The Lincoln High School boys’ basketball team had a highly successful season a year ago, posting a 20-8 record and advancing all the way to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II sectional final game, finally falling to Manasquan.
The Lions lost Donte Darby, a Hudson Reporter First Team All-Area selection last season, to graduation. The multi-talented Darby took his 18 point per game average with him down the aisle to Pomp and Circumstance at commencement exercises at the school last June.
But the Lions were basically a young team last year.
“We started a freshman, a sophomore and a junior,” said Lincoln head coach Bill Zasowski, who begins his fourth season with the Lions. “This team is now battle tested and that’s important. This team played a lot of basketball together over the summer.”
Once again, the Lions were one of the best public school teams in the Jersey City Recreation Summer League at Hamilton Park, a league title that the Lions won in 2018.
“We also went to two summer camps together,” Zasowski said, one of which was legendary Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley’s camp in the Poconos. “These kids are together all the time. They look out for each other and care about each other. Because they’re so close, they’re willing to look for each other on the floor.”
With Darby gone, Zasowski has been telling his players that they don’t need one player to score at a higher level.
“We no longer need to have someone dominate the ball like we did,” Zasowski said. “We have a different flow and energy. Everyone is getting a touch of the ball. They’re fitting in and finding out what each other can do.”
Leading the returnees is junior forward Toriano Mumford. The 6-foot-4 Mumford is a very diverse player who can play either inside close to the basket or shooting from 3-point range. Mumford averaged close to 14 points per game last season.
“He can be active off the glass,” Zasowski said. “And he can score down there. But we’re letting him shoot the three. He’s very good coming off screen-and-roll plays. He really has expanded his game a lot. He’s also become a good defensive player and picks up charges.”
Senior Prime Payton is the team’s most veteran performer. The 6-foot-2 forward can play anywhere on the floor.
“He’s our jack-of-all-trades,” Zasowski said. “He’s gotten much stronger. He’s also improved his shooting, so he can be more of a stretch four [power forward that plays on the perimeter].”
Another key player is 6-foot sophomore Wendell Moreland.
“He played every minute last year as a freshman,” Zasowski said. “He’s expanding his role this season as more of a scorer. He’s much better and now that he knows he can score, he’s making everyone else better. He’s improved on shooting the ball and did a great job in the weight room getting stronger.”
Senior Kareem Howze is a 6-foot-4 inside player.
“He keeps getting better and better,” Zasowski said. “He’s also been in the weight room to get stronger. He’s a high energy kid. He’s also very efficient and knows his role.”
Senior Kelsean McCord has transferred to Lincoln from Snyder. The 5-foot-8 point guard will have to sit out the first 30 days of the season due to the NJSIAA’s transfer policy.
“He can play very well on the ball,” Zasowski said. “He’s very Rashon Burno-esque.”
Zasowski was referring to the former St. Anthony point guard and Most Valuable Player of the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions who played college basketball at DePaul and is currently an assistant coach at Arizona State under head coach Bobby Hurley.
“He wants to take on the challenge of guarding the opponent’s best player,” Zasowski said of McCord. “He actually likes playing defense. He can drive and get into the lane and make plays for other guys. He’s been really good with us and is a good leader.”
So McCord will be missed for the first month.
Dremar Hopkinson is a transfer from Linden High School who has a very distinctive given first name. His given name is Unique, but Hopkinson prefers Dremar. Hopkinson is a 5-foot-11 senior who can play right away because his family moved to Jersey City.
“He’s a do-it-all guard,” Zasowski said. “He’s smooth. He can do a lot for us. He can be quick with the ball. His range is very good. His intensity and fire is fantastic.”
Junior Laquan Tyree is a 6-foot guard off the bench who is a solid defender.
Justin Murphy is a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward who played a lot of varsity minutes last season.
Mekhi Moorman is a 6-foot-3 senior forward who got to see some varsity time last year.
The Lions will be tested right away, playing state-ranked Orange in the season opener Dec. 21 at Lincoln.
The late start to the season has most of the county’s coaches on edge, trying to get scrimmages in before the season and finding games in between the start and the holiday tournaments.
“It throws a monkey wrench into everything,” Zasowski said. “We just have to be ready.”
The Lions will head to the Neptune Holiday Tournament, an eight-team gathering with some of the state’s best programs, including local rival and defending Hudson County Tournament champion Union City as well as Ewing High School from outside of Trenton.
Zasowski likes the make-up of his team.
“I think it’s going to take a little time for everyone to get to understand their roles,” Zasowski said. “Once they figure out the way we play defensively, we should be fine. We play at different speeds. Last year, we were predominately trying to get one guy touches [of the ball]. Now we don’t have to rely on one guy.”
Count on the Lions to be more than competitive this season.
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com. You can also read Jim’s blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com, follow Jim on Twitter @ogsmar and listen to the Hudson County Sports podcast on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. This week’s guest is former St. Peter’s College women’s basketball and men’s soccer coach Mike Granelli.
