The Associated Press All-State basketball meeting is Thursday at the Home News Tribune. What happens is a group of sports reporters from around the state (excluding the Ledger which picks its own team) gathers in a room and hashes out the teams. Basketball is much quicker and easier than football, which features larger teams. Keep in mind that St. Benedict’s and other prep schools are not included in the AP team, so Samardo Samuels and his teammates will not be included here. Obviously, Samuels would be a first-teamer if preps were included. At any rate, here are the ZAGSBLOG All-State teams for 2007-08. Fire away with your comments.
FIRST TEAM
Ashton Gibbs, Sr. G, Seton Hall Prep
23.1 ppg, 113 3-pointers, 5 rpg, 5 apg; All-time leading scorer in school history
Mike Rosario, Sr. G, St. Anthony
19 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg
Dexter Strickland, Jr. G, St. Patrick
16.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4 apg, 2 spg
Tyshawn Taylor, Sr. G, St. Anthony
10 ppg; 4 apg
Quintrell Thomas, Sr. F, St. Patrick
14.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2 spg, 2 bpg
Desmond Wade, Sr. G, Linden
19.1 ppg, 8.2 apg, 6.1 rpg, 3.8 spg
SECOND TEAM
TJ Dileo, Sr. G, Cinnaminson – 23.9 ppg, 6 rpg
Bryan Dougher, Sr. G, Scotch Plains-Fanwood – 21.4 ppg, 4 apg
Jio Fontan, Sr. G, St. Anthony – 9 ppg, 6 apg
Kenneth Ortiz, Jr. G, Science Park – 12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4 spg, 4 apg
Jordan Theodore, Sr. G, Paterson Catholic – 16.9 ppg, 6.9 apg, 4.1 spg
Travon Woodall, Sr. G, St. Anthony – 10 ppg, 3 apg
THIRD TEAM
Mike Burwell, Sr. G, Cardinal McCarrick
Andre Byrdsong, Sr. C, Rancocas Valley – 16.7 ppg
Will Campbell, Sr. G, Paul VI – 22.4 ppg
Dominic Cheek, Jr. G/F, St. Anthony – 10 ppg
Jeff Cullinan, Sr. F, Immaculata – 17 ppg, 8 rpg
Bilal Dixon, Sr. C, Queen of Peace- 18.4 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 6.2 bpg
