Staff Report

The Deptford High boys basketball team is enjoying an outstanding season, having posted a 21-6 record heading into Monday’s South Jersey Group 3 quarterfinal, when the Spartans will host Seneca at 5:30 p.m. The Spartans also finished second in the Tri-County Conference’s highly competitive Liberty Division behind Delsea Regional, and at one point this season Deptford won 11 straight games.

The team is loaded with solid seniors, and a few weeks ago South Jersey Glory Days Staff Writer Dave O’Sullivan caught up with guards Jordan Williams and Kenny Cockerill for a quick 5 Questions feature. Williams is one of South Jersey’s top scorers at 22.8 points per game, and Cockerill leads the team in assists with 172 and is third on the team in 3-pointers made with 27.

Check out 5 QUESTIONS with Deptford seniors Jordan Williams and Kenny Cockerill:

Kenny Cockerill is an outstanding senior guard for the Deptford Spartans, as he’s one of the team’s top shooting threats and also leads the Spartans in assists. (South Jersey Glory Days photos/Sully)

QUESTION: Last year you guys were 11-15 and lost your last 10 games. What changed this year?

WILLIAMS: Everyone’s confidence. We know we’re the better team — I don’t care who we play against — it’s just confidence going into every single game, and that’s really showing. That’s the turnaround, that’s all it takes is having confidence in yourself.

COCKERILL: It’s just the bonding. We always had great skill. Ayden (Copestick, a starter and 2025 graduate) was a great leader and he taught us how to work. This year we have Mike (Yankowski), a freshman, and Bryce (Tull), and they’ve helped us out a lot, and Antoine Sims’ energy off the bench has helped us win a lot of games.

QUESTION: How and when do you know if you’re going to have a good shooting night?

WILLIAMS: If the first shot doesn’t go in, I just keep shooting. When you see one go in the net, just keep shooting and be confident. You can start out 0-for-5 and still finish with 20 points, you just have to keep shooting. I don’t stop shooting if I don’t make the first one.

COCKERILL: I usually feel it in warmups. If I’m hitting them, I usually know if I’m on. And if my point guard finds me and I nail a few down, I’m hot.

QUESTION: If you were a winter Olympian, which sport would you be in, and why?

WILLIAMS: I would be a snowboarder.

COCKERILL: I’d probably be a figure skater. I think I could jump and do a 360 in the air.

Senior guard Jordan Williams is one of the top scorers in South Jersey, averaging more than 22 points per game, and he’s scored more than 600 points during his senior season.

QUESTION: Would you rather go to an NCAA championship game or an NBA Game 7?

WILLIAMS: I would say NCAA final. The energy is unmatched and you’re going against real defense. I’d rather see that.

COCKERILL: I’d rather go to an NBA Game 7. I want to see Russell Westbrook get a ring! He’s getting one this year.

QUESTION: What’s the coolest place you’ve ever been, and the No. 1 spot you’d like to visit?

WILLIAMS: Coolest place I’ve ever been is the Spartan Garden! (Our home court). I’d want to go to Dubai. It looks like a beautiful place.

COCKERILL: Definitely the Spartan Garden! And I want to go to Rutgers this year (home of the state championships).

WHAT’S NEXT: Top-seeded Deptford hosts No. 8 Seneca at 5:30 p.m. in the South Jersey Group 3 quarterfinals. The winner advances to face either No. 4 Delsea Regional or No. 5 Cumberland Regional.