How an unknown became N.J.’s last undefeated boys basketball team – nj.com

The verse is scripted across the wall in black paint, spanning from the end of the home bench down to the other side of the court. As the action passes on each possession, those words are in clear view for the crowd while it watches this small Christian school keep its undefeated season alive.

Isaiah 54:13.

“All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.”

Welcome to Nutley’s Abundant Life Worship Center. Home of the Abundant Life Academy Warriors – the only unbeaten boys basketball team left in the state of New Jersey.

It’s one of the smallest high schools in the state, with an enrollment of 105, and this academy sits inside of a building that holds classes for students from pre-kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade. It’s not a household name in the basketball world, but this year’s team is writing an unlikely story with each win.

On Friday night, Abundant Life celebrated its seniors and improved to 15-0 with a win over Veritas Christian. The Warriors started out slow, but once they hit their stride in the second half, it was game over.

“It’s a great feeling knowing we’re the last undefeated team in the state, but we’re not satisfied because we know we can play better,” senior Chris DeFendre said. “We’re an unknown school, but you have to start somewhere and I’m just trying to set an example for the other guys.”

Abundant Life coach Malcolm Smith echoes a similar sentiment in the aftermath of his team’s win. He says he’s pleased, but not satisfied, and that’s how he wants this program to play. This is the best season in program history and it’s something Smith wants the Warriors to build on.

DeFendre is the centerpiece of this team, and he had another great game against Veritas Christian. The 6-foot-3 senior captain finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds. That double-double effort came after a Senior Night ceremony where Smith told a story about how DeFendre once ripped his jersey in half. The Warriors gifted that same jersey to the senior and said he’d be the last to wear it at Abundant Life.

Senior Nathan Lima also had a great game, scoring a season-high 14 points. He was part of an all-senior lineup that also featured DeFendre, Maxwell Allen, Elijah Woodard and Michael Ramdihol. Junior guard Darris Johnson normally starts, but came off the bench this night for the Warriors.

The electric guard was phenomenal with 15 points and seven steals.

His defense is what stands out the most, but the way Johnson moves with the ball in his hands on offense also draws your attention. The junior’s shot from beyond the arc is pretty impressive too.

Junior forward Mickel Valere came in and made an impact as well with 13 rebounds.

Smith knew he had a talented group, but to be sitting here with a perfect record isn’t something he had in mind. It’s been a pleasant surprise for a program that wants to be known as a winner.

“I had a feeling that we would be a decent basketball team, but I am a little surprised that we are where we are at this point of the season,” said Smith, who took over as the head coach a year ago. “These guys just always find a way to win. We lost a lot because of COVID last year, but they’ve been working so hard and I really believe when we play our style of basketball that we can play with just about anybody.”

This season started with a victory over Veritas Christian back on Dec. 3.

That was a great start to the year for a team that went winless last winter.

Abundant Life has come a long way since that day, adding victories over Bogota, Kearny and Nutley to go along with wins against other Christian academies. It’s been a wild ride for a team and a school that is so unknown that after it beat Nutley in a Christmas Tournament, someone asked where Abundant Life is.

Smith laughed as he recalled that moment, sitting in a school that is just a mile away from Nutley High.

He knows Abundant Life has work to do, but the potential is there.

Smith played at Roselle back in the 1990s and then had an All-American career at Bloomfield College. The NBA wasn’t feasible, but Smith did play professionally, going overseas to keep his dream alive in Holland. It’s a journey that showed him that anything was possible with the right guidance.

That’s a mindset he’s brought with him to Abundant Life.

Smith’s daughter attended the Essex County school and when a the chance to coach the boys basketball team opened up, he jumped at it. He loved the atmosphere, the dynamics of the school and mostly, he thought he could help. He also saw the same hunger that he had as a player.

“I think it’s cool because people don’t really know about us, but when they play us, they say, ‘Wow. They can really play basketball,’” Smith said. “I try to infuse what I have experienced in our guys. I played high school basketball, played in college and played in Europe. I’m trying to give these guys an avenue to understand that no matter where you are from or where you play, you can make it.

“I’m just trying to help show them that it’s possible.”

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Brandon Gould can be reached at bgould@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrandonGouldHS.