Boys Basketball 2024-25 Preview: Class A Coastal
When it comes to natural rivalries, the Class A Coastal division delivers as much as any other division in the Shore Conference this season. Red Bank, Red Bank Catholic, Middletown South and Rumson-Fair Haven are all within eight miles of one another, Holmdel and St. John Vianney share the same town, Holmdel has been a Group II rival of Rumson-Fair Haven in recent years, and Red Bank Catholic and St. John Vianney regularly compete across all sports as two of the notable non-public athletic programs at the Shore.
On top of the natural rivalries, all six teams in Class A Coastal are perennially competitive programs that will all boast noteworthy talent, to some degree, in 2024-25. Rumson-Fair Haven and Red Bank lead the way in returning talent, but when the rest of the division is comprised of Red Bank Catholic, Middletown South, Holmdel and St. John Vianney, there will be no easy games for any team.
In predicted order of finish
1. Rumson-Fair Haven
A fourth NJSIAA sectional championship was two just minutes away for Rumson’s 2023-24 squad, which had Manasquan on the ropes in the Central Jersey Group II championship game. A frantic final two minutes undid the work the Bulldogs did over the first 30 and Manasquan won its fifth straight sectional title while denying Rumson its fourth sectional championship in the last seven tournaments.
That loss has stuck with Rumson’s players for the last nine months, particularly the Bulldogs’ three returning starters from that near-championship squad. Senior guards David Carr and Riley Gill are hoping for a shot at redemption and to deliver Rumson a championship on their way out of the program. Junior Luke Cruz, meanwhile, is coming off a stellar sophomore season and subsequent offseason, during which he verbally committed to the University of Pennsylvania. All three returnees are multi-faceted scorers and excellent defenders, with Cruz giving Rumson a unique weapon at 6-foot-9 with range well beyond the three-point arc and exceptional shot-blocking ability.
Although the rest of the rotation comes in with limited or no experience at the varsity level, Rumson is set up to be a balanced, athletic, physical team again in 2025. Junior Luke Lydon – already committed to play lacrosse at Boston University – will be another standout athlete and shooter in the starting lineup. Senior Carson Memmott is in the early running for the final starting spot, with senior Charlie Butters and junior Andrew Cavise also in that conversation. Senior Nic Economou and junior Zach Halpern will extend coach Chris Champeau’s rotation and with Rumson’s numbers, the Bulldogs can go even deeper. That depth will serve Rumson well throughout the year, but it is the returning trio of Carr, Cruz and Gill that will drive the Bulldogs throughout the season as they look to take that final, championship step.
Rumson-Fair Haven at a Glance
Head Coach: Chris Champeau, 16th season
2023-24 Record: 20-7 (8-2 crossover; 4-1, second in Class B North)
Key Losses: Nick Rigby (6-2, Guard), Andrew Goodes (6-6, Center), Leo Passalaqua (5-11, Guard), Theo Carlston (6-4, Forward), Sean Trinder (6-0, Guard)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
David Carr, Sr., 6-3, Guard (9.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals)
Riley Gill, Sr., 6-3, Guard (5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 steals)
Luke Lydon, Jr., 6-1, Guard
Carson Memmott, Sr., 6-3, Guard
Luke Cruz, Jr., 6-9, Forward (11.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.3 blocks)
Off the Bench
Charlie Butters, Sr., 6-3, Guard/Forward
Andrew Cavise, Jr., 6-3, Guard/Forward
Nic Economou, Sr., 6-2, Guard
Luke Halpern, Sr., 6-1, Guard
Brady Flaherty, Sr., 6-3, Guard/Forward
Sean Yablonski, Sr., 6-0, Guard
Marlon Hoagland, Sr., 5-11, Guard
Blake Marchakitus, Sr., 5-8, Guard
Max Mazzucca, Jr., 6-3, Forward
Chace Perry, Jr., 6-5, Forward
Spencer Mertens, Jr., 6-0, Guard
Declan McCormack, Jr., 6-0, Guard
Xander Kucich, Jr., 5-7, Guard
2. Red Bank
After a resurgent season for the program in 2023-24, Red Bank is back with a roster that has a chance to be even better than the team that won the Bucs’ first division championship in 17 years and pushed them to an NJSIAA sectional final for the first time in 10 years. Bringing in Zayier Dean as the point guard took Red Bank to another level and tied together what was a roster with built-in potential. Dean is back for his senior year and as a two-time All-Shore guard, he gives Red Bank a leg up on a lot of their competition in the Class B North division, as well as around the Shore Conference.
A guard-heavy lineup from a year ago will be more balanced with the increased roles of Trey Moore and Anthony Moore (no relation) to go with returning supporting guards Ryan Fisher and Justin Valentino. Trey Moore is a returning starter with the ability to play inside while also boasting skill and athleticism and Anthony Moore provided toughness off the bench. Fisher, meanwhile, emerged as a top scorer down the stretch and Valentino was a spark off the bench as a freshman.
For the second straight year, Red Bank will add an impact transfer who used to star at Ocean Township. Ron Richardson was a bench player for Group I champion College Achieve of Asbury Park last season and will join the Bucs for 2024-25 after sitting the required 30 days as a second-time transfer. Richardson will add to Red Bank’s deeper, improved front court that will give coach George Sourlis more ways to match up against the top teams on the schedule. The division will again be competitive, but Red Bank has the impact talent to win a back-to-back title and get back to the NJSIAA sectional final after coming up one win short of a championship last year.
Red Bank at a Glance (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
Head Coach: George Sourlis, third season
2023-24 Record: 21-5 (9-1 crossover; 4-1, first in Class B North)
Key Losses: Braydon Kirkpatrick (5-10, Guard), Jameson Ackerman (5-8, Guard), Liam Stack (6-3, Forward)
Projected Lineup
Zayier Dean, Sr., 5-10, Guard (14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals)
Ryan Fisher, Sr., 6-1, Guard (10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals)
Justin Valentino, So., 5-11, Guard (2.2 points, 1.7 rebounds)
Trey Moore, Sr., 6-4, Center (4.3 points, 2.5 rebounds)
Anthony Moore, Sr., 6-3, Forward (3.9 points, 2.0 rebounds)
Off the Bench
Ron Richardson, Sr., 6-4, Forward – Transfer from College Achieve (3.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists)
Bennett Lopez, Jr., 6-3, Forward
Nick Walker, Sr., 5-8, Guard
Josiah Johnson, Jr., 6-1, Forward
Will Galligan, So., 5-10, Guard
Quinn Gibb, Sr., 6-6, Center
Gavin Gilmartin, Sr., 5-10, Guard
Vin Neisz, Jr., 5-8, Guard
Keileb Yap, Sr., 5-8, Guard
Alex Costic, Sr., 5-11, Forward
3. Red Bank Catholic
Even though they barely cleared the .500 mark a year ago, the Caseys were again a dynamic team that nailed down their share of high-profile wins (Central, Red Bank, Rumson-Fair Haven, Marlboro) while playing a challenging schedule. Last year’s team had a proven varsity player at every spot in the starting lineup, which will not be the case heading into 2024-25. When RBC has been in similar positions under coach Tyler Schmelz, the Caseys have typically put together a solid rotation that has competed against a routinely tough slate of opponents.
One of the two returning starters for the Caseys is also their lone All-Shore representative from a year ago. Senior Ryan Prior – a University of Virginia Baseball commit – has been an all-around player for RBC since his freshman year and he will have to adjust to being even more of a focus of opposing defense after the Caseys graduated four key contributors. Senior Sean Saxton is also back from last year’s rotation after he both started and came off the bench at different points during the year. Saxton was also coming back from a torn ACL heading into last season, so he should be in better physical condition this season.
The rest of the starting lineup and rotation will be young and inexperienced. Juniors Ryan Saxton and Jake Frankel each got a dose of varsity experience last season guard Gavin Biasi will represent a group of sophomores in the starting lineup. The other three sophomores are guard Ryder Ciorciari and forwards Evan Boreson and T.J. Walsh, with juniors James Hankowski and Nolan Davis also stepping up to join the group of likely RBC varsity contributors. The supporting cast will have to step up to take the pressure off the seniors, but Prior and Saxton are a strong core of a promising RBC roster.
Red Bank Catholic at a Glance
Head Coach: Tyler Schmelz, ninth season
2023-24 Record: 15-13 (5-5 crossover; 2-3, fourth in Class B North)
Key Losses: Colin Cavanaugh (5-11, Guard), Tyler Burnham (6-5, Center), Pasquale Sabino (6-4, Guard/Forward), Luke Iasparro (5-10, Guard)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
Sean Saxton, Sr., 6-2, Guard (5.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.2 steals)
Ryan Saxton, Jr., 6-2, Guard
Gavin Biasi, So., 5-11, Guard
Ryan Prior, Sr., 6-5, Guard/Forward (13.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 blocks)
Jake Frankel, Jr., 6-2, Guard/Forward
Off the Bench
James Hankowski, Jr., 6-0, Guard
Nolan Davis, Jr., 5-10, Guard
Ryder Ciorciari, So., 5-10, Guard
Evan Boreson, So., 6-3, Forward
T.J. Walsh, So., 6-2, Forward
4. St. John Vianney
A surprising coaching change threw the Lancers into scramble mode heading into the 2024-25 school year and first-year head coach Logan Singleton is tasked with attempting to get his team back on schedule and to build on a strong eight seasons by outgoing coach Ryan Finch. Experience will not be a significant part of that equation for Singleton and his team, but there is enough talent on hand for the Lancers to compete for a spot in the Shore Conference Tournament and at the top of a very tough Class A Coastal division.
Senior Alex Jurado is the lone returning starter for St. John Vianney, but the 2024-25 starting five will have its share of experienced varsity contributors – including from its talented sophomore group. Dan Lavan and Justin Togans played as freshman and classmate Danny O’Neill – who attended Trenton Catholic as a freshman – is another promising player from the 2026 class. Senior Mateo Bare also played varsity minutes as a junior and slides into the starting backcourt with Jurado.
If experience is a question for St. John Vianney, depth figures to be a strength. The bench includes a mix of upperclassmen who will provide toughness and intangibles and the underclass is represented by sophomore St. Thomas Aquinas transfer Nicky Mejia and freshman Luke Angeles. Mejia and junior California transfer Jude Mbaziira are required to sit for 30 days before becoming eligible, but once SJV is whole, they will have enough ammo to hang with Rumson-Fair Haven, Red Bank, Red Bank Catholic, Holmdel and Middletown South in division play.
St. John Vianney at a Glance
Head Coach: Logan Singleton, first season
2023-24 Record: 13-14 (8-3 crossover; 4-1, second in Class A Coastal)
Key Losses: Emanuel Domingo (6-7, Forward), Dylan Costa (6-3, Guard), Mark Augello (6-2, Guard), Deon Jackson (6-4, Forward)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
Mateo Bare, Sr., 5-11, Guard
Alex Jurado, Sr., 6-1, Guard (4.4 points, 2.9 rebounds)
Dan Lavan, So., 6-2, Forward
Justin Togans, So., 6-3, Forward (3.9 points, 3.7 rebounds)
Danny O’Neill, So., 6-4, Forward – Transfer from Trenton Catholic
Off the Bench
Jesse Plunkett, Sr., 6-0, Guard
Nicco Aquilone, Sr., 6-1, Forward
Dan Simeone, Sr., 6-1, Forward
Jackson Michaud, Sr., 5-7
Constantine Mariolis, Sr., Forward, 5-9
J.T. Mohlmann, Sr., 5-10, Forward
Richie Hesterhagen, Sr., 5-10, Forward
Matt Cirillo, Sr., 5-10, Forward
Dante Webb, Sr., 6-1, Guard
Nick Roselli, Jr., 5-10, Guard
Jude Mbaziira, Jr., 5-11, Guard – Transfer from Napa Christian (Ca.)
Nicky Mejia, So., 6-0, Guard – Transfer from St. Thomas Aquinas
Luke Angeles, Fr., 6-1
5. Holmdel
For the second time in a span of five seasons, Holmdel put up 20 or more wins with only four losses, with the Hornets winning the Class A Coastal division title and reaching the semifinals of both the Shore Conference Tournament and the Central Jersey Group II Playoffs. A standout senior trio drove that deep run in the postseason, so this year’s Holmdel team enters 2024-25 looking for a group of former role players looking to take on a greater role.
Evan as Holmdel attempts to replace three highly productive players in Ben Kipnis, Nick Seeloch and James Vallillo, the Hornets still return the other two starters and the first three players off the bench to fill in the three open spots. Senior Daxx Corniero is set for his third year as a starter and gives Holmdel some versatility on both ends. Junior Jack Vallillo played the role of spot-up shooter as a sophomore and is ready to expand his role as a third-year varsity player.
Seniors C.J. Karis and Ire Adesina were key off Holmdel’s bench, with both players giving Holmdel a jolt of offense at different points as juniors. Both move into the starting back court, while junior Connor Paul moves into the starting front court after working his way into the rotation as a sophomore. The upperclass group of Joe Curreri, Lukas Vellios, Dylan Zammit and Remy Mander will make up most of the bench, but there are also a pair of underclassmen to follow as well in sophomore Elliot Bronovich and freshman Anthony Serini. It will take the entire rotation to approximate the value of the recently-graduated trio, but Holmdel has enough experience and enough program pedigree under coach Sean Devaney to remain a factor.
Holmdel at a Glance
Head Coach: Sean Devaney, 19th season
2023-24 Record: 21-4 (9-2 crossover; 5-0, first in Class A Coastal)
Key Losses: Ben Kipnis (6-2, Guard), Nick Seeloch (5-9, Guard), James Vallillo (6-2, Forward)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
Ire Adesina, Sr., 5-11, Guard (2.5 points, 1.9 rebounds)
Jack Vallillo, Sr., 6-0, Guard (7.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist)
C.J. Karis, Sr., 5-9, Guard (3.8 points, 1.5 rebounds)
Daxx Corniero, Sr., 6-1, Forward (8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists)
Connor Paul, Jr., 6-3, Forward
Off the Bench
Joe Curreri, Sr., 6-3
Lukas Vellios, Sr., 6-0
Dylan Zammit, Jr., 6-3
Elliot Bronovich, So., 5-9
Anthony Serini, Fr., 