Camden was 10-9 at Saturday's cutoff date for tournament pairings. The Panthers have tough games ahead against Olympic National rivals Paul VI and Bishop Eustace.
But Camden is 8-2 after a 2-5 start. The Panthers got a big lift last week with the eligibility of junior forward Amir Maddred and freshman guard Rasool Hinson.
The 6-foot-8 Maddred, who transferred from Trenton Catholic, scored 31 in his debut Tuesday night against Triton. He made five three-point jumpers.
"I didn't even know he could shoot the 'three,' " Byrd said. "He would fool around in practice, but I had him inside. He made the first one and I was, 'OK, good shot.' He took the second one and I was ready to take him out and he made that one.
"He made the third one and I was, 'Well, I guess he can shoot.' "
The 6-0 Hinson, who transferred from Camden Academy Charter, is a point guard who scored five against Triton and eight in Saturday's victory over Washington Township.
The arrival of the transfers, who were able to practice with the team while sitting out 30 days, as well as the continued improvement of senior forwards Ajwan Leaming and Thomas Harper, and sophomore guard Tavaris Headen, have the Panthers looming as a team to watch in the tournament.
Unofficially, Camden is projected to be on the same side of the bracket as likely No. 2 seed Delsea and No. 3 seed Westampton Tech. Shore Conference team Lacey Township, which was 16-1 at the cutoff, is the likely No. 1 seed, although there's some question about the strength of the Lions' schedule.
"What I like is our schedule," Byrd said. "We've got Paul VI and Bishop Eustace, and we play Middle Township (in Sunday's Cape-Olympic Challenge at St. Augustine). That's going to prepare us for the state tournament."
New No. 1. The good news is that Eastern has risen again to No. 1 in the rankings. The bad news is that Eastern has risen again to No. 1 in the rankings.
