From Bergen County To March Madness: 7 Players To Know

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Bergen County's basketball talent will be represented this March when the NCAA men's basketball tournament tips off in the Indianapolis bubble.

Seven players with connections to Bergen County high school basketball are currently on the roster of a team involved in the tournament. Some are starters, some play sparingly and others are the crux of their squad.

Many of them suit up for major conference teams, but some belong to Cinderella favorites.

Below, Patch has listed all seven of these players with a brief bio, and when you can watch them during the first round of play this weekend.

Tyson Etienne, Wichita State

Wichita State's points leader is Englewood native Tyson Etienne. Before joining the Shockers Etienne spent his first two prep years at Dwight Englewood High School before transferring to Long Island Lutheran and Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut.

A sophomore, Etienne is the engine that makes the Shockers go offensively while also averaging a steal per game in over 34 minutes of play.

Wichita State finished first in the American Athletic Conference during the regular season, but comes into the tournament off a loss to Cincinnati in the AAC tournament. They'll have to earn their way into the first round during one of the tournament's four play-in games.

If they do, they'll take the 11-seed, and a potential second-round matchup with in-state rival Kansas.

What: Wichita State vs. Drake

When: Thursday, 6:27 p.m.

Watch on: TBS or March Madness Live

Ron Harper Jr., Rutgers

A Don Bosco Prep graduate, Harper comes from a lineage of successful basketball talent. His father, Ron Harper, had a 15-year NBA career which included five championships, and his mother played college ball at the University of New Orleans.

Harper was a decorated prospect at Don Bosco and a four-star recruit per Rivals rankings. Now in his Junior season at Rutgers, Harper was named to the Wooden Award watch list, given annually to the nation's top player.

He's averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 rebounds a game for a Scarlet Knights team which finished 15-11 overall, including a 10-10 record in Big Ten Conference play.

The 10-seed Rutgers team will take on 7-seed Clemson in the first round.

What: Rutgers vs. Clemson

When: Friday, 9:20 p.m.

Watch on: TBS or March Madness Live

Josh Pierre-Louis, UC Santa Barbara

Pierre-Louis transferred from Temple University for the 2020-2021 season and provided immediate bench depth for the Gauchos.

Averaging 14 minutes a game, the Roselle Catholic grad is putting up 6.4 points on 56.6 percent shooting.

UC Santa Barbra is coming off a Big West Tournament victory, and is set to face fifth-seeded Creighton in round one.

What: UC Santa Barbara vs. Creighton

When: March 20, 3:30 p.m.

Watch on: truTv or March Madness Live

Clifford Omoruyi, Rutgers

Another Roselle Catholic grad, Clifford Omoruyi's freshman season was briefly interrupted by a knee injury in December after a fast start to the year.

The Scarlett Knights are 13-6 in games Omoruyi plays, which is good news heading into a first round match-up with Clemson.

Omoruyi was named the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year at Roselle Catholic, and has flashed talent that projects to the next level. Good news for Rutgers fans, Omoruyi's next years with the program will likely be his best.

What: Rutgers vs. Clemson

When: Friday, 9:20 p.m.

Watch on: TBS or March Madness Live

Niels Lane, Florida

A freshman guard, Lane was a 2019 state champion as Roselle Catholic, and had a chance to go back-to-back before COVID-19 canceled the 2020 championship.

Lane has served in a reserve role for the majority of the year, average just five minutes a game in his freshman campaign.

What: Florida vs. Virgina Tech

When: March 19, 12:15 p.m.

Watch on: CBS or March Madness Live

E.J. Anosike, Tennessee

Anosike is a graduate transfer from Sacred Heart University who added bench depth for the Volunteers this season.

He's a ferocious offensive rebounder, with more than half of his rebounds coming off the offensive glass.

A 1,000 point scorer in high school, he averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds as a senior at Paramus Catholic. He was named the Northeast Conference's most improved player during his sophomore campaign, and during his junior year was named to the Lou Henson All-America Team and was a first-team All-NEC selection.

What: Tennessee vs. Oregon State

When: March 19, 4:30 p.m.

Watch on: TNT or March Madness Live

Jaden Quinerly, Alabama

Quinerly joined his older brother, and fellow Jersey native, Jahvon at Alabama, where he's appeared in one game during his freshman season.

He was selected first team All-North Jersey and second team All-Bergen County during his senior year at Ramsey in 2020, and went to Alabama as a preferred walk-on.

What: Alabama vs. Iona

When: March 20, 4 p.m.

Watch on: TBS or March Madness Live

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