SUPPLY CHAIN: Troy Jones puts up a shot for Princeton Supply last year in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Star guard Jones helped Princeton Supply win the league’s best-of-three championship series in 2023 as the squad broke through for its first crown. Princeton Supply is back to defend its title as the league tips off its 35th year with a doubleheader on June 12 at the Community Park courts. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, its slogan of “#Still Here” is ringing true in a big way this week as the league is tipping off its 2024 campaign with nine squads ready to hit the Community Park courts.

With the venerable hoops circuit entering its 35th year, Rec Department executive director and league commissioner Evan Moorhead is proud of its staying power.

“It is a lot of the same faces from last year, there are a lot of returners which is good,” said Moorhead, reflecting on the 2024 campaign with which will start with a doubleheader on June 12 at Community Park. “There is good loyalty to the league, guys come back, year in, year out. We know them, they know us. It is always a big one when you are on the 5s or the 0s. It is another nice milestone to reach considering where we started in the summer of 1989 and here we are in 2024. We are still going strong, it is still a popular league and still drawing fans. It is one of the top leagues, if not the top outdoor league, in the area. A lot of leagues have moved inside.”

One league stalwart, LoyalTees, though, won’t be here this summer.

“They are not back this year, whether it is a year off or whether it is for good remains to be seen,” said Moorhead of the squad which has been led by former Princeton High standout Davon Black and won league titles in 2018, 2019, and 2021 and made the championship series last year.

“We will see; you take a year off and the guys get a year older, it is tough to get the band back together. I hope they will be back, they have been loyal to the league.”

The 2023 league champion, Princeton Supply, is back and primed for a title repeat under the leadership of manager Phil Vigliano.

“Coach Phil is very excited to defend his title; he has been coming here for years and his goal coming into last year was to get that championship and he got it,” said Moorhead, noting the team roster includes such returning stars as Troy Jones, Mike Kane, Shaquan Worthy, Quayson Williams, Terry Taylor, and Kareem Elhossieni and may be bolstered by the rumored addition of former LoyalTees, Princeton High, and Rider standout Zahrion Blue.

“He has got a lot of pieces there to make a run. It is like I always say with Phil, if he can get his guys to show up at the right time in those playoff games, they are going to be tough. Last year, he got those guys to buy in. They made that run and they looked really, really good. I expect more of the same from those guys. They are the champs until somebody knocks them off.”

YSU, led by former PHS standout Freddie Young and featuring players from the Lincoln University men’s hoops team, including Freddie Young Jr., could challenge for the championship.

“They have got youth on their side, they have a little bit of chemistry because a lot of those guys play together at Lincoln,” said Moorhead. “Freddie Young Jr. is back. They had a strong year. They made a nice run in the playoffs, they won their conference (the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) tournament.”

Similarly, the J. Majeski Foundation team, which is comprised of players from The College of New Jersey men’s hoops program, brings a good chemistry to Community Park.

“They are in the mix every year because they have the young legs and they have the experience from playing together,” said Moorhead. “They usually have a fair amount of size too and good guard play. Jack Vreeswyk is back again as their captain, which is good.”

Summer league stalwart Kevin Johnson, who led the AEI squad last year, is back with Novi Wealth Partners.

“I haven’t seen his roster yet but Kevin keeps it pretty consistent, year in, year out,” said Moorhead. “Kevin is still, end-to-end, probably the quickest or one of the quickest guys in the league.”
Smokehouse 1911 is another new team led by a league veteran in Juwan Harrison.

“Juwan always has a good group,” said Moorhead, noting Smokehouse 1911 is a barbecue place that is the concessionaire at CP pool.

The Speed Pro team will be bringing a strong Princeton High flavor to the court this summer.

“When Judd Petrone reached out to me and said they wanted to come back and do we have a spot and right away, I said of course they are local Princeton guys from PHS,” said Moorhead, noting that the team’s roster included such former Tigers as Matt Rinaldi, Jack Suozzi, Ben Moyer, Ethan Guy, Tim Evidente, Evan Filion, Jay Jackson, and Petrone with Gefen Bar-Cohen and Riley McMahon possibly joining the team.

“We love having them in the league, I think they have a similar squad to what they had a couple of years ago. They have got the home crowd on their side. They will be competitive.”

PATH is another league entry that figures to be competitive.

“They have been in the league for five years or so. Each year that they have been in it, they get a little bit better in terms of roster construction,” said Moorhead. “TJ Malave has been their manager and organizer since they have been in the league. Last year, he added a couple of guards that really gave them consistency in the backcourt. They made a little bit of noise at the end of last year. They were peaking at the right time when they had all of their guys.”

After struggling a bit last summer, Jefferson Plumbing, which is guided by Rec Department Program supervisor and Princeton Day School boys’ hoops assistant coach Chris Petrucelli, is looking to rebound.

“Coach Petru had a tough year, they didn’t have a lot of size,” said Moorhead. “They didn’t have Garita (former PDS standout Ethan Garita) last year. He has got the two Connors, Connor Topping and Connor Rushing, back again. He has got Brian Johansson back, he is a Johns Hopkins player. Charlie Gillikin is also a D-III player at Muhlenberg. He has got some good talent.”
League newcomer Lob City also looks to have some talent.

“They are a new team but with some familiar faces,” said Moorhead. “There are a lot of local guys. Myles Mitchell White is the one name on that team that jumps off the page at me. He is an all-league caliber player the last a couple of years. He has a strong basketball pedigree (previously starring at Montclair State and Lawrence High). He is going to help them, he will win some games for them.”

In Moorhead’s view, the league’s parity should make for another summer of tight games and big crowds at Community Park.

“A lot of these teams look very similar and very competitive,” said Moorhead, noting that league triple-headers and playoff games have typically drawn hundreds of fans to the park. “There weren’t any undefeated teams last year, even coach Phil’s team lost some games. You hear a lot of talk this time of year, everybody is eternally hopeful. History has shown you don’t have to have a good regular season, it is all about the playoffs in our league. Survive the regular season, get your core group of guys, hope that you can get everyone there for the playoffs and make your run. You can be in the bottom half of the league standings and still make a run in the playoffs.”