruly's favorite player of all time, George Bass.

PICK: Roxbury

7Morris Hills (2-0) at Parsippany Hills (1-2)

Unruly: Can somebody please tell me if the “The Dude” plays basketball or not? Is he sick or something? I don’t know why I like Morris Hills so much. Maybe it is because their whole football team basically plays hoops. They really do have the making of a good team this year. They have the perfect point man in Adam Katz, who reminds me of Bobby Hurley of the early ‘90’s Duke team (which I just realized most of the readers weren’t even born for so scratch that analogy). Andrew Zelnick, Dan Kellner & the Marotta bros make a pretty good team. But what makes this team special is King Justin (aka Justin D., The Big D, J-Dog, J.D., Snoop Donilosky, Air Donilosky). King Justin actually swallowed a basketball one time at a party. He is just crazy sick (or whatever the kids say these days) on the court. Hey, I am not taking away from what Par Hills has either. I like them. Justin Thomas can put up some solid numbers. Greg DePugh plays good D. Blake Cruz is money from downtown and Brian Becher can get it done. But not on this night.
PICK: MoHills (King Justin scores 30…18 in the first half)

FAKEHEAD: What is about Mo Hills this year, they are just playing well in everything. I'm not sure how their chess or debate teams are doing but damn, they are good in the majors. Look for Donilinsky and Katz to be like Shaq and Kobe in the early 2000s this year. I respect Par Hills, but they won't score more than 45 in this one.

PICK: Morris Hills by 15

7Morris Knolls (0-3) at Seton Hall Prep (1-1)

Unruly: Morris Knolls is beginning to look like they can get out of their funk with Sean Pauls leading the way. But they need Steve Bellani, JJ Boylasn and Brandon Danzy to be more consistent. They need a win in a bad way to start to build on something. But unfortunately it won’t be this night. Ashton and Sterling Gibbs are about to begin their tear through the IHC. I think this is just he beginning of a 10 game winning streak. Stephon Treadwell and Rahmaan Patton will be adding the much need support on the boards and from the field.
PICK: Seton Hall Prep (don’t bother taking your coats off, it will be over before it starts) *That little remark is to wake you up Knolls!

FAKEHEAD: What the heck is going on with the Prep? It seems unbeliveable that Gibbs and Company are 1-2 but they will certainly even out their record against an overmatched Knolls team this Friday. Look for the Prep to romp, and maybe get some confidence back.

PICK: Seton Hall Prep

7Randolph (1-0) at Livingston (1-0)

Unruly: Kyle Aiken is making a name for himself in the IHC. He is on a nice path to All County honors. Justin Foster seems to be on that same path as well. But I haven’t seen enough of this group to see if they can go anywhere as a team. And Livingston might actually be a real contender this year behind Corey Eisen, Ben White, Zack Lomita and Mike Helweil. The problem for Livingston is they play in a tough division with the likes of SHP, Columbia, Morritown and Mt. Olive to contend with. But I just don’t know if Randolph is in the same breath as those I just mentioned.

PICK: Livingston

FAKEHEAD: Somebody's going to be .500 after this game. I think that Kyle Aiken (I hope to God for his sake he is not related to Clay) and Justin Foster are going to prepel Randolph over Eisen, Lomita and company this week. But it's going to be damn close. Should be a good one.
PICK: Randolph

7West Morris (0-2) at Mount Olive (2-0)

Unruly: I would like to see West Morris start to get good at basketball. I know they live in the boondocks, but come on already. First of all Jared Washkas cannot play all the positions. He needs Josh Boyd and Derek Kanbour to play better defense. And I am giving Famularo to start to take more shots from outside. But Mt. Olive is rolling. The Highlanders/Wolfpacks are led by Brian Bublitz. You may remember him from from football season. Bublitz has an easy job because all he needs to do is dish it off to Russell Halloway who is a scoring machine. In fact, Halloway might be the best in the league from downtown. Gerod Hatcher and Danny Gutman also have the ability to put big numbers.
PICK: Mount Olive (Hatcher & Holloway combine for 38 points in the win)

FAKEHEAD: Dannny "Guts" Gutman and Russell Simmons Halloway are just a few of the weapons Mt. Olive has in its arsenal. Washkas at West Morris is carrying the team right now, and unfortunately it's too big for his shoulders. Look for Mt. Olive to roll, especially if they manage to get Washkas in some foul trouble early.

PICK: Mount Olive

7Mendham (1-1) at West Essex (1-1)

Unruly: This should be an awesome game. Jeff George, who comes with much fan fare, and his West Essex Knights will host the Minutemen of Mendham. Josh Sigler and Chris Jung are scoring threats while Rocco Carnevale and Even Elberg can really pound the boards. There is no team the league who tosses up more three’s than Wessex. But Mendham has a strategy. What they do is lure opponents into their kitchen under a false premise. Then they introduce their point guard who comes out to great you. “Hi my name is Chris Hanson. We are doing a story on basketball teams who have too much hype surrounding them. After squirming around in the chair for 10 minutes, Hanson lets them know they are free to leave. When they walk out the door, Rob Berish and Mark Cisco jump on them, cuff them and drop 20 points a piece on them.
PICK: Mendham (This is the beginning of a long winning streak for the Minutemen too)

FAKEHEAD: Mendham is feeling "Berish" after starting the season 1-1 and they have their hands full with a stocked West Essex team. That being said, I think the "Bear Man" as Rob Berish is affectionally referred to as by his fans, will play his heart out, score 20 and take Mendham above .500 this week. By the way, I had no clue Jeff George is now playing hoops for West Essex. The last time I heard of that guy he was quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. This guy will never stop playing sports. Good for him, but somebody might want to make sure he is taking classes at WE.

