By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
The Princeton Recreation Men’s Summer Basketball League begins the final season of its third decade with a bit of a changing of the guard.
Gone are longtime league staples like the Ivy Inn and Dr. Palmer, two sponsors that have been with the league since 2002. As the league begins its 29th season, there are some new faces and new leaders of teams.
“Other leagues come and go, but we’re still here,” said league commissioner Evan Moorhead. “We’re at 29 years and counting. I am looking forward to capping off the end of our third decade with another summer of outstanding basketball at the Community Park courts.”
This year the league will have eight teams, kicking off the season with a tripleheader on Monday night at Community Park in Princeton. Defending champion Majeski Foundation, made up of players from The College of New Jersey, is back to play for another title. Some of its players have graduated and formed another team, the Packer Hall All-Stars, whose roster includes former Lions Nick Brackett, Corey Stanford and Kevin Johnson.
“Last year the story line entering the season was whether the old guard teams of Ivy Inn and Dr. Palmer could hold off the young guns,” Moorhead said. “They were not able to and now they have decided to hang it up. This year the theme is the unknown with several new teams and only a few with a track record in our league. I anticipate we’ll see some familiar faces show up on those new teams but we won’t know for sure until the season gets underway.”
The PA Blue Devils and King’s Pizzarama are back to contend for a league title. League veterans managing new teams this season include Davon Black with Loyal Tees, Ethan Stewart with PEAC Performance, and Kyle Froehlich with Princeton Special Sports. Phil Vigliano also has a new league entry with NJAC, which includes former Princeton High players Matt Hart and Mike Dowers.
“I expect Majeski and the PA Blue Devils to be strong based on their returning players,” Moorhead said. “King’s Pizza had a great run to the finals last year. But outside of those teams it is wide open. Despite the unknown, I am confident this will be a very competitive and entertaining league this season from top to bottom”
