Add in other contributing underclassmen such as junior forwards Malik Sonko and Gilbert Baez and you have the potential of a rather deep rotation which Simpson and his staff can turn to in any situation.

“We have a new coach, a new team with lots of newcomers from different countries, and with different cultures, but it is all coming together,” said Martinez, who exploded out of the gates in Monday’s game at Caldwell scoring all 12 of his points in the first quarter. “In the end we are all in the same place now with the same aim of pursuing championships together!”

Hinkov said that he played club ball in Bulgaria and is happy to now be in America and at the historic Newark Catholic school.

“I looked forward over the summer to coming here and I’m enjoying my time at St. Benedict’s and with our team,” said the strong junior forward who speaks fluent English. “We have very good chemistry and the same aspirations in terms of wanting to play for a state championship.

“I also enjoy my studies, especially U.S. History and also geometry because I love math!”

For Simpson and his coaching staff the project is one of meshing all the new parts together into the best team it can be come February and March. As it looks now, this Gray Bees team will likely challenge Seton Hall Prep and a few select others for an ECT title in February, then who knows what happens in March in a loaded state section that includes state powers such as Bergen Catholic and St. Peter’s Prep.      

The pressure to succeed will certainly be there; however, the even-keeled Simpson appears to have the right demeanor for undertaking the long haul over the next three months with his talented group.

“We want to have a little fun as well along the way, but the big thing is establishing the building blocks for the culture we want to have at St. Benedict’s,” he said. “Our goal is to win a state championship every year while raising young men to be the best student-athletes they can possibly be.”

NOTES- St. Benedict’s, which already has an impressive independent victory over Elizabeth (78-71, this past Saturday, Dec. 20), will enter the J.P. Flynn Tournament in Morris County over the post-Christmas holiday weekend beginning with a Friday, Dec. 26, first-round night game at Delbarton. The Gray Bees’ first SEC-American Division contest will be Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Seton Hall Prep. Pirates coach Sterling Gibbs was spotted in the Caldwell gym on Monday doing some advance scouting…Caldwell, whose top victory in the early going was a defensive-minded 44-24 triumph at SEC-Liberty Division rival Columbia on Thursday, Dec. 18, enters the annual West Essex Area Holiday Hoops Festival this weekend at Caldwell University’s Newman Center. The Chiefs open up WEAHHF action facing Cedar Grove, 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 27. The championship game is 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 28, with the consolation contest at 1 p.m. Verona vs. West Essex, 11:30 a.m., Saturday, is the other first round matchup...Leading the Chiefs’ efforts vs. St. Benedict’s was forward Aiden Nienstadt who had 10 points and 8 rebounds. The 6-3 forward had hit for a career-high 25 points in his team’s season-opening 66-39 triumph vs. Memorial on Dec. 15.     

ST BENEDICT’S (4-0)     27     10    10    14    -61
CALDWELL (3-1)              7     12      6       7    -32

St. Benedict’s: Daniel Hinkov 4-1-0-11, Jack Martinez 3-2-0-12, Terrance Jamison 5-0-1-11, Naz Hilario 1-0-2-4, Malik Sonko 0-0-0-0, MJ Postell 4-0-4-12, Arouna Couilibaly 0-0-0-0, Jalen Chase 2-1-0-7, Gilbert Baez 1-0-1-3, Jacob Emi 0-0-0-0, Ibn Lee 0-0-0-0, Yomar Cruz 0-0-1-1. Totals: 20-4-9-61

Caldwell: Aiden Nienstadt 5-0-0-10, Brad Pankiewicz 0-0-1-1, Joe Diorio 3-0-0-6, Ryan Keenan 0-0-0-0, Dan Vybihal 1-1-1-6, Michael Arvanites 0-1-0-3, Nico Sozio 1-0-0-2, Frank Anemone 1-0-2-4, Connor Kennedy 0-0-0-0. Totals: 11-1-4-32          

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