PICK: Mendham

Best Boys B-Ball Teams Voted by You

1. Chatham (17% of votes)

2. Seton Hall Prep (16%)

3. West Essex (12%)

4. Morris Hills (9%)

5. Mendham (7%)

Best Boys B-Ball Players Voted by You

1. Jeff George - West Essex (23%)

2. Billy Oliver - Chatham (16%)

3. Ashton Gibbs - Seton Hall Prep (13%)

4. Moss - Livingston - Livingston (7%)

5. Chris Kehoe - Summit (5%)

*Keep voting if you disagree. Or if there is someone else, put their name in the "other" field. Keep voting all season long.

Girls Hoops Picks (Monday & Tuesday Games)

Monday

7Morris Knolls at Newton
We finally get to see what the Knolls has got in their ranks. They have a lot of returning letter-women but it is all question marks right now. But I think all that experience last year will help the Knolls this year. Look for Alyssa Meola and Nicolette Radovic to gel too.
PICK: Knolls

7Columbia at Westfield
Westfield should not even come out tonight. Columbia shouldn't even have to get off the bus. It is not a matter if JJ Sullivan and the Columbia Diva's will beat down on you, it is how bad. Columbia is my pick to go all the way. They are a true team. Abigail Martin has the best game of her career tonight.
PICK: Columbia (easy)

Tuesday

4Chatham at Mendham
Chatham is good...or shall I say Julia Moorehead is good. They broke how big against Par Hills in a 58-24 shilacking. But Mendham is not too shabby behind Kathleen Wiese and my favorite player in the league (strictly because of her name) Sassy Weinstein. But Chatham is too good.
PICK: Chatham

7Morris Hills at Dover
Jessie Bertolli and Coleen Kelly will try to gather the troops to lead a victory over Casey Boyle and the Dover Tigers. But Stephanie Salterelli will be the x-factor in this game.
PICK: Dover

7Hanover Park at Parsippany Hills
Ahh, my Alma mater...back in the '80's nothing was better than HP Girls Hoops. I think they are making a resurgence with head man Doug Wear. Especially when you consider having one of the best girls hoopsters in the conference in Ashley Addison. Lindsey Singer is not too shabby either. Jessica Zabito of Par Hills is no slouch, but what about the rest of the team. They need more than one person scoring to win games.
PICK: HP

7Morris Knolls at Livingston
For the second night in a row Knolls runs wild and beats Livingston. Nicolette Radovic decides she is the best player on her team and leads the team in scoring in this one. Alyscia Zulauf (any relation to the poet from Succassuana anybody?) is good, but she can't play every position.
PICK: Knolls

7Weequahic at Parsippany
Kenyadah Mitchell and Jade Pinkett (Will Smith's wife) will prove to work well together this year. But Parippany has one thing to say to Weequahic, "Elena Noonan", will will unload for 18 in this one. Aysun Malta will also add another 10.
PICK: Parisppany

7Morristown at East Orange
Morristown is good. Teresa Towns and Caitlin McGuire will put on a show this game. However, putting on a show will not get it done. Especially when Shaleah Alston puts up 25 in her best game ever. Ava Burke lets Morristown know that she is not to be messed with as she pulls down 8 boards in this battle.
PICK: E.O. (in a close one)

7Randolph at Mount Olive
Candace Shpock and Kathleen Naddaff both have the ability to put up 15 points a game each. And they will need to both do that if they want to beat the mighty M.O. Autumn Harnish (10pts a game is just too powerful. Plus teammate Breanna Mitchell will be having a breakout game.
PICK: M.O.

7Roxbury at West Morris
Sarah Gage will score 14 and Cori Younghans will score 13 in this battle. The problem is that Haley D'Angelo will score 20 and Emily Peel will score 15 and have 5 rebounds in this Iron Division battle.
PICK: West Morris (but it will be a battle)

8Summit at West Essex
Some people think Ali Cassara is the best in the Iron and the Hills division. I am not sure I can disagree. And Colleen Caprio is perfect in the supporting cast role. I don't know what they are feeding kids in North Caldwell but they seem to be dominating every sport these days. Alex Reese and Jenna Wilson will try to knock Wessex off their perch. But Wessex is too big of a bird.
PICK: West Essex


TOP 5 GIRLS B-BALLERS VOTED BY YOU:

Player - School Votes %
Julia Moorehead - Chatham 137 39%
Ashley Addison - HP 42 12%
Alyscia Zulauf - Livingston 29 8%
Ali Cassara - West Essex 23 7%
Cori Younghans - Roxbury 22 6%

We Had to Add a Few Players since the Daily Record Clearly forgot a Few guys!

