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St. Peter’s Prep senior defensive lineman George Rooks, the Hudson Reporter Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, announced his intention to attend the University of Michigan in the fall
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Snyder guard Jaylin Roberts should be the top player for the Tigers this season
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St. Peter’s Prep senior defensive lineman George Rooks, the Hudson Reporter Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, announced his intention to attend the University of Michigan in the fall
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Snyder guard Jaylin Roberts should be the top player for the Tigers this season
As the 2020 high school basketball season was drawing to a close last March, veteran Snyder boys’ head coach Shelton Gibbs had to figure that he had a good team returning for the upcoming campaign.
Then, the wheels started to come off the Tigers’ wagon.
Returning All-County players Sha’Heed Jenkins-Floyd and Dajer Muldrow both announced their intentions to transfer to other schools – Jenkins-Floyd was off to Union City, while Muldrow was leaving for Trenton Catholic.
Through it all, Gibbs never once doubted himself, never blamed himself for the players’ departure.
“I never questioned myself at all,” said Gibbs, a former college basketball standout player during his days at St. Peter’s College. “I had no control over it. I didn’t take it as a loss to the program, although sometimes you do have to lose in order to win. I know that I coached both of them well. I know I give every player my all as a coach. I teach them what they need to know to get ready for the next level.”
Gibbs also lost three-time All-Hudson County selection Corey Manning-Floyd to graduation. Manning-Floyd was a First Team All-County choice last year.
Gibbs instantly flipped his roster and turned the program upside down.
“I’m used to coaching younger players,” Gibbs said. “So it was up to me to make these younger players better. It’s easy to coach talent. Just give me some guys who want to play hard and want to learn. I feel like I can still coach.”
As the new season began last week with basically a new roster, Gibbs said that he has an intent young group, ready to listen and learn.
“It was so quiet in the gym that you could hear mice pee on cotton,” Gibbs said. “They listen. They learn. They take it all in. They’re all ears. They’re on time. That’s all that a coach could ask for. Yesterday we had one of our best practices. They’re cheering each other on. That’s the beauty of having a young team.”
Gibbs is counting on football star Corshon Cousins to lead the way on the hardwood. The 6-foot-1 senior Cousins is a power forward who missed all of last season due to injury.
“He’s a physical inside player,” Gibbs said. “He’s a vocal leader. He’s the kind of kid that you want to have on your team. He’s going to work hard and going to give everything he has out there on the floor.”
Senior Jaylin Roberts is a 5-foot-8 guard.
“He didn’t play much last year,” Gibbs said of Roberts. “He is a hard worker who comes to practice every day and works hard.”
Roberts can play either guard position.
“He can shoot the ball as well,” Gibbs said. “He first transferred to Ferris and then came back to Snyder.”
Senior Nicholas Jones is a 6-foot-4 forward who played junior varsity last season.
“He’s a good rebounder,” Gibbs said. “He’s going to do the best he can out there.”
Sophomore Ahmad Robertson is a 6-foot point guard.
“He’s a pretty good shooter,” Gibbs said of Robertson. “He can handle the ball well. His upside is very good. He’s not too flashy. He just needs to work on his defense.”
Sophomore John Hopson is a 6-foot-1 forward who transferred to Snyder from Hudson Catholic.
“He’s a nice player,” Gibbs said. “He’s a playmaker who plays good defense. He also has a good basketball IQ.”
Sophomore Deon Keahey is a 6-foot-1 forward and another product from coach Matt Gallo’s football program.
“He’s a physical player who plays hard,” Gibbs said. “He rebounds well.”
Senior Jamere Shaw is a 5-foot-9 guard who played last year at University Charter, which has declined to field a team this season due to the COVID concerns and testing.
“He will come off the bench for us,” Gibbs said of Shaw.
Sophomore Nazir Mingo is a 6-foot-4 forward who is a newcomer to varsity basketball.
“He will play a lot for us,” Gibbs said.
So despite the losses to transfers and graduation, the Tigers will be competitive once again. Gibbs won’t see it any other way.
“To me, if it ain’t rough, it ain’t right,” Gibbs said. “I’m going to coach the players I have. I’m going to have some fun with them and try to get the most out of them. I’m happy. I’m teaching young kids. It’s what I do best. They’re listening and learning. If they play hard, then that’s the only thing I can ask of them.”
Gibbs could be bitter and upset and vengeful. But he’s a coach and that’s what he’s going to do, coach his team…
After months of speculation and rumor, stalwart St. Peter’s Prep defensive lineman George Rooks, the Hudson Reporter Defensive Player of the Year for 2020, has announced his intentions to attend the University of Michigan and will sign a scholarship letter with the school as soon as possible.
Rooks may have waited out the contract dilemma of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who just inked a five-year deal to remain in Ann Arbor.
Rooks had always stated that Michigan was high on his list of potential colleges, but didn’t make the decision official until last week. He will be a major player in his time with the Wolverines…
North Bergen native Shayla Morales, a standout cross country runner at Felician University, was selected as the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Student-Athlete for the month of December, the CACC Commissioner Dan Mara announced.
Morales earned the honor not only for her performance running cross country, but for her performance in the classroom and for giving back to her family and the local community.
Morales helped the Golden Falcons finish second in the CACC Championships, their highest finish since the 2007 season. She was clocked in a school-record 18:40 for a five-kilometer course.
Morales, a former Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week during her days at North Bergen High a few years ago, is now a junior at Felician. She is majoring in social and behavioral sciences at the school, located in Rutherford. She owns an impressive 3.65 grade point average and was named to the CACC All-Academic and United States Track and Field College Academic All-American.
Morales works for a daycare center, but is also the primary caretaker for her mother, who is battling medical issues. She’s the first Felician women’s cross country runner to receive the CACC Student Athlete of the Month award…
Hudson Reporter Boys’ High School Basketball Top Five: 1. Union City. 2. St. Peter’s Prep. 3. Hudson Catholic. 4. Lincoln. 5. North Bergen…
Hudson Reporter Girls’ High School Basketball Top Five: 1. Hudson Catholic. 2. Bayonne. 3. Secaucus. 4. Union City. 5. Lincoln. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com
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