Sports

NPS Honors NJ Devils for Continued Investment in Newark Students

The district’s ongoing partnership with the New Jersey Devils promotes initiatives supporting education, athletics, and community development

 

NPS Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf, School Board Members, and students honored the New Jersey Devils organization for their support for Newark students at a luncheon, presenting a proclamation and an award to Hugh Weber, President of the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center.

[Newark, NJ — May 10, 2017] — Newark Public Schools (NPS) hosted a luncheon honoring the New Jersey Devils organization for their long-standing and continued investment in Newark students, and also to announce the expansion and launch of several academic and athletic programs to support NPS students and the greater Newark community. At the event, NPS Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf, Board Members, and NPS students presented a proclamation and an award to Hugh Weber, President of the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center, recognizing the organization’s significant impact on Newark students and thanking the Devils for their ongoing commitment to the Newark community. Over 80 individuals attended the event, including various district and school leaders, educators, and students, as well as New Jersey Devils alumni and Prudential Center staff members.

“We want to thank the hometown New Jersey Devils organization for their ongoing commitment and dedication to Newark Children,” said Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf of Newark Public Schools. “Thanks to their efforts, children across this city have been able to explore a wide range of educational and athletic opportunities. The organization’s comprehensive programs and initiatives, along with their ongoing generous donations to our schools and athletic teams, continue to have a significant impact on our students and communities and we look forward to continuing our work with The Devils well into the future.”

At the luncheon, the Newark Public Schools thanked the New Jersey Devils for their commitment in the areas of athletics, academics and community giving. Many students and staff members who have been involved in the Hockey in New Jersey initiative were on-hand to celebrate. The Devils also announced the expansion of the Street Devils street hockey afterschool program, as well as the Future Goals – Hockey Scholar™ program. The Devils aim to expand the reach of the Street Devils program and to bring the Future Goals – Hockey Scholar™ program into more classrooms across the district next year than ever before. The Devils also plan to host students and families to visit The GRAMMY Museum Experience at the Prudential Center, which is set to open this fall.

“We understand and value the impact a high-quality education can hold for both an individual and community. We are honored to have the opportunity to invest in opportunities that will help advance every child’s educational experience across Newark,” said Hugh Weber, President of the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center. “We look forward building upon our strong partnership with Newark Public Schools as we look to expand and enhance access to more educational, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities to students and families across our community.”

ATHLETIC PARTNERSHIP: Hockey in New Jersey and Street Devils Program

Over the past two decades, the New Jersey Devils have made a variety of investments in athletic programs across the district, exposing thousands of students to the sport of hockey.

Since 2003, children across Newark have increasingly been exposed to the sport of hockey through the “Hockey in Newark” program. Over time, the program expanded and eventually joined the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Hockey is for Everyone Initiative and also worked with the New Jersey Devils to bring hockey to more children across various cities throughout New Jersey. Many players involved in the Newark hockey program have gone on to play at the high school level for Newark’s East Side High School boys’ and girls’ hockey teams. This past season, the Devils allowed Newark’s East Side High School boys’ and girls’ hockey teams to use their practice rink next to the Prudential Center. Additionally, back in December, The Devils donated 35 new sticks to the East Side High School boys’ ice hockey team.

The Devils’ Street Devils street hockey afterschool program aims to build a better future for children by introducing students to a new and exciting sports activity. Newark students began participating in the Street Devils program in 2008, and the program is now expanding to 25 schools and will reach over 5,000 students by the end of the 2017 school year. This program donates sticks, balls, and other street hockey equipment to schools so that students can learn to play the game at a young age, and participate in more structured activities during physical education classes and in after-school activities.

“Hockey is a very expensive sport to play; however, our students are now able to explore this exciting game, free of charge, thanks to The Devils’ generous investments across the district,” said Keith Veltre, Special Assistant of Athletics & Extra-Curricular Activities at NPS and Varsity Boys Ice Hockey Coach at East Side High School. “We’ve found that once our students get a stick in their hand, they fall in love with the game, allowing them to develop the important life skills of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance that they will utilize for the rest of their lives.”

ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP: Future Goals – Hockey Scholar Program

In addition to the athletic opportunities, the New Jersey Devils have also made investments directly into Newark classrooms. This year, 3,246 students from 36 schools are participating in the Future Goals – Hockey Scholar™ program, a cutting-edge, digital learning program launched by the NHL and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) which introduces students to foundational STEM concepts through the sport of hockey, covering Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and NJ Math and Science Standards. Over 6,800 NPS students have participated in the Future Goals – Hockey Scholar™ program since 2014.

“It’s been exciting to witness firsthand how the Future Goals – Hockey Scholar™ program has increased student engagement to a whole new level in our classrooms,” said Timothy Nellegar, Special Assistant for Technology. “The program’s interactive and exploratory coursework has allowed for Newark students to use real-life STEM applications through the unique sport of hockey, a sport that I have seen many students become increasingly excited about thanks to the Devils’ programs and contributions across district.”

