Franklin looks to build defensive identity in short road trip to No. 3 Rutgers Prep

In Franklin head coach Kashiff Foster’s second year at the helm, he has tried to instill two things: playing tough defense, and facing the best competition.

Both of those tenets will be at the test on Tuesday as the Warriors (5-6, 2-2) take a short trip down Easton Avenue to face No. 3 Rutgers Prep (6-6, 3-1).

Franklin is looking to pull off an upset win with a relatively young team as its schedule gauntlet continues. Game time is 7 pm, and it can be heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with pregame at 6:45. Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel will call all the action; click here to listen.

Foster says he wants to test his team and give his players opportunities to compete against the area’s elite, and that experience has been tested with games against No. 1 Colonia and No. 2 Gill St. Bernard’s in local action and other teams like Westfield and Linden. All four games resulted in losses, but Foster noted that the test it gave will help Franklin as the postseason continues to grow near.

The Warriors continue to move forward without some of its main producers from last season, with Cam and Elisha Brown graduating. Cam led the team in scoring, while Elisha did practically everything else, leading Franklin in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

Cam now attends the University of Maryland, while Elisha continues his playing career at Rutgers-Newark.

Executing on both ends of the floor against the Argonauts will be a tall task, as Foster says the Warriors will be going up against a team with a lot of talent, IQ, and length.

They are led by sophomore Jah’naad Cady, who averages a team-high 14.6 points per game and four assists per game. Alongside Cady are seniors Shaylen Patel and Christian Lewis.

Last time out, Franklin fell 60-45 at home against Phillipsburg, finishing 2-2 in its four-game homestand. While not a far trip, Tuesday’s game represents the Warriors’ first road game since January 3rd, where they beat North Hunterdon 75-65.

Playing against the third of this week’s top three teams won’t be easy, but for Foster and his growing team, it’s just the test they need.

Click below to hear Franklin boys’ basketball coach Kashiff Foster talk about the Warriors season and upcoming matchup with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel: