Well-balanced Newark East Side squares off with a Montclair Immaculate team largely driven thus far by the exploits of senior guard Jalen Carey Friday afternoon in a Top 20 battle that will carry implications even outside the statewide rankings. They tip off at 4 p.m. at Caldwell University.
East Side (7-1), currently ranked No. 12 in the NJ.com Top 20, is undefeated in the Super Essex Conference-American Division, while 13th-ranked Immaculate (5-1) lost on opening night to division foe Seton Hall Prep, 61-58, at the Hoop Group Tip-Off Showcase. The result of this game is also likely to have bearing on the seeds for the Essex County Tournament early next month.
RELATED: NJ.com Boys Basketball Top 20
Senior guard Shamir Johnson (12.3 ppg.), senior forward DeAndre Speight (12.7 ppg.) and senior guard Jahid Jenkins (10.7) lead the way for an East Side club that has reeled off six consecutive wins since a 78-73 loss to sixth-ranked Don Bosco Prep Dec. 17 at the Tip-Off Showcase. No one has to remind anyone in Immaculate's camp that it lost all three meetings with the Red Raiders last year, including a 59-56 setback in the ECT semifinal.
Carey was a star last year and the year before that for Immaculate, and the Syracuse-bound youngster has displayed an even wider array of skills this season. He's averaging 26.3 ppg., including a season-high 33 points Dec. 28 against St. James (Md.) at the Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, Del., and 28 to help the Lions upset No. 5 Ranney at the New Year's Jump-Off in Paterson.
Immaculate also has gotten steady contributions from 6-7 senior forward Justin Winston (14.6 ppg.), sophomore forward Elijah Hutchins-Everett and surprising freshman guard Jayden Brown.