For the 2023-24 season, junior Jahi Whitney was selected as the Boys Basketball Team’s Athlete of the Year. He had a groundbreaking season, leading the team to their 15-11 winning record. Every aspect of his game vastly improved as he became a true three-level scorer and developed a deadly midrange jumper. Additionally, he improved on defense and became one of the best perimeter defenders in the conference due to his quick hands, fast feet, and good help defense. He also played impressive post defense, especially for a guard, largely due to his strength and ability to front his man in the post, preventing entry passes to his man.
Montclair began their season with an away game versus University, as part of the Brick City Showcase, during which Whitney tallied 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Mounties won that game in dominant fashion, with a 76-49 final score. Montclair’s next game was neck-and-neck until the final buzzer, but ultimately Montclair fell to Orange 59-57. Their following game at Millburn was a 62-51 loss, but, Jahi Whitney played hard, and between both games, he recorded 33 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and multiple blocks and steals. Montclair then won two in a row, 41-39 against Verona and 52-37 at Passaic Tech, and then a 49-45 loss versus East Orange. Whitney had a slow few games in this stretch, recording below ten points in each game. This is the last time in the season this would happen, and over the next five games, Jahi Whitney only increased his point count. In the 72-58 loss against Newark Collegiate, Whitney scored 14 points, as well as 5 rebounds and 3 assists. In the Mounties’ following win against Glen Ridge, he tallied 19 of the team's 53 total points. Less than a week later, in the 63-37 win against West Essex, he scored another 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and even 3 steals. In the ensuing three games versus opponents Columbia, Newark Central, and Orange, Whitney totaled 21, 23, and 17 points respectively, as well as a total of 13 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals.
Jahi Whitney continued on his hot streak, leading the boys to a victory versus our biggest rivals, MKA, in the second prelim of the Essex County Tournament (ECT). Over the remaining two games leading up to the tournament, he scored 35 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. In an unfortunate loss to 22-7 St. Benedict’s Prep in the first round of the ECT, Whitney was held to just 11 points, his lowest in 10 games. However, this doesn’t come as a shock as 5th ranked in the state St. Benedict’s Prep ended up winning the entire ECT after beating Montclair rival Immaculate Conception, who went on to make the state championship game. He recovered quickly following this loss and over the final three wins he recorded 44 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Even in Montclair’s losses, he contributed 30 total points, 10 two-point buckets, and 10 free throws.
Jahi Whitney’s contributions to the Montclair High School Boys Basketball Team during the 2023-24 season can’t be understated, and Montclair Sports Network chose him as the Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year due to his impressive breakout year as a junior. Despite Montclair’s addition of star senior guard Ben Price, Whitney established himself as the clear number-one option, and proved he can lead a successful team as a number-one. He had a personal record-breaking season with a career high of 16 points per game (PPG), and 395 total points.
Additionally, Whitney grabbed an impressive 104, 78 assists, 26 steals, and averaged 2 stocks per game (steals+blocks per game). His efforts this season made him 1st on the team in PPG, 2nd in total rebounds, 1st in assists per game, and 1st in total steals through 26 games played, which was also 1st on the team. Congratulations to Jahi on an amazing junior season!