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP: On-going donations to Newark Schools

NPS and the New Jersey Devils began their partnership in when the Devils first built their new facility in Newark. Since the partnership’s formation, thousands of Newark students and families have benefited from the Devils’ ongoing investments and dedication. In addition to their contributions in the areas mentioned, in September 2015, the New Jersey Devils donated more than 150 backpacks filled with school supplies such as pencils, notebooks, crayons, index cards and glue sticks to students attending John F. Kennedy School and South 17th Street Elementary School. Additionally, in December 2015, New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider launched “Cory’s Keepers,” an initiative where the Devils starting goaltender hosted students and veterans at NJ Devils home games at the Prudential Center. In 2013, The Devils donated $5,000 to the Newark Public Schools’ Visual and Entertainment Arts Program.

West Side High School Track Teams bring Home the Gold at the Prestigious Penn Relays

West Side Penn Relays
The boys from left to right: James Bell, Jarrett Gentle, Jakai Coker, Shaquan Williams. Girls: Aminah Muhammad, Fatima Sannor, Tiyauna Evans, Jahne Slocum.

West Side High School Track Teams bring home the Gold at the Prestigious Penn Relays in the boys and girls 4×400 meter relays.

Every team that won their race received a winning plaque.

Three East Side High School Seniors Accept Full Basketball Scholarships For Fall 2017


6-foot-4 Newark East Side senior Elijah Olaniyi has decided to attend DI Stony Brook University on a full basketball scholarship. Elijah is a 4 year varsity player who finished with 928 Career points. He will play for coach Jeff Boals in the American East Conference.

6-foot-10 Newark East Side senior Darnell Brodie has decided to attend DI Seton Hall University on a full basketball scholarship. Darnell is a 3 year varsity player who is a fierce rebounder down low. He will play for coach Kevin Willard in the Big East Conference.

6-foot-3 Newark East Side senior Amadu Benbow has decided to attend DII JC Raritan Valley Community College on a full basketball scholarship. Amadu is a 3 year varsity player who is the quintessential team player who will sacrifice for his team. He will play for coach Kevin Ryan in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Region XIX and the Garden State Athletic Conference.

2017 All-New Jersey Boys Basketball Coach of the Year

Mike Kinney | News 12 Varsity | Follow on Twitter
Akbar Cook Coach of the Year - West Side
When 6-9 Justin Jones broke a bone in his foot just before the postseason began and 6-4 Javonne Jones followed him to the sidelines several games later with a broken finger, Cook’s Roughriders were suddenly without their size for the stretch run of the Group 2 state tournament.

At least that’s true if measuring with a ruler. Cook’s three teams at West Side and six before that at Newark Vocational have always been defined by their scrap, indefatigable will and sense of unity inspired by the big, bearded man those kids call Coach. Despite those injuries–and the almost countless other obstacles facing an inner city team like West Side–the Roughriders (25-7) repeated as Group 2 state champion, and fell in overtime to Teaneck in the Tournament of Champions quarterfinals.

View the story on News 12 Varsity.

Barringer 2019 QB Zamar Wise Wins MVP honors at NUC’s 3 Kings Camp

Todderick Hunt | The Star-Ledger | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Barringer QB Zamar Wise
Barringer’s (Newark, N.J.) Zamar Wise solidified himself as one of New Jersey’s top quarterbacks in the 2019 class as he earned MVP honors Sunday at the National Underclassmen Combine’s 3 Kings Quarterback Camp and Competition – East Coast. Held at Parsippany high school, the camp featured some of the top quarterback talent throughout the region, putting them through various drills and competitions for upwards of five hours — as the camp spanned from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Following the camp, NJ.com caught up with NUC founder, president and CEO Dave Schuman for a breakdown of Wise, whom he considers the top quarterback at his event.

“He’s got a great arm. He’s unbelievably accurate,” Schuman said. “When that ball comes out it slides out of his hand and it’s on target. The last half of the day is a lot of competition. We do like five different drill sets that they compete in. And I think he was top three in four of the five drills. And he was No. 1 in both accuracy drills. So he was really good. He gets the ball there with great velocity. He’s athletic, he’s got nice size (measured 6-3, 182).”

Schuman also raved of Wise’s coach-ability and knack for making corrections on the go.

“He really takes to coaching well, too,” Schuman said. “As you’re going through it and you’re showing him things that he can work on to get better, he really kind of takes to that and continues to improve. So I thought he was just really really a guy completely under-served in the recruiting space. I don’t know his academic situation or anything like that, but as far as his ability he is no doubt a scholarship quarterback. If he’s not at the highest of highest levels, which he might be, he’s definitely a division 1 level guy.”

Schuman is as impressed with Wise as any sophomore quarterback he’s seen this year. And a lot of that has to do with his poise, despite not attending many camps in the past.

