Matawan’s Jayden Elijah had already packed his bags in anticipation of move-in day tomorrow at Rutgers University, but before he enrolled early and joined the Scarlet Knights’ football team, the two-sport standout had one thing left to do. So, he laced up his basketball sneakers one last time.

The 6-foot-7 senior walked arm-in-arm with his mother and grandmother on Friday before the game, posed for photos and soaked in every moment of Matawan’s Senior Night. This was it. The last time No. 40 would pop off the bench as his name was announced for the starting lineup. The last time he’d take the jump ball. The time he’d score in the paint with the student section emphatically cheering his name.