By Christian Mordi - @mordi_thecomeup on Twitter / @thecomeupradio on IG
Team: Paterson Eastside
Ranking: 22
Record Last season: 20-6, 10-0 in conference play
Key players: Nahzir Smith, senior
Potential emerging stars: Lamar Johnson, junior
Team analysis: Eastside re-emerged as one of New Jersey’s best public schools in 2016. The were dominant in conference play. They also played a rigorous out of conference schedule which boasted wins against, Montclair Immaculate, Hackensack and St. Joe's Montvale.
Heading in 2017, the expectations for Eastside are a lot higher. Many expect The Ghosts to compete for the Passaic County Tournament title. The Ghosts are a nightmare for teams due to their relentless pressing throughout the course of the game. The constant pressure forces the ball into the hands of players who are uncomfortable making strong dribble drives at the rim. The defensive pressure allows Eastside to turn the game into a rat race. The team is led by Nahzir Smith, who was an All-Group 4 selection in 2016. Look for Smith to take his game to another level and show NJ that he is one of the best seniors in the state.
Stat to know: In 2016, Eastside went undefeated in the Big North conference. During those 10 conference games, nine of the contests were one by 10 or more points. With P.E. returning four of their top five scorers another undefeated season in the division could be looming.