SUPPLY SIDE: Princeton Supply’s Troy Jones looks to pass the ball last August in the championship series of the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Jones helped top-seeded Princeton Supply sweep third-seeded Lob City in the best-of-three series to earn its second straight league title. Jones is back this summer as Princeton Supply looks to earn a title three-peat. The league is tipping off its 36th year on June 11 with a doubleheader. As of press time, with the Community Park outdoor courts currently being repaired, the league was hoping to play the games at the Princeton Middle School gym. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
As the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League tips off its 36th year this Wednesday night, it boasts the talent across its eight squads to produce another competitive campaign.
“It is a solid group; from one to eight, there are no duds in there,” said Princeton Recreation Department Executive Director and League Commissioner Evan Moorhead. “These are all teams that, on paper, should be able to compete.”
The key story line for the season which features an opening night doubleheader at the Princeton High gym revolves around whether any team can dethrone two-time defending champion Princeton Supply, which went undefeated last summer on the way to its title repeat.
“On paper, they have got everything,” said Moorhead, noting that the last title three-peat in the league was achieved by LoyalTees, which won titles in 2018, 2019, and 2021. (The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.)
“They have got size, they have got speed and quickness and to that mix they add Gefen Bar Cohen (former Princeton High and Kenyon College standout) who is a top-tier player. They have the big kid Pete Sorber along with Mike Kane and Troy Jones. They have a backcourt of Shaquan Worthy and Quayson Williams. They have all of the pieces, the other teams better load up if they are going to take them on.”
The team’s manager, Phil Vigliano, or “Coach Phil” as he is known, is determined to build a dynasty.
“Coach Phil has been in the league for years, it took him a while to get the right pieces together to make a championship run,” added Moorhead. “Now that he has them, he is not letting go. Every year, it is like he adds a piece trying to keep the wolves at bay and keep the championship streak going.
Lob City, last year’s other championship finalist, will be aiming to snap that streak.
“Lob City was a new entry but with some guys who had played in the league before,” said Moorhead. “They had an understanding of what it takes to compete with some local guys. They made a really nice run there at the end of the season. They have some of the same guys. Salam Simon is the manager. Derrick Woods is a big kid with an inside, outside game. Kenar Gully had a really strong year for them. Myles Mitchell White is a great ball handler and distributor. They have some pieces, I anticipate that they are going to be right there again. They are one of the teams that could challenge Princeton Supply for that title.”
A new entry this summer is Play Smart which is comprised of players on the Mercer County Community College men’s hoops team that is coached by former Princeton University star and assistant coach Howard Levy.
“It has been a long time coming,” said Moorhead. “Howie has been in touch a couple of other years about getting them into the league. Either he didn’t have enough guys or by the time he reached out, it was already too late. I am excited they are in. It makes a lot of sense, they are local too.”
The J Majeski Foundation, a league stalwart, is another team that features a college roster as it is made up of players from The College of New Jersey.
“They did have an off year last year,” said Moorhead. “They won it in ’22 and it was a bit of a surprise. For them, it is all about which of their guys show up. If they can bring their top players and most of their roster, they are going to be extremely competitive.”
Another squad that has brought a college flavor to the league is YSU which has featured former Lincoln University player Freddie Young Jr. and some of his college teammates in the past.
“I anticipate, given how competitive they have been in the last couple of years, they are going to put a very competitive team out there again,” said Moorhead, noting that YSU made the league semis last year. “Freddie Young Jr. is back and is in charge of the roster. Freddie Sr.coaches AAU and there are a lot of guys from Mercer County and Burlington County area that have played for him. They will be a good team.”
Tropical Smoothie, which was the Jefferson Plumbing entry last year, is led by Princeton Rec Department Program Supervisor and Princeton Day School boys’ hoops assistant coach Chris Petrucelli figures to be competitive.
“It is a pretty similar group, he has Connor Rushing, Connor Topping (a former PDS standout) with Tim Evidente (a PHS alum) and Jahan Owusu (another former PHS star),” said Moorhead. “He has the PDS/PHS mix. We lost the SpeedPro team that had Tim, Judd Petrone, Jack Suozzi and some of those PHS kids. I am glad at least one or two of them have landed on another team to have that local flavor. Having PHS alums in the league is what this league is all about, they don’t have a lot of size on that roster.”
The Novi Wealth squad is back but will be without star guard Kevin Johnson.
“The big news there is that Kevin moved out of state and John Pozzick is taking over for him as the manager,” said Moorhead. “Kevin was the engine for that team end-to-end. He was, if not the quickest player, in the top three in terms of quickness on the court so that is a big loss. Jalen Parham is back, he moved and now he is back. He was an all-league performer.”
The 1911 Smokehouse squad didn’t catch fire last summer but has the talent to make an impact.
“They had a rough year, it was little unexpected,” said Moorhead. “They have some good names the team, it shows you how competitive the league is. Juwan Harrison is a big-time scorer. John Armstead had a really good year last year. He can shoot and score. This guys have all played.”
With the Community Park outdoor courts currently under repair, the league will be going inside in the early going. As of press time, the league was hoping to play the games at the Princeton Middle School gym.
“My feeling is that I always want the league to be outdoors; that is where the league started and that is where it belongs and where we get the fan support,” said Moorhead. “I want to get the inside games out of the way early so I don’t tempt the weather gods. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing after the court is repaired. It gives us some flexibility.”
No matter where the games take place, Moorhead is fired up to see how the 36th year of league plays out.
“I am excited about it as always,” said Moorhead. “I put stuff out on social media to say hey we are back, hashtag “Still Here.” That is the good thing about this time of year, hope springs eternal.”