“I just think he’s got a great way about him. He’s calm, he’s cool, he’s collected and he just approaches things really well. But I wasn’t surprised. When he came in there, he looked the part of a Division 1 quarterback,” said Schuman. “And there were some really good quarterbacks there, too. But as he started to feel his way through, it was really cool to see somebody generate that confidence as he’s realizing, hey, I could end up being the top guy. And as he started going through it, he just got better and better because of that.”

Wise is a pro-style quarterback who can also run, coming off of an explosive sophomore campaign where he generated 1,489 passing yards and 15 TDs (to only five INTs) on 62 percent passing, and 540 rushing yards with five additional scores on 61 carries. He also converted six two-point conversion attempts.

Already a two-year starter, Wise had just as explosive a season as a freshman in 2015, throwing for 1,898 passing yards and 18 TDs (to only six INTs) to go along with 119 rushing yards and two additional scores. Wise trains throughout the off-season at the Lucien Pass Academy and plans to continue to prove his worth competing at camps this summer.

Although he has yet to field his first offer, he’s being recruited by Rutgers, Penn State, Pitt, Virginia Tech, Temple and a number of other Power 5 schools throughout the region.

Notre Dame could potentially get in on the action as defensive coordinator Mike Elko is expected to visit Barringer this week to inquire more about Wise, who has also received camp invites from Florida State and Clemson.

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West Side High School Boys’ Basketball Team Wins Group 2 NJSIAA Championship; Set to Represent Newark in Tournament of Champions

West Side guard Quayon Williams-King (2) celebrates a win over Camden in the NJSIAA Group 2 final on March 12, 2017, at Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey. Picture Courtesy of NJ.com: (Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media)

The West Side High School boys’ basketball team won the Group 2 NJSIAA championships. On March 12th, the Rough Riders defeated Camden High School 51-49 to win the Group 2 NJSIAA championship. They are now set to tip off at 7:30pm on Friday, March 17th at Pine Belt Arena in Tom’s River at the NJ Tournament of Champions in a first round matchup with Teaneck.See below for a round-up of local coverage:

Boys Basketball: T of C Rd. 1 preview – No. 16 Teaneck vs. No. 14 West Side
“Fifth-seeded West Side took out Parsippany, 73-20, in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 tournament, with Quaion Taylor going for 17 points and 10 rebounds. They were dominant against Fort Lee in the next round with a 71-43 triumph, then beat Hackettstown, 35-23 in the semifinals… then they romped against Hanover Park for a 63-37 victory in the final. Quayon Williams-King paced West Side with 20 points in a 58-35 victory over Newton in the Group 2 semifinals. Yasim Hooker had 13 points and nine rebounds while Quayon Williams-King had 13 points, four rebounds and eight assists in a 51-49 victory over Camden in the Group 2 final. WEST SIDE WINS IF: Quaion Taylor owns the paint, Quayon Williams-King plays within himself and the offense doesn’t go cold while the defense gives Teaneck’s guards fits.” (NJ.com, 03/14/17)

No. 14 West Side repeats as Group 2 champion versus Camden
“West Side coach Akbar Cook said in the lead-up to Sunday’s Group 2 final that Camden is tough, but Newark is tougher.  And when the two teams took the court in a rematch of last year’s title game, his statement proved true: Camden was tough, but West Side was tougher. The Rough Riders, No. 14 in the NJ.com Top 20, won their second straight title with a physical, bruising and sometimes sloppy 51-49 victory over Camden in the NJSIAA Group 2 championship game at the Louis Brown Athletic Center.” (NJ.com, 03/12/17)

Newark’s West Side HS is a special champ to Morristown-Beard coach who is fighting cancer
“The Newark basketball team wearing pink socks, sneakers and T-shirts had Coach Eddie Franz on edge, as he nervously watched to see if they could close out the championship game on Sunday… The team was wearing its pink ensemble in his honor.  Franz, 60, has lung cancer. He appeared to be calm as the Rough Riders were clinging to a two point lead with 1:13 remaining in the Group 2 NJSIAA final against Camden High School.  Internally, though, he was rooting hard because the team has been helping him through a tough period in his life.  Although pink is the color usually used to denote breast cancer, kids don’t make a color distinction, they just see cancer and they wanted to do something for Franz, who has been a part of Newark basketball for 13 years…The socks and sneakers are plain as day, but the T-shirts they wore on the layup line and on the bench crystalized their thoughts. ‘Pray for Franz’ was written on the back. ‘Another Day. Another Chance’ was on the front. The logo belongs to Fam Eternal, a Newark apparel company that made the shirts and whose co-owner knows Franz, too. Since the coach’s diagnosis in January, pink has become the teams lucky color for an unlucky disease. West Side has gone 9-0, but it needed one more victory to claim its second consecutive Group 2 title and to win for Franz… They defeated Camden 51-49, and did their small part in helping a man who means so much to them cope with cancer.” (NJ.com, 03/12/17)