The Eastside Basketball Powerhouses: 5 Key Updates From The 2024-2025 Season
The name "Eastside High School" resonates across the national high school basketball landscape, representing multiple programs with storied histories and intense regional rivalries. As of December 24, 2025, the most recent season has delivered thrilling games, coaching changes, and emerging talent from New Jersey to Georgia and South Carolina, proving that the Eastside moniker is synonymous with fierce competition.
This deep dive provides the freshest and most critical updates on the top Eastside High School basketball programs, focusing heavily on the dominant New Jersey team while highlighting the significant developments in the other powerhouse Eagles programs across the Southeast. We explore key players, coaching staff, and their performance in the recent 2024-2025 season.
The Ghosts of Paterson: Eastside High School (NJ) Basketball Roster and 2024-2025 Season Overview
Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, is arguably the most famous basketball entity bearing the name, known for its deep urban basketball tradition and the nickname, the "Ghosts." The program competes in the highly competitive North Jersey circuit and consistently produces Division I talent.
Paterson Eastside High School Basketball Program Profile
- School Name: Eastside High School
- Nickname: Ghosts (Boys & Girls)
- Location: Paterson, New Jersey (Passaic County)
- Conference: Big North Conference, NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association)
- Boys Head Coach (2024-2025/2025-2026): Terrill Yancey (Note: The Paterson Public Schools site also lists Mr. J. James)
- Girls Head Coach: Mr. Brandon Pilgrim
- 2024-2025 Boys Varsity Record: A strong 17-9 overall record.
Key Players and Program Entities
The Ghosts’ success is built on a foundation of strong individual talent. The 2024-2025 season continued to feature high-level athletes, many of whom are on the radar of college recruiters. Notable players who have recently shaped the program include:
- Titus Bacon (G): A standout guard who graduated in 2023, Bacon was a key figure in the program's recent history, known for his matchups against top New Jersey teams like Camden High School and star DJ Wagner.
- Aaron Bodie (F, 6-7): A significant presence in the frontcourt, providing size and rebounding for the Ghosts.
- Preston Brown (G, 6-0): A crucial guard who helped lead the team through the challenging Big North Conference schedule.
- Allen Dantzler (F, 6-4): Another forward adding depth and versatility to the roster.
The program’s history is marked by its intense and historic rivalry with the John F. Kennedy Educational Complex (JFK), a matchup that often determines local bragging rights and has recently been featured in the NJSIAA Group 4 State Tournament.
Eastside Eagles: Updates from Georgia and South Carolina
The name "Eastside" is also a significant brand in the Southeast, with two prominent programs, both nicknamed the Eagles, making their own headlines in the 2024-2025 season with key coaching appointments and regional play.
Eastside High School (Covington, GA) Eagles
Located in Newton County, the Covington Eastside Eagles are a consistent fixture in Georgia's AAAA Region 8. The program is known for its strong athletic department, led by Athletic Director Champ Young and Principal Jeff Cher.
- Boys Program Stability: The boys' varsity program is guided by Head Coach Dorrian Randolph, who continues his tenure through the 2025-2026 season, providing essential leadership and stability.
- Recent Performance: The Eagles showed their strength late in the 2025 calendar year, securing a notable victory against Heritage High School with a score of 60-44 in December 2025.
- Girls Program Change: The Lady Eagles program saw a significant change with the appointment of Rod Baker as the new head coach, who is tasked with maintaining the team’s momentum in the upcoming school year.
Eastside High School (Taylors, SC) Eagles
The Eastside Eagles in Taylors, South Carolina, are a part of the competitive Greenville County Schools athletic landscape. The program is focused on building momentum in the tough regional environment.
- Varsity Leadership: The Boys Varsity Basketball team is currently led by Head Coach Tom Chamness.
- Regional Challenges: The 2024-2025 schedule featured challenging matchups against local rivals like Mauldin and Greenville High School, indicating the tough competition within the region.
- Freshman Development: The freshman team faced a defeat against Greenville High School (18-32) in December 2024, highlighting the focus on developing younger talent for future varsity success.
The Intricate Dynamics of Eastside Basketball Programs
The overlapping history and shared name of "Eastside High School" programs create a unique narrative in high school sports. While geographically separated, all three teams—the Ghosts in New Jersey and the Eagles in Georgia and South Carolina—share the common thread of being central athletic hubs for their respective communities. This is evident in the passion surrounding the games, from the historic Thanksgiving rivalry in Paterson to the regional battles in Region 8 (GA) and Greenville County (SC).
Paterson’s High-Stakes Environment
The New Jersey program, in particular, operates under a microscope. Its affiliation with the NJSIAA and the Big North Conference places it in one of the most scrutinized high school basketball environments in the nation. The program has faced unique challenges, including a past investigation related to the residency of overseas players, demonstrating the high-stakes nature and intense pressure associated with maintaining a top-tier program.
The Ghosts' 17-9 finish in the 2024-2025 season is a testament to the team’s resilience and ability to perform consistently despite external pressures and a demanding schedule. Their participation in the John F. Kennedy Educational Complex game against Montclair High School further illustrates their commitment to playing a challenging non-conference slate.
The Southeast’s Focus on New Leadership
In contrast, the Eastside programs in Georgia and South Carolina are currently defined by their coaching staff and regional alignment. Coach Dorrian Randolph's continued leadership in Covington, GA, suggests a commitment to a long-term strategy for the Eagles. The addition of Rod Baker to the Lady Eagles staff signals a renewed focus on the girls' program, aiming for new heights in AAAA Region 8 play.
For the Taylors, SC, Eagles, the challenge lies in navigating the competitive landscape of Greenville County. The emphasis on developing younger players, as seen in the freshman team's schedule, is a crucial component of building a sustainable varsity program under the guidance of Coach Tom Chamness.
5 Critical Takeaways for Eastside Basketball Fans
The 2024-2025 season and the outlook for 2025-2026 are full of intriguing developments across all major Eastside High School basketball entities. Here are the five most critical takeaways for fans and followers:
- Paterson Eastside is a 17-Win Powerhouse: The New Jersey Ghosts finished the 2024-2025 season with a strong 17-9 record, reaffirming their status as a top competitor in the NJSIAA and the Big North Conference.
- Coaching Stability in NJ and GA: Terrill Yancey (NJ Boys) and Dorrian Randolph (GA Boys) are set to lead their respective programs into the 2025-2026 season, ensuring continuity for both Ghosts and Eagles teams.
- The Lady Eagles Have a New Leader: The Eastside Lady Eagles in Covington, GA, will be under the direction of new Head Coach Rod Baker, marking a significant change for the girls' program.
- The Historic Rivalry Continues: The fierce Paterson rivalry between Eastside Ghosts and Kennedy High School remains a major highlight, with recent matchups determining crucial NJSIAA Group 4 State placements.
- Emerging Talent in the Frontcourt: Players like 6-foot-7 forward Aaron Bodie (Paterson, NJ) represent the next wave of talent emerging from the Eastside programs, promising exciting future seasons.
Whether you follow the tradition-rich Ghosts of Paterson or the ambitious Eagles of Covington and Taylors, the Eastside High School basketball brand continues to deliver high-octane action and compelling storylines that shape the national high school sports narrative.
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