The Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball team with its trophy after beating Saddle River Day for the Non-Public Group B title on March 12, 2022 at RWJBarnabas Health Arena in Toms River. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
In Central Jersey Sports Radio’s third season of covering girls’ basketball in Middlesex and Somerset Counties, Rutgers Prep has taken the Number One preseason ranking for the third straight year.
The Lady Argonauts went wire-to-wire at No. 1 in the COVID-shortened 2021 season, and did the same last season, meaning Rutgers Prep has been in the top position in all 18 polls since its inception.
The two-time defending Somerset County Tournament, Non-Public South B and Non-Public Group B champions went 29-3 last season.
Meanwhile, St. Thomas Aquinas – which has won three straight GMC Tournament titles – is ranked second in the preseason, coming off a 22-4 season.
Gill St. Bernard’s – the 2022 SCT runner-up, which went 18-6 last year – checks in at No. 3, while GMC Tournament runner-up South Brunswick – 15-6 last year with a young team that’s more experienced this year – comes in fourth..
Colonia, a Central Jersey Group 3 finalist which went 25-5 a year ago and has back senior Mattison Chiera and junior Taylor Derkack, checks in fifth.
Below is the full preseason Bellamy & Son Paving Girls’ Basketball Top Ten:
