Author:
KenZ
[ Edit | View ]
|
Date Posted: 16:50:17 03/26/04 Fri
It's been weeks since West Morris' Mark Aziz and Mendham's Rob Thomas ended their high school basketball seasons but their time on the hardcourt isn't over yet.
The standout seniors will be busy this weekend competing in back-to-back All-Star Games.
Tonight, Aziz and Thomas join a star-studded statewide cast in the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association All-Star Classic scheduled for 8:30 p.m., following the girls contest at Monmouth University in West Long Branch.
On Saturday, the duo join their local high school peers in the sixth annual Morris-Sussex All-Star Classic which is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hopatcong High School.
"My assistant coach, Bill Librera, told me that I was on the team (last week)," Aziz said.
"I'm really proud to have made it. I'm excited for it, and I think I earned it."
The 6-foot-7, 200-pound center averaged 16.3 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game for the Highlanders and played a major role in helping West Morris capture a Morris County Tournament championship.
Aziz and Thomas were named Co-Players of the Year by the Morris County Boys Basketball Coaches Association earlier in the month.
Aziz had a good practice with the North team on Tuesday.
The talented players on the North squad include: Ahmad Mosby and Marcus Williams of St. Anthony's (Jersey City); Courtney Nelson and Dashawn Dwight of Bloomfield Tech; and Corey Gilmore of South Plainfield.
Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound forward, averaged 18.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest.
He had some strong offensive performances including a 36-point game against Weequahic, which matched the season high among area players.
It was during that performance that Thomas surpassed the 1,000-point mark in only three years of varsity play.
He has committed to playing basketball for Bucknell University this fall.
Thomas, who was scheduled to practice with the North squad Thursday night, is excited to be a part of it.
"I know Courtney Nelson is a good player,"Thomas said.
"Mark is a good player. The caliber of the guys should be pretty good. It should be good competition."
Thomas said the back-to-back contests will not tire him out.
"All star games are just fun," he said. "There probably won't be a lot of running because they usually try to get everybody in. It shouldn't be too tiring. I've been working out and running the treadmill to stay in shape. It should be good."
|
Feedback: 