POY WATCH: Syracuse basketball commit Tyler Ennis leads team to No. 5 national rank

The window on the Gatorade State Boys Basketball Player of the Year race is closing, and the search for elite student-athletes is in full swing. The award recognizes not only athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field. Here are two top candidates who meet the basic award criteria as determined by our USA TODAY team that administers the program’s selection process.

Tyler Ennis
Senior point guard, St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.)

How he’s played himself into the State POY conversation: Ennis, the returning Gatorade New Jersey Boys Basketball Player of the Year, has led the Gray Bees into the nation’s top five. Ranked as the country’s No. 23 recruit in the Class of 2013 by Scout.com, the 6-foot-2 senior point guard has also played for Canada’s U-19 National Team.

2012-13 Team record: 19-1
2012-13 Team standing: Ranked No. 5 nationally by USA TODAY
2012-13 Points per game: 19.3
2012-13 Assists per game: 6.1

Collegiate destination: Syracuse

Jaren Sina
Senior point guard, Gill St. Bernard’s School (Gladstone, N.J.)

How he’s played himself into the State POY conversation: The two-time Somerset County Player of the Year, Sina led the Knights to the Non-Public B state final as a junior, averaging 20.1 points and 8.2 assists per game. Ranked as the No. 97 national recruit in the Class of 2013 by ESPN, the 6-foot-2 Sina is averaging five made 3-pointers per game and recently led Gill St. Bernard’s to an impressive win over Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) with 22 points and 10 assists.

2012-13 Team record: 10-6
2012-13 Team standing: First place in the Skyland Conference
2012-13 Points per game: 22.6
2012-13 Assists per game: 7.8

Collegiate destination: Northwestern

Make no mistake, the Gatorade State Boys Basketball Player of the Year race isn’t over yet. Time remains for one standout student-athlete among thousands to rise to the top of our list. Here are more of many who’ve been in the conversation throughout the 2012-13 campaign.

Isaiah Briscoe: Sophomore guard, St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.)
Reggie Cameron: Senior forward, Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.)
Davon Reed: Senior guard, Princeton Day (Princeton, N.J.)
Tyler Roberson: Senior forward, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.)
Karl Towns: Sophomore center, St. Joseph (Metuchen, N.J.)