2022 South Jersey Sports Zone Cape-Atlantic League Awards and Honors
Player of the Year: Sr. Carlos Lopez, Egg Harbor Township.
Lopez averaged a league-best 21.7 points per game and helped the Eagles to a 23-4 record this season. The senior scored 30 or more points in a single game on five separate occasions. In a three-game stretch against St. Joseph, St. Augustine and Holy Spirit, Lopez tallied 25, 25 and 29 points, respectively. Egg Harbor Township won each of the three matchups against the Cape-Atlantic League’s top tier programs.
The 6-foot-2 point guard often utilized sharp movements to create separation and open up space for three-point field goal attempts. The four-year starter possessed a silky smooth left-handed stroke and drained 76 3-pointers. Lopez finished his scholastic career with 1,551 points and 252 3-pointers made.
“Carlos is an unbelievable player that was the key to our offense,” Egg Harbor Township coach Cameron Bell said. “His ability to shoot off the catch and off a dribble move is second to none. Carlos was a huge part of our program and showed everyone what’s possible with hard work and dedication.”
Coach of the Year: Dan Williams, Mainland.
After a bleak 8-9 start to the season, coach Dan Williams orchestrated a turnaround like no other. The Mustangs won eight out of their final 10 games and became the first No. 8 seed to win the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament. Mainland, which featured four sophomores in its starting lineup, produced a trio of upsets against Egg Harbor Township, St. Joseph and St. Augustine to capture its first conference championship in school history. Williams’ squad earned quality victories over Middle Township, Cherokee and Millville. The Mustangs rallied to the South Jersey Group 3 quarterfinals and fell to Burlington Township, 55-49.
“As a staff we were especially proud of how the guys stayed motivated and kept working hard,” Williams said. “Despite the early season setbacks, that hard work paid off in the CAL playoffs and helped the team create some great memories.”
Team of the Year: Egg Harbor Township.
The Eagles finished the campaign tied with St. Augustine for the Cape Atlantic League’s best record (23-4 overall) and highest winning percentage (.852). Egg Harbor Township cruised past the Hermits, 76-51, in their lone head-to-head matchup on February 9. Bell’s squad finished the regular season a perfect 12-0 in CAL United divisional play and defeated St. Joseph, Holy Spirit, Mainland, Hammonton, Cedar Creek and Lower Cape May two times each during the regular season. Egg Harbor Township was 15-0 against Cape-Atlantic League opponents before falling to Mainland, 50-38, in the CAL Tournament quarterfinals. The Eagles were one of three teams, and the only public school, in the Cape-Atlantic League to reach the sectional semifinals in their group. Egg Harbor Township is 37-5 in its last 42 games.
Cape-Atlantic League First Team
So. Elijah Brown, St. Augustine
So. Cohen Cook, Mainland
Sr. Anthony Colon, Egg Harbor Township
Sr. Carlos Lopez, Egg Harbor Township
Sr. Ja’son Prevard, St. Joseph
Cape-Atlantic League Second Team
So. Semaj Bethea, St. Augustine
Jr. D.J. Germann, Egg Harbor Township
Jr. Jahmir Smith, Holy Spirit
Jr. Jamil Wilkins, Holy Spirit
Sr. Arnaldo Rodriguez, St. Joseph
Cape-Atlantic League Third Team
So. Bubba McNeil, Middle Township
Sr. Isaiah Glenn, Egg Harbor Township
Sr. Yamere Diggs, Vineland
Sr. Archie Lawlor, Lower Cape May
Sr. Dylan Delvecchio, Cape May Tech
Cape-Atlantic League Honorable Mentions
Fr. Jamir McNeil, Middle Township
So. Khalon Foster, Millville
So. Tim Travagline, Mainland
So. Anthony Trombetta, Middle Township
So. Rashee Bell, Wildwood Catholic
Jr. Ky Gilliam, Holy Spirit
Jr. Jayden Llanos, Holy Spirit
Jr. Jayden Lopez, Atlantic Tech
Jr. Jay-Nelly Reyes, Egg Harbor Township
Jr. Jaden Merrill, Millville
Jr. Jabbar Barriento, Millville
Jr. Nazir Rowell, Vineland
Sr. Jabril Bowman, Bridgeton
Sr. Angel Smith, Bridgeton
Sr. John Andoloro, Hammonton