Video: Preseason Top 25 basketball rankings Breaking down the national contenders heading into the 2019-20 season.
Head Coach: Chris Chavannes
Last Season: 17-10 (NJSIAA, Non-Public B second round)
Key Contributors:
Adama Sanogo (6-10, Jr., F)
Head coach Chris Chavannes
Photo by John Jones
Dec. 26-30 vs. TBD — John Wall Invitational
Feb. 1 at Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.)
Wing Jonathan Kuminga
File photo by Catalina Fragoso
The Celtics had a big off-season by landing a handful of talented players expected to lead them back to their second New Jersey Tournament of Champions title' in the past four seasons.
They won the TOC crown in 2016-17, the same year they finished No. 7 nationally. With their current talent and challenging national schedule, the Celtics could finish even higher in 2019-20.
The Garden State's top-ranked team faces the most difficult national slate of any squad this season. Their schedule includes a trip to the John Wall Invitational and showdowns against Top 25 opponents, No. 2 IMG Academy, No. 3 Sierra Canyon, No. 6 Huntington Prep, No. 12 Roselle Catholic (twice), No. 13 Long Island Lutheran and No. 16 McEachern.
The team's deep lineup is led by Kuminga, the No. 1 junior in the country and reigning MaxPreps Sophomore of the Year. The Our Savior New American transfer will be joined by Sanogo, his teammate from last season, who is expected to start down low and make a major impact.
Other starters are Johnson, Nutter and impact guard Farrakhan, giving the Celtics one of the most formidable quintets in the nation.
