By ADAM ZAGORIA & JOHN PAVIA
UNION, N.J. — Nineteen miles from where the NBA All-Star Game will take place Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, several high school stars with designs on one day playing in such a game battled it out before an electric capacity crowd at Kean University’s Harwood Arena.
In the end, LSU-bound Ben Simmons and Montverde (FL) Academy prevailed over Kentucky-bound Isaiah Briscoe and Roselle (N.J.) Catholic, 71-64.
“He played well, he did his thing. His teammates played well and overall they’re a good team,” Simmons said of Briscoe.
“That’s my guy, we was chit-chatting at the free throw line,” Briscoe said of Simmons.
Both players are headed to the McDonald’s All-American Game April 1 at Chicago’s United Center, and both are projected as Top 10 picks in the 2016 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
The 6-foot-10 Simmons battled foul trouble and finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists for Montverde, while Briscoe recovered from a slow start to score 13 of his 18 in the second half for Roselle.
Florida-bound forward Noah Dickerson scored a game-best 22 points for Montverde, playing exceptionally well when Simmons sat in the second half with foul trouble.
South Carolina-bound forward Chris Silva was active in the paint and in transition for the Lions, scoring a game-best 27 points to go with 14 rebounds.
Simmons, a consensus top-two prospect in the 2015 class and currently projected as the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com, could be one-and-done next year at LSU.
“Definitely, you know, that’s a goal of mine, to play in the NBA,” the Australian big man said on Thursday. “I mean that’s another accolade that you can add to being in the NBA, but that’s definitely one of the goals of mine.”
Montverde Academy coach Kevin Boyle , who made his annual return home to New Jersey where he coached St. Patrick for two decades, agreed with the notion that Simmons could end up playing in the All-Star Game down the road, but maintained that Simmons needs to continue adding to and improving his game.
“I think he’s got the potential to be an All-Star, but obviously, he’s got to keep getting better,” Boyle said. “He’s got to keep improving his perimeter game which has gotten a lot better. But I think he’s got a very good chance, as long as he stays humble and keeps the work ethic of being a top 20 player in the league at some point, so I’d be hopeful and kind of expect of him to reach that goal.”
Simmons picked up his fourth foul with 5:35 left in the third quarter and Roselle up 35-34. But without their McDonald’s All-American, Dickerson dominated in the paint as Montverde pushed ahead 48-42.
Dickerson scored 11 points in the third period as Montverde went ahead 50-46.
After a slow first half, Briscoe heated up in the second, repeatedly shooting mid- or long-range jumpers, but seemed to tire late. He also struggled defensively. He missed a 3-point attempt at the 1:41 mark that would have cut the deficit to three points.
A Dickerson dunk put Montverde up 64-56 with 1:32 remaining and sent the crowd to the exits.
Roselle took a 31-29 halftime lead behind 12 points from the 6-7 Silva, who was aggressive in the paint and in transition.
There were several first-half highlights, including a vicious dunk by Roselle’s 6-10 freshman Naz Reid over Dickerson and a nasty crossover move by Briscoe that ended with him draining a 3-pointer.
“He’s [Briscoe] a great guard,” Simmons said. “He can get to the rim, get fouled, shoot the ball, but for me, it’s just coming in to play as a team because you know one man is not going to win the game for them.”
Boyle echoed Simmons’ sentiments about Briscoe’s talent and also mentioned that he actually coached Briscoe when he was in fourth grade.
“Isaiah’s a confident guard,” Boyle said. “His confidence reminds me of D’Angelo Russell who played for us and is now at Ohio State. He’s capable of taking over a game. He kind of reminds me a little bit too of [former St. Patrick and Villanova guard] Corey Fisher because he’s a strong guard, uses his body well. He’s not a great shooter, but he has games where he can shoot great. He’s good at the mid-range game, he’s great at creating contact, and you know, he’s one of the better guards in the country, without question.”
FREE THROWS
Roselle’s Reid holds offers from UConn, Seton Hall, Iowa and Maryland, among others…On Thursday, Simmons and his teammates took a tour of Newark Beth Israel hospital and took a photo with a young basketball fan being treated there. Brendan Boyle, Kevin’s son, was once treated at the hospital….In the first game, Our Savior New American took care of Linden (N.J.), 67-55, thanks to 23 points from McDonald’s All-American Cheick Diallo….Montverde will play St. Benedict’s Prep on Saturday back at Kean.
Photos: Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com; Jonathan Givony
