OH YES: Princeton High boys’ basketball player Jahan Owusu heads to the hoop in a game last year. Senior guard Owusu, the team’s leading scorer last season, figures to be a go-to player again this winter for the Tigers. PHS tips off its 2023-24 campaign by playing at Ewing on December 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Last winter, the Princeton High boys’ basketball team saved its best for last, going 5-3 in its last eight games with two of the losses coming by one point in hard-fought postseason contests.

With PHS having only lost a couple of senior starters from that squad, Patrick Noone believes that his returners have picked up from where they left off as they have gone through preseason practices.

“The vibe has been really good, they are really connected,” said PHS head coach Noone, who guided the Tigers to a 10-13 record last winter and whose team tips off the 2023-24 season by playing at Ewing High on December 14. “They are really enjoying themselves. We have got a lot of returning guys and some key newcomers so it has been good.”

Noone has been enjoying seeing how senior star Jahan Owusu has progressed.

“Jahan looks really, really good,” said Noone of Owusu, who led the Tigers with 314 points last winter. “He has done so much work, he is in shape. He has really put so much time in, he deserves everything he gets this year. He has been great. We are going to have him at a 2 (shooting guard), maybe a little bit on ball but mostly off ball.”

Another senior, Remmick Granozio (130 points in 2022-23), will be handling point guard duties.

“Remmick looks good, he got a lot of confidence from playing football,” said Noone. “He had a great wide receiver campaign and now he is really excited. Remmick and Jahan will be the two main ball handlers and distributors.”

Others who will see time in the backcourt include senior Frank McLaughlin, senior Henry Doran, junior Travis Petrone, sophomore Mike Bess, and sophomore Ellington Hands.

“We will have Frank in there a lot too, he played later on in the year last season,” said Noone. “Henry has a role in the backcourt, he can be a good distributor and ball handler. He is a high IQ player. Travis and Mike will be  there. Ellington has a great upside in basketball. We are trying to get him going and he has taken to the coaching. He has been really good.”

In the frontcourt, senior Jihad Wilder (214 points) should provide some firepower in the paint.

“Jihad is coming off a great year, he is going to give us some size in the middle,” said Noone. “He is a good presence; he will probably be a five (center), we are pretty small.”

Senior Dante DiGiulio (65 points) and sophomore newcomer  Matthew Ghaim will provide some depth at forward.

“Dante is another football guy, he looks real good,” said Noone. “He brings good toughness. He looks like a football player and he plays like a football player. We have a new guy, Matthew, who looks really good. He has got good size, he has good fundamentals and good skill. He is a good addition to varsity this year, we are really excited to have him.”

In Noone’s view, PHS can have an exciting season if it hits the glass and utilizes its offensive firepower.

“If we can rebound the ball and get out and run, we will be in really good shape,” said Noone. “Offensively we have a lot of guys who can score, we have some good guys who can put it in. That is a good thing to have, that is a bonus. It is a little different than the years past, so hopefully it comes to fruition. I think we have the ability to outscore teams. It is just a matter of staying focused and getting it done. We have always been a defensive program so the defense is carrying on and is pretty good.”