New coach, same dominance: Camden basketball wins season opener under Maalik Wayns

MOUNT HOLLY – Maalik Wayns couldn’t believe what he saw.

The Camden High School boys’ basketball team pulled up to Rancocas Valley before the start of the JV game Thursday afternoon and there was a line of fans already waiting to get into the building.

It was a common occurrence for the Panthers all last season, but the first-year head coach had never experienced it before at this level.

The former Villanova standout and NBA player was astonished to see the bleachers nearly full by the second quarter of the JV game.

The behemoth that is Camden basketball hit him.

“It’s definitely butterflies, good butterflies, being nervous,” Wayns said. “I want to do well, and I want these guy to do well, and I know there’s a lot riding on this season with these guys and this city. I just want to be able to perform and carry this great legacy with great passion and tradition and a great pride.”

More:125 South Jersey high school boys basketball players to watch during the 2022-23 season

The top-ranked Panthers gave Wayns a water-bottle celebration following their season-opening 91-50 triumph over the Red Devils in front of a crowd that was bursting out the gym doors.

“This is the best high school atmosphere I’ve been around. It doesn’t get no better than this,” Wayns said. “I played at Roman Catholic, great tradition, but Camden High, this tradition is unlike any other in the area. The legacy, the support of the fans, the whole city, it means a lot when you have the city on your chest, not just a school name. It was great. It was great to get the first game out the way and get a good result.”

Wayns took over reins of the program from Rick Brunson, who joined the New York Knicks’ coaching staff in the offseason after going 73-4 over three seasons and leading the team to its first state championship since 2000.

Wayns has brought a similar coaching style.

“Even though it’s a high school program, I kind of run it like a college program, high level,” said Wayns, citing his previous coaches – Doc Rivers, Jay Wright, Nick Nurse and Rick Carlisle – as influences. “High-level practices, intensity throughout, not many breaks, things like that. We practice hard and run a lot so I don’t if it’s new for these guys because I’m sure they’ve been doing it for a while with Rick Brunson, I just try to come and keep it at that level.”

Senior Aaron Bradshaw, a Kentucky commit, feels he’s doing just that.

“Nothing really changed,” Bradshaw said. “We still going at in practice, still the same people from last year, just a little more comfortable. … (Wayns has the) same mentality (as Brunson), yell, yell, yell, at the end of the game, good game, good game.”

More:Camden No. 1, who's next? South Jersey boys basketball preseason Mean 15 Rankings

Wayns understands the expectations are enormous for the program, which is why he’s trying to balance coaching and letting his players do what they’ve proven they can do.

“I just don’t want to get in these guys way,” he said. “I want these guys to help me help them, listen every day, get better every day, and just build on what they already built here. These guys are great players.”

Meet Billy Richmond

Less than two minutes into his first game as a Panther, junior Billy Richmond turned a steal into a fastbreak jam.

It was just the start for the transfer from Memphis East.

Richmond, the 139th-ranked player in the Class of 2024, per 247sports, led Camden with 19 points and 6 steals and threw down a variety of dunks, including a windmill in the fourth quarter.

“It was hype,” said Richmond, who was as awe-struck by the fan support as his coach.

He dropped their jaws multiple times. His teammates’ too.

“Ooooo. Woooo,” Bradshaw said. “He is tough, like really, really tough. Not only is he a good player, he’s a good kid, clapping for everybody, talking, that’s the type of player we need.”

Richmond’s ferocious defense fit right in with the rest of the Panthers, and his rim rocking brought back memories of the now-graduated Elijah Perkins.

More:Camden High School's James Heard Jr. is South Jersey Defensive Football Player of the Year

Richmond had one dunk he’d like to have back though as he clanked it off the back of the rim in the third quarter. He threw it down so hard he bent the rim down.

“I’m just trying to bring energy to my team and get the win,” he said.

Game notes

∎ Kentucky coach John Calipari arrived at halftime to watch his two commits – DJ Wagner and Bradshaw. Wagner finished with 17 points while Bradshaw was dominant with 15 points and 13 rebounds off the bench.

“He’s a monster,” Rancocas Valley coach Jay Flanagan said of Bradshaw.

∎ Bradshaw, ESPN’s No. 5 prospect in the Class of 2023, looked more comfortable than he did all of last season. The 7-footer was smiling, laughing and encouraging his teammates when a play didn’t go their way. He credited coach Wayns for that.

“That’s just the Maalik Wayns effect,” he said. “Me and him are real close.”

∎ Welcome back Cornelius Robinson. The senior and Albany commit missed the end of last season with a leg injury but showed why he’s so valuable to the program against the Red Devils. He finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

More:Ready? Wrestle! Get ready with our primer for the 2022-23 season

∎ The Panthers are incredible on the glass. They finished with 45 rebounds, including 21 on the offensive end, which led to numerous second-chance points.

∎ One area to watch for Camden will be its 3-point shooting. It was an issue for the Panthers last year and they struggled against Rancocas Valley, making just 5-of-27 attempts.

∎ Thursday’s game was Rancocas Valley’s first in the Olympic Conference after coming over from the Burlington County Scholastic League. The Red Devils didn’t have to play Camden as it was a crossover game, but the players were excited for the opportunity and the memory.

Flanagan was more concerned about how his kids played, and though he wanted to win, he felt his team’s approach was a victory.

“I don’t think we were intimidated at all,” he said. “We’ve been preparing for that, but it’s hard to prepare for that talent level, but the mindset and all, we’ve been preparing for what we were going to be facing. I thought we were pretty unfazed by that.”

Jack Orendac led all scorers with 20 points while sophomore Montre Wilson and freshman Jayden Washington showed well with 12 and 9 points, respectively.

“If we don’t come out strong Saturday, I think this game backfires,” Flanagan said. “I told the guys yesterday before this game, the most important game of the season is Saturday (against Delsea). Hopefully tonight’s effort moves us forward.”

Josh Friedman has produced award-winning South Jersey sports coverage for the Courier Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times for more than a decade. If you have or know of an interesting story to tell, reach out on Twitter at @JFriedman57 or via email at jfriedman2@gannettnj.com. You can also contact him at 856-486-2431. Help support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Camden basketball dominates Rancocas Valley for season-opening win