KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — Jerel Cokley was convinced his players’ heads were still in Indianapolis, where New Heights’ 17U team made a remarkable run to the finals of the prestigious Adidas Invitational.
Fortunately, that didn’t extend to Josh James. If it had, New Heights would be headed to the loser’s bracket in The Hoop Group-run Summer Classic East.
The Archbishop Stepinac rising senior shot New Heights out of a 16-point hole and his 3-pointer with 15.4 seconds left in regulation proved to be the difference in the AAU giant’s come-from-behind, 65-63 victory over Connecticut Basketball Club (CBC) Wednesday night at Competitive Sports Edge.
“I started to heat up,” the 6-foot-2 guard with a handful of mid-major scholarship offers said after scoring a team-high 19 points. “I was more confident in my shot than the first half.”
New Heights, which blew away N.J. Gym Rats, 80-49, in their opener, will face Mass. Rivals and top five rising junior Noah Vonleh in the quarterfinals Thursday at 2:25 p.m., a rematch of the Memorial Day Super 16 Showcase championship game, won by New Heights at the buzzer on a Jalen Jenkins basket.
The George Mason-bound Jenkins was pivotal to the win, scoring 15 points and creating opportunities in transition. He, in fact, set up James’ final two 3-point baskets. Cokley, however, pointed to his bench, composed of John F. Kennedy wing Bashir Ahmed, Seton Hall Prep’s Mike Bourque, Don Bosco Prep’s Paul Jorgenson and Greenwich’s Alex Wolff. The latter two are playing up in the tournament with Pathways’ Jordan Washington and Christ the King’s Malik Harmon back in New York City taking summer classes.
“Our bench won us that game,” Cokley said.
The quartet helped trim a 16-point deficit to nine in the second half, which set the stage for James’ heroics. His first trifecta, with 39.4 seconds remaining, cut the CBC lead to 61-59. After the two teams traded baskets, former Cardinal Hayes standout Nassir Williams came up with a steal, James drilled another bomb, only this time he also drew the foul.
“That’s what we know Josh is capable of doing,” Cokley said.
James missed out on a four-point play, but Khalil Dukes threw up an air ball on the ensuing possession, Jenkins made a free throw and New Heights held on for the dramatic victory.
“We found a way to get it done — that’s the important thing,” Cokley said. “That’s exactly what we needed, that game right there. It tests your character.”