Okay, we know that the Daily Record is the ugly step sister of the Star Ledger, but common! There are a few major holes in this year's All Daily Record football picks. Oh, I will not take anything away from the kids who are on this list. But I have a few problems with who is NOT on this list. And since this is the Iron Hills Sports website, I will address all of the Iron Hills boys who are not on the list and who definately should be on the list.

The first major problem I have is why is Dan Kellner on there as a Punter??? If Joe Hoffman had something to do with this list, he dropped the ball big time here. Is Kellner even the punter? First of all, the guy is one of the best QB's and team leaders in the league. I am not going to rattle off all his stats but the freaking guy threw for over 3,000 yards his entire football career. The Daily Record wrote about him every week. And he took his team to a 10-2 record and played in the State Finals. Plus he was a great defensive back. If you need to fill in the blank, then put him as honorable mention. Don't disgrace us by giving Kellner That right there is a travesty!!!

Kellner is the man. Kellner definately deserves more respect. He shouldn't be getting it from here. I will give it to the Daily Record for putting "The Dude" on the first team. I would completely protest the Daily Record for a very long time if they dissed the Dude.

Another guy who I feel went completely under the Radar was John Wiskow from Mendham. He started out the season having a TD in the first three or four games. But he made some really spectacular catches and runs. I saw one real athletic move against West Essex that most kids would have not even caught. But he caught it and made a really nice move to get it in for six. And although the team lost, his play gave them a much need spark. He should have at the very least gotten Honorable Mention.

Also, another guy who should have gotton some props is Frank Vasquez from Dover. That kid makes every catch and every tackle. He was definately deserving of an Honorable Mention here, at the very least. I think he might be an underclassmen as most of that team was, I hope he is so he can get on this list next year. Actually, I like that Dover team. Even though they stunk. But I say that in a good way. This team did more losing than anything else, but they never quit. And you know what, that says a lot about the character of those kids. Beleive me, Dover will be tough next year.

Fowler was probably the best all around back in the Hills Division. Their QB should have gotten an honorable mention. I forget his name, but he is the guy who broke his leg in the middle of the season. Oh yeah, Joe Scialampo. He should be on there because he was a solid guy. In fact, I was sure that was it for their team when he went down. But DePugh who came up in back up did a great job too. He will be solid next year. But Scialampo should at least get a Honorable Mention.

Of course, this is basically Morris County teams and they didn't include West Essex. But if there were I am sure Hayek, Agrifolio and the rest of the New England Patriots would have been mentioned.

Allgood from Chatham, anybody? This guy made every freaking tackle for Chatham. What the hell??? I am not asking for a First or Second Team pick but how about an Honorable Mention?

Anthony Prior from H.P. He comes from a long line of tough Prior boys. For that alone he should have gotten and Honorable Mention. Let me tell you, I saw this guy play a few times. He caught my eye and I wasn't even looking for him. Any player who fearlessly puts his head in front of a steam rolling running back deserves something. I hope Prior is an underclassmen bc I want to see more of him next year.

More on Mendham, Calavero should also be on the Honorable Mention list. He was a major part of that line. Aaron DeWitt definately deserves the First Team. I am glad he got that. He was always the dirtiest player by the end of the game. I see that kid being a coach one day. He was like Chad Pennington on the side lines they way he cheered everybody on.

Also, Mike Salerno should be up there for Honorable Mention. Riposta should have gotten at least Second Team honors. And Santomo is a First Teamer, NOT A QUESTION.

Seton Hall Prep is not on there. But one guy who should have been named but probably won't be is Allen Buzbee. He won't be named because he didn't play. But that was only because he broke his leg in a preseason game. But he was so good he got a D1 scholarship basedon his junior year. He is going to U. of NH. For what I just said, he deserves something. Beleive me, it sucks to lose your last year of HS football.

Well, the point is...is there are tons of great players in our Iron Hills. I know I really didn't touch much on the Iron Division.

With that said, next Football Season, this site will be the number one resource for all of your Iron Hills Football needs. I know it sort of favored the Hills divison for the most part, but the Iron will get its due coverage next year. I will spend the rest of the Winter and Spring Sports getting the kinks out.

If you have some feedback, please take the 10 Question Survey on the right hand side. I really value what you have to say and will make changes based on what you say.

*****Also, and this is the most important. If you are creative and are interested in journalism. Or even if you just like talking smack, and want to say something about teams in the Iron Hills, then this is the place for you. Seriously, I am looking for some writers to contribute to this site. The pay is great and the working conditions are very nice. Okay, the pay sucks (it actually doesnt pay anything) and you work from home. But this will be great for your college resume. Even if you are a dad or a mom, just send me and email and I will lay down the ground rules (which is basically no swearing). You will have all the creative freedom in the world. All interested parties send me an email at unruly@ironhillssports.com. Thank you!*****