Featured Players

Newark National Invitational
Featured Players participating in the 2011 Invitational

TOP BOYS PLAYERS	TOP GIRLS PLAYERS
VAUGHN GRAY ST. BENEDICT'S The 6-5 wing has been the Gray Bees most versatile player so far this year after having transferred from Don Bosco, where he helped the school from Ramsey win 40 games over the past two seasons. Gray signed his national letter of intent in November to play for George Mason next year.	SHAKENA RICHARDSON NEPTUNE Bound for Rutgers, the 5-5 point guard (12.3 ppg., 3.9 apg. last year) was a First Team All-Stater last winter for The Star-Ledger. She earned an incredible trifecta last year was she was named in Most Valuable Player in the Shore Conference Tournament, the Group 3 championship and Tournament of Champions final.
TYLER HARRIS ST. BENEDICT'S The 6-8 senior forward transferred to the Newark school after averaging almost 15 ppg. last year at Dix Hills, N.Y. Harris has is trying to develop a strong inside game under the tutelage of first-year St. Benedict’s coach and former NBA big man Roshown McLeod. Harris, who currently leads the Gray Bees in scoring, is headed to N.C. State.	SYESSENCE DAVIS NEPTUNE While backcourt partner and fellow Rutgers recruit Shakena Richardson supplies the offensive finesse, the 5-7 Davis, a First Team All-Stater, provides the defensive grit. Endlessly active within multiple presses, Davis induces turnovers that she can convert into points in transition and her offensive output (12.1 ppg.) tends to get overlooked.
LA QUINTON ROSS LIFE CENTER ACADEMY The Ohio State-bound Ross, a native of Mississippi, helped lead Life Center past St. Benedict’s, 80-77, in a December showdown by scoring 25 points. He developed his skills as a point guard before shooting up to his current frame of 6-feet, 8-inches tall.	CHYNA GOLDEN NEPTUNE Although Neptune’s backcourt gets all the hype, the 6-2 senior center, offers the reigning Tournament of Champions winner a dependable target inside. Opponents might be surprised to see the Pitt-bound pivot turn and nail the mid-range jumper instead of always looking to go to the basket.
JOHN JOHNSON LIFE CENTER ACADEMY Johnson transferred from Girard College High School in Philadelphia to join Ross at Life Center and give the school from Burlington a lethal one-two punch. Johnson, who was courted by the likes of Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Penn State and Villanova, was the first commit from the Class of 2011 to the University of Pittsburgh.	ALIYYAH HANDFORD SHABAZZ The 5-9 junior guard is another First Team All-Stater from a year ago gracing the NNI this year. She is a sleek penetrator off the dribble or as an added interior option, where she can finish at the rim with a quick move or elevate to clear rebounds.
STERLING GIBBS SETON HALL PREP The senior guard was the second leading scorer in Essex County last season at 22.7 ppg. and he usually saved his best for the biggest games. He averaged 23.3 ppg. in the Essex County Tournament and was at 29.3 in three state games. Gibbs, headed to Maryland, has excellent outside range, is among the state's best at running the floor and also is a crafty defensive player.	ALYESHA LOVETT SHABAZZ The 5-11 senior, always a viable threat offensively, has developed immense confidence in other areas, particularly on defense, where her length and tenacity deny penetration. The Cincinnati-bound swing can hit from downtown or attack off the wings.
DALLAS ANGLIN SETON HALL PREP The 6-2 junior guard, who transferred last year from St. Peter's Prep, joined an already talented backcourt when he teamed up with the Maryland-bound Gibbs for the Pirates. Anglin is explosive off the dribble, a solid shooter and a strong, conscientious player at the defensive end.
TORE VICARISI MENDHAM The 6-4 front man has a tremendous physicality to his game, which helped him average 20.7 points and 7 rebounds last year for a Mendham side that won the Morris County and Group 3 state championships.