Junior adds scoring to ‘D’
By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
Jamel Smith is the same defensive presence he has always been for the New Egypt High School boys basketball team.
But this year he’s added another wrinkle to his game as an offensive weapon for the Warriors.
”Last year he averaged around four or five points a game,” New Egypt coach Jay Corby said. “The thing about Jamel is that he is a smothering defender. He is one of the better defenders I have seen. He takes the other team’s top player right out of the game. But this year he’s also added to that some scoring and he is filling a vital role for us.”
On Monday, Smith scored a team-high 17 points to lift the Warriors to a 50-38 win over Westampton Vo-Tech. Mark Pryzbylkowski, who was 8 of 8 from the foul line down the stretch, added 16 points and Desmond Hubert finished with a triple double, scoring 12 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking 15 shots.
Smith knew coming into the season he would be counted on to score more. He’s doubled his scoring average to just under 10 points a game, while still playing that same dominating defense.
”Over the summer and off-season I worked on it a lot,” the junior said of his offense. “My main role last year was to play defense. This year I came into the season wanting to do more on offense. I went to the gym a lot and worked on my shot and dribbling.
”I did a lot of things that helped with both. I lifted a lot, which helped me with both sports. And some days I would do workouts for football and other days I would do workouts for basketball. This spring I think I am going to run track and I also play AAU basketball in the spring.”
The Warriors, who are allowing just 38 points a game on defense, improved to 7-2 with the win on Monday. On Saturday they faced one of the tough teams that have been added to the schedule in a 42-37 loss to Jackson Memorial at the Hoop Group Boardwalk Classic. Smith had 10 points in that loss.
”Jamel has been playing well for us,” Corby said. “He has played real well the last five games in a row. Against Jackson Memorial he had 10 points and five rebounds. Tonight he had 17 points, three assists and two steals.”
The Warriors have high hopes for the end of the season. They certainly want to compete for a Central Jersey Group I title and have done their best to load up the regular season schedule to prepare for the post season.
”There are things that we could do better, but we have a pretty good record right now,” Smith said. “We’ve played some pretty tough teams and I think that is going to help us when the state playoffs come around. We want to be ready for the states.”
The Warriors know the defense is always going to be there. And they’ve been showing the offense can be there as well.
”I think our offense comes from playing good defense,” Smith said. “That is where it all gets started. When we get going on defense that is what gets us motivated. Having Desmond back there on defense helps a lot.”
Hubert has been a force this year. And as much as he can dominate a game on defense, there are times like Monday when he nearly leaves his own coaches speechless.
”It was a pretty unbelievable performance,” Corby said of Monday’s effort that included the 15 blocks. “Last year he had 11 triple doubles in 28 games. At one point last season he had five or six games in a row with a triple double. Last year he averaged 17-10-9 a game.”

