It’s four minutes to tip off where Findlay Prep will take on Immaculate Conception from New Jersey. Findlay Prep has established itself as one of the best Prep programs in the past decade. With the support of one of Las Vegas’s biggest car dealerships, Findlay Prep has produced both college stars and pros.
Immaculate Conception is a small school, but it’s coached by one- if not the biggest influence in New Jersey basketball, Jimmy Salmon. Salmon has come a long way from being an assistant at Paterson Eastside, where he came up through the ranks connected to his talented cousin, Tim Thomas. As Thomas became an exciting prospect in the early 90’s, Salmon cut his teeth on the coaching circuit establishing a club program and a short stint as an assistant coach at Villanova. Salmon wasn’t at Villanova for long but has become an institution in the club basketball scene. Salmon was a major power on the Adidas circuit, has transitioned to Nike and EYBL. His program, Playaz Basketball Club, is consistently one of the best in the Nation, having produced dozens of NBA players and major college stars.
Salmon is coaching in jeans and a black top. On the front seat of the bench, is former Seton Hall star, Marcus Tony-El, who played for one of Salmon’s most talented club teams. Tony-El starred in the frontcourt with Roman Catholic’s Eddie Griffin in the late 1990’s. This is Salmon’s second year under helm for IC. The team is led by Syracuse commit, Jalen Carey, a gifted guard who can run the point and stick daggers from the perimeter. He is one of two 2018’s on the roster. 6’7”, Justin Winston, class of 2019 is the other scorer for the Lions.
Findlay Prep is led by Bol Bol, a top-five player in the Nation going to Oregon. Salmon starts with 6’10, 2020, Elijah Hutchins-Everett on Bol. Bol is longer and quicker. Bol is not quite as big as his father the late Manute Bol, but on the high school level, there just only so many players that size. Bol is a good finisher and is confident from the perimeter. The 7’2” Bol isn’t the tallest player on his team. That honor goes to 7’3” Connor Vanover. Findlay tied the game in the second quarter with both Bol and Vanover on the court. Findlay steps up the defense to grab a 12-point halftime lead, 35-23. Bol with 11 points at half.
It would be shocking for IC to beat Findlay Prep. It’s very difficult for any area school to compete with National powerhouses such as Findlay, Prolific Prep out of California, IMG Academy and Montverde out of Florida. North Jersey, where IC is located- Paterson, may have the most talent concentrated in one area. New Jersey has a dozen talented teams even without the now-closed St. Anthony’s of Jersey City. It won’t be long before Salmon, gets IC to the level of Roselle Catholic, Hudson Catholic, Patrick School, Seton Hall Prep and the others that are nationally known. As the game reaches one-minute left in the third quarter, Findlay has broken the game open to a 58-34 lead. IC doesn’t have the depth, the length and the talent to compete. The final is a 40-point margin. Bol Bol scores 31.
Bol Bol Cuts Hard Looking for the Ball
Salmon’s transition into high school coaching should emerge as the latest iteration of the coaching model. More access to coaches and positive role models for kids is a good thing for basketball and our youth. Give coaches the opportunity to guide students with their development on and off the court with year-round access. State associations that are limiting contact -are not helping kids.
Salmon has been a great contributor to the Paterson community working for years with Paterson recreation and has helped thousands of kids on and off the court. He will one day be in the New Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame. His team lost the game today but players like Jalen Carey have the best chance to win in life because of his involvement.
