Best of the Decade: High School Sports
December 30, 2009, 9:49PM
Chris Faytok/The Star-Ledger
BOYS ATHLETES TO REMEMBER
1. Dajuan Wagner, Camden, ’01: The
National Player of the Year as a senior and a two-time State Player of
the Year led the basketball team to the 2000 T of C title. He finished
his career as the state’s all-time leading scorer with 3,462 points.
Wagner spent one season at Memphis and was the No. 6 pick in NBA Draft
by Cleveland. He also played with Golden State before injuries and
illness disrupted his career.
2. Rick Porcello, Seton Hall Prep, ’07:
The right-hander, clocked at 98 mph as senior, pitched his team to the
state baseball title and was perhaps the state’s best hitter. Detroit’s
first-round pick skyrocketed into the Tigers rotation this past spring.
3. Steve Mocco, St. Benedict’s Prep/Blair, ’01:
Four-time national prep wrestling champion was the nation’s No. 1
recruit after compiling a 216-1 record with 188 pins. He won two NCAA
Division 1 heavyweight titles — one each at Iowa and Oklahoma State —
and made the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team.
4. Joe Martinek, Hopatcong, ’07:
The state’s career rushing leader in football with 7,589 yards was also
outstanding in track: He took second in the javelin and third in the
high jump at the outdoor M of C as a senior. He’s now running the
football in the Rutgers backfield.
5. Craig Forys, Colts Neck, ’07:
He broke the Holmdel Park course record to earn a second straight M of
C cross-country title in 15:15.2 in 2006. Forys also won the Nike
Indoor National two-mile title in s’07 and still holds the state
two-mile record. He totaled nine M of C titles.
6. Ned Crotty, Delbarton, ’05:
Only State Player of the Year in two sports (ice hockey and lacrosse)
in the same school year. The two-time All-Stater in hockey had 15
goals, 26 assists as a senior for the Gordon Cup champion. He’s in the
inaugural class for the New Jersey High School Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
7. Knowshon Moreno, Middletown South, ’06:
The star running back and State Offensive Player of the Year in ’05 set
state records for TDs (128) and points (782) and is second on the
career yardage list (6,268). He starred at Georgia and is a rookie and
starting running back with the Denver Broncos.
8. Brian Cushing, Bergen Catholic, ’05:
All-State linebacker was the Defensive Player of Year in ’04 and went
on to star at USC. He is a standout rookie with the Houston Texans,
earning Pro Bowl honors.
9. Nick Vena, Morristown, ’11:
Junior shot-putter already owns every state and national age group
record and is a two-time national indoor champion. The only thrower in
state history to top 70 feet, he owns state records of 70-5 indoors and
72-8 outdoors along with five M of C titles and two Penn Relays MVP
awards.
10. Brian Toal, Don Bosco Prep, ‘04: Two-time First Team All-Stater and ‘04 Defensive
Player of the Year played on two unbeaten teams, averaged 8.8 yards per
carry in career. All-Stater in track won Non-Public A and was third at
Meet of Champions in shot put, was league champion in 100, 200 and shot
put.
Just missing the list: Mike Trout, Millville
baseball; Dwayne Jarrett, New Brunswick football, basketball; Matt
Poskay, Johnson lacrosse; Mike Grey, Delbarton wrestling; Jose Angulo,
St. Benedict’s boys soccer; Robby Andrews, Manalapan track, cross-country.