Before high school basketball dribbles into February, we take a look back at the best performances in the final week of the calendar’s first month.
Here are some of the top players from South Jersey for the fourth week of January.
Records and stats are through Sunday’s games.
Vote for your choice in the poll at the bottom of the story.
Burlington County League
Jayden Henley, Willingboro. The senior helped spark the Chimeras to three wins last week and finished with 43 points, 12 steals and nine rebounds in four games. He hit double figures in points in three games, including a game-high 16 in a 42-40 win over Florence.
Azmir Taylor, Palmyra. The Panthers closed out the week with consecutive wins over Pennsauken Tech and STEMCivics and Taylor had a combined 26 points over the stretch. The senior tallied 18 points in the week’s finale, raising his season scoring average to 13.4.
Jackson Veneziano, Delran. The freshman had 10 points and seven steals during a victory over Pennsauken Tech and picked up nine points, three assists and two steals in a win against Moorestown Friends. Veneziano has 29 steals in nine games this season.
More:Top performers from South Jersey boys basketball from third week of January
Colonial Conference
Julian Johnson, Sterling. The junior remained a productive and consistent scorer for the Silver Knights, who picked up two wins in three tries. Johnson delivered 15 points apiece in victories over Collingswood and West Deptford and netted 13 in a loss to Moorestown. He’s scored double-digit points in 13 straight games, raising his season average to 13.1.
Matthew Morris, Haddonfield. The senior delivered a pair of 21-point games as Haddonfield went on the road and returned with four straight wins last week, extending their unbeaten streak to 19. Morris knocked down 10 shots beyond the arc in three games, including a career-best five triples in a win over Nottingham. Morris has 40 buckets from beyond the arc this season.
JaSuan Solomon, Woodbury. The junior tied a career-high with 23 rebounds to highlight the Thundering Herd’s 50-49 win over West Deptford. Solomon posted a double-double in the game, scoring 13 points to go along with five steals and four assists. It was his second 20-plus rebound game of the season for Solomon He also scored 17 points in a victory over Gloucester to close out the week.
More:Top performers from South Jersey boys basketball from second week of January
Olympic Conference
Tye Dorset, Lenape. The senior checked into the 1,000-career point club last week, reaching the milestone during Lenape’s 48-38 victory over rival Cherokee. Two nights earlier, Dorset knocked down a career-high 35 points in an 80-44 triumph against Seneca. The Merrimack College-bound senior also had a pair of 11-point games in wins over Eastern and St. Augustine during the week, raising his career total to 1,021.
Luke Kennevan, Camden Catholic. The junior knocked down 54 points over a four-game stretch to help power the Irish to a 3-1 record. Kennevan started the week with a 17-point effort in a victory over Cherokee and closed out the stretch with a team-high 18 points as Camden Catholic pinned a 61-54 loss on rival Paul VI.
Montre Wilson, Rancocas Valley. The Red Devils got back on track as they picked up wins over Highland and Haddon Township last week. Wilson, a junior guard, produced his two highest scoring games of the season over the stretch, including a career-high 23 points against the Tartans. He added 18 points against Haddon Township in the Jeff Coney Showcase on the Red Devils’ home court.
More:Top performers from South Jersey boys basketball from first week of January
Tri-County Conference
Elijah Crispin, Pitman. The junior joined the 1,000-career point club, becoming the 18th boy from Pitman and the fifth member of his family to achieve the feat. He reached the milestone during a 36-point performance against Salem on Tuesday. He hit 14 of 16 foul shots during that game. Crispin scored 26 and 21 points in wins over Glassboro and Cumberland as the Panthers went 3-0 for the week. Crispin has 1,074 points for his career.
Daulton Phalines, Clearview. The sophomore stuffed the stat sheet at the Pioneers pulled off three wins against Penns Grove, Williamstown and West Deptford last week. Phalines combined for 41 points, 24 rebounds, 11 assists, four blocks and five steals in the three games. He is averaging 11.6 points and 8.0 rebounds this season.
Rocco String, Woodstown. The junior posted a monster double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds as the Wolverines knocked off Clayton on Thursday. He also had eight points, seven rebounds and four blocks in a victory against Schalick as Woodstown went 2-0 for the week. String is averaging 9.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Cape-Atlantic League
Cohen Cook, Mainland. The Mustangs bounced back with three straight wins last week and Cook served up plenty of production over the stretch. After a 20-point performance against Egg Harbor Township, Cook knocked down 22 points against Holy Spirit and 16 more against Cedar Creek. With double-digit scoring in every game this season, Cook boasts a 20.4 scoring average.
Bubba McNeil, Middle Township. After surpassing the 1,000-career point mark in a win over Millville on Jan. 22, McNeil delivered two clutch performances in victories against Ocean City and Wildwood Catholic. He posted 14 points and seven rebounds against OC and had a season-high 25 points with six triples against WC. McNeil has 1,042 career points.
Darrell Newton, Oakcrest. The senior knocked down a game-high 18 points as the Falcons closed out their week with a 55-53 victory over Millville. Newton tallied 12 points in a win over Buena two days earlier as the Falcons soared over the .500 mark with the state tournament cutoff quickly approaching. Newton is averaging 14.5 points per game this winter.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.