Dajuan who?
Friar point guard Ingram takes on the challenge of facing the nation’s best hoopster…and wins
The Friars of St. Anthony were preparing to face Camden, simply the No. 1 team in New Jersey, led by Dajuan Wagner, simply the No. 1 player in the nation.
"I don’t think anyone looks forward to going up against Dajuan Wagner," legendary St. Anthony head coach Bob Hurley said. "It’s like going up against a highlight film, because he’s certainly going to do something that will be caught on tape. I don’t think anyone in New Jersey would want to play him."
After all, Wagner, a consensus McDonald’s All-American, has already scored 3,000 points in his brilliant high school career and should become the all-time scoring leader in the history of New Jersey high school basketball any day now. He could very well be the first overall pick in the NBA draft in June, right out of high school. Yes, Wagner’s that good.
But Friar junior guard Elijah Ingram wasn’t about to back down from the challenge of going head-to-head against the best player in the nation on the best team in the state.
"You always want to play against the best competition," Ingram said. "That’s what makes you become a better player. I just tried to play my game. I didn’t look at it like it was me against Wagner, but I was looking forward to the challenge of playing against him."
"We didn’t want Elijah to think that he was facing Dajuan Wagner," Hurley said. "So we told him to cut his head off and think he’s playing No. 21 of Camden, not Wagner. And we laughed about it. I also told him that he was going to have plenty of help."
But Ingram already had some prior experience in locking horns with the high school highlight reel. Last summer, while playing for the Tim Thomas Playaz AAU All-Stars, Ingram and Wagner went against each other in a tournament in Paterson. Not only did Ingram’s team win the tournament title, but also Ingram was named the tourney’s Most Valuable Player.
"In a way, I was used to playing against him," Ingram said. "At least, I was prepared to play against him."
In reality, the preparation to step into the spotlight began about a full year ago, after St. Anthony finished what had to be considered as a disappointing 17-8 season, suffering more losses in one season than what Hurley-coached teams did for a full decade (1987-1997). During that season, Ingram played hurt the whole year, battling a severely torn muscle in his thigh as well as calcium deposits in his leg.
"It was pretty tough," Ingram said. "I think I did a pretty good job, but it was physically and emotionally tough on me, because I wasn’t healthy. It prevented me from doing a lot of things that I normally do. I didn’t want to sit out. I love playing so much that even when I’m only 50 percent healthy, it’s better than sitting out and watching. But a lot of times, it bothered me that I couldn’t be myself. I had no lift in my jump shot. I didn’t have the quickness to play defense. It was very tough on me."
"Most people don’t realize that he was hurt last year," Hurley said. "Before the season, he had to sit out for six months, not being able to play at all. It was so bad for him at times that he couldn’t even walk up stairs. He didn’t have a good year and we didn’t have a good year. He needed AAU ball last summer to regain his confidence."
And the tournament performance against the nation’s premier performer might have been the ego boost that the 5-11 Ingram needed, because he was ready to take on Wagner last Sunday at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton.
Of course, the Friars are also a lot better than they were a year ago, owning a 21-3 mark and the No. 3 ranking in the state. So not only was the point guard better prepared to handle the challenge, but so were his teammates.
Ingram also had a fine cheering section, with almost 50 members of his family and friends on hand for the game.
"They all knew we were facing Wagner and Camden," Ingram said. "They all wanted to see it, so that made me a little more nervous, playing in front of all of them."
However, Ingram didn’t disappoint. In fact, he saved the best performance of his high school career for the biggest game of his life to date.
Ingram went toe-to-toe with Wagner, who entered the game averaging almost 50 points per game. While Wagner scored less than his average (32 points), Ingram came through with 31 points. Ingram didn’t miss a shot from 3-point range (five of five), made all 14 of his free throw attempts and dished off for seven assists, leading the Friars to a convincing 76-54 victory.
"It was as good of a game a point guard could play," said Hurley, who has obviously had his fair share of brilliant point guards over the years, including his two All-American sons. "He was a factor in every minute he played. Elijah controlled the tempo and saw everything that was going on out there. It was a standoff between the two players at that position. No one would ever think anyone could play Dajuan Wagner even. He just went out there and made it his game. He was a dominant force."
"I just let the game come to me," Ingram said. "I didn’t feel I had to score as much as he did, but I felt I had to do whatever I could to help us win, to step it up to another level."
And for his efforts, Ingram has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
It’s safe to say that Ingram’s performance has opened some eyes throughout the state – and beyond. The young Friars open play this weekend in the NJSIAA Parochial B playoffs as a favorite to win the school’s 22nd state championship – already a state record and just two behind a national record, set by Cheyenne High School in Laramie, Wyoming.
"This will help us prepare for the states," Ingram said. "I think everyone has been waiting for St. Anthony’s to be back and this win certainly gives us a big emotional lift. We know we have a shot to win the T of C (Tournament of Champions). This lets teams know that we’re there and if anyone doubted us, they shouldn’t anymore, because we’re a legitimate threat."
And Ingram has catapulted himself into the national spotlight, the elite kind of player that makes college recruiters drool.
"It’s the kind of performance where a reputation can be built," Hurley said. "I have to think that it’s going to lead to bigger and better things for him. If there is a better point guard in the Eastern area than Elijah, then I haven’t seen him. And usually, when we have a good guard, people come calling."
Considering where he was a year ago, Ingram couldn’t be happier.
"I’m pretty much at the top of my game right now and that’s a great feeling," Ingram said. "I think this lets people see how I can really play. I can’t even begin to compare last year to this year. I just wanted to get healthy last year. This year, I wanted to develop as a player."