2026 Central Jersey high school boys basketball group-by-group playoff predictions

Thrive Charter’s Tyler Hammond (1) watches his three-point field goal attempt go through the net against Newark Tech in the NJSIAA Group 1 state championship at Rutgers University’s Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Collin Conway/D2 Sports Network

The road to Rutgers University begins on Wednesday.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's public high school boys' basketball playoffs begin for Groups 1 and 3 Wednesday, February 25. Postseason competition for Groups 2 and 4 starts on Thursday, February 26.

Throughout the sectional playoffs, the higher seed will host each game. Once Central Jersey champions are crowned in each of the public high school groups, those teams will play the respective South Jersey champions at a predetermined neutral site in the state semifinals for each group, per the NJSIAA.

The state finals for Groups 2 and 4 will take place at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena on March 14. State championships for Groups 1 and 3 will be hosted at Rutgers on March 15.

Here are group-by-group, round-by-round predictions by South Jersey Sports Zone's Kevin Emmons in each Central Jersey public high school group:

Central Jersey Group 1

First round predictions:

(1) Thrive Charter defeats (16) Keansburg

(8) Henry Hudson edges (9) Bound Brook

(12) New Providence upsets (5) Piscataway Magnet

(4) Shore Regional defeats (13) Roselle Park

(6) Manville edges (11) Dunellen

(3) Middlesex edges (14) South Hunterdon

(10) Dayton defeats (7) South Amboy

(2) Point Pleasant Beach defeats (7) Perth Amboy Magnet

Quarterfinals predictions:

(1) Thrive Charter defeats (8) Henry Hudson

(4) Shore Regional edges (12) New Providence

(3) Middlesex defeats (6) Manville

(2) Point Pleasant Beach defeats (10) Dayton

Semifinals predictions:

(1) Thrive Charter defeats (4) Shore Regional

(2) Point Pleasant Beach edges (3) Middlesex

Sectional final prediction:

(1) Thrive Charter over (2) Point Pleasant Beach

Central Jersey Group 2

First round predictions:

(1) Wall defeats (16) Bordentown

(9) Robbinsville edges (8) Holmdel

(5) Manasquan defeats (12) Roselle

(13) Spotswood upsets (4) Delaware Valley

(11) Monmouth upsets (6) Arthur L. Johnson

(3) Ocean Township defeats (14) Governor Livingston

(7) Rumson-Fair Haven edges (10) Point Pleasant Borough

(2) Metuchen defeats (15) Delran

Quarterfinals predictions:

(1) Wall edges (9) Robbinsville

(5) Manasquan defeats (13) Spotswood

(3) Ocean Township edges (11) Monmouth

(7) Rumson-Fair Haven upsets (2) Metuchen

Semifinals predictions:

(5) Manasquan edges (1) Wall

(7) Rumson-Fair Haven edges (3) Ocean Township

Sectional final prediction:

(5) Manasquan defeats (7) Rumson-Fair Haven

Central Jersey Group 3

First round predictions:

(1) Lawrence defeats (16) Steinert

(9) Colts Neck edges (8) Nottingham

(12) Red Bank Regional upsets (5) Hopewell Valley

(4) Middletown South defeats (13) Allentown

(6) Brick Memorial edges (11) Northern Burlington

(3) Ewing defeats (14) Brick Township

(7) Burlington Township defeats (10) Matawan

(2) Westampton Tech defeats (15) Middletown North

Quarterfinals predictions:

(1) Lawrence edges (9) Colts Neck

(4) Middletown South defeats (12) Red Bank Regional

(3) Ewing defeats (6) Brick Memorial

(2) Westampton Tech defeats (7) Burlington Township

Semifinals predictions:

(1) Lawrence edges (4) Middletown South

(3) Ewing defeats (2) Westampton Tech

Sectional final prediction:

(3) Ewing defeats (1) Lawrence

Central Jersey Group 4

First round predictions:

(1) Hillsborough defeats (16) Old Bridge

(8) Freehold Township edges (9) Franklin Township

(5) Jackson Township defeats (12) Hightstown

(4) East Brunswick defeats (13) Edison

(6) Trenton defeats (11) Hunterdon Central

(3) Montgomery defeats (14) Manalapan

(7) Sayreville defeats (10) South Brunswick

(2) Marlboro defeats (15) Princeton

Quarterfinals predictions:

(1) Hillsborough defeats (8) Freehold Township

(4) East Brunswick defeats (5) Jackson Township

(3) Montgomery defeats (6) Trenton

(7) Sayreville edges (2) Marlboro

Semifinals predictions:

(1) Hillsborough defeats (4) East Brunswick

(3) Montgomery defeats (7) Sayreville

Sectional final prediction:

(3) Montgomery defeats (1) Hillsborough