Scoring in clutch situations.
Rebounding at both ends of the floor, being able to find an open teammate for a better shot. Making those around you better and contributing in a major way to the team’s overall success.
All of the above and plenty more factors go into making an individual a dominant basketball player.
With the New Jersey high school season down to the final days of the regular season, every game takes on added significance. It’s time for leaders to elevate their games even more.
Take a look below at the players who have made an impact in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference and will need to continue playing at an elite level for their teams to enjoy success down the stretch.
While there is still plenty of time for others to emerge, this is our 2026 watch list for the Big North.
NJIC Watch ListJohnny Chaname, Lyndhurst, Sr., G
Chaname has been one of the top scorers in the NJIC this season, eclipsing 1,000 points for his career within the last month. Averaging 22.5 points, Chaname has registered 20-plus points in 18 of his 25 games.
Andrew Del Rey, Waldwick, Sr., G
Del Rey reached 2,000 career points on Feb. 12 in a win at Bogota, making him the 111th player in state history to reach this milestone. He’s one of North Jersey’s all-time greatest scorers, but he’s gotten better facilitating and stealing the basketball this season for a Waldwick team starting to hit its stride.
JT Graham, Midland Park, Sr., G
Entering Feb. 12, Graham has 1,811 career points, which gives him an outside shot at 2,000. He has produced 20 or more points 13 times this season, including three of those efforts reaching 30-plus.
Matt Kennedy, St. Mary (Ruth.), Sr., G
An elite three-level scorer, Kennedy is among the best 3-point marksmen in New Jersey. He’s scored 87 times from deep and is averaging almost 22.5 points per game. He’s a big reason why St. Mary has been ranked in the statewide Top 20, leading the team to a semifinals appearance in the Bergen Jamboree. He’s scored 20 or more points in six straight contests, doing so 17 times in 24 tries.
Luke Kopczynski, Cresskill, Sr., F
Kopczynski is an all-time great player at Cresskill. He’s helped the Cougars to a 20-3 start this season, averaging nearly 15.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest. He surpassed 1,000 career points this season and has gone for 17 double-doubles so far. Cresskill made a quarterfinals appearance in the Bergen Jamboree, giving Teaneck a good game in a losing effort as Kopczynski notched nine rebounds and eight points.
Also worth a lookAmilleon Adams, Garfield, So., GAvery Cano, Lyndhurst, So., GAngel Castellano, Harrison, Sr., GJake Ellis, St. Mary (Ruth.), So., GJulian Estrella, Paterson Charter, Sr., GRyan Faynzilbert, Cresskill, Jr., GRobert Lopez, Glen Rock, Sr., GAntonio Miccinilli, Waldwick, Jr., FJohn Piccirillo, Emerson Boro, Sr., GDylan Stone, Dwight-Englewood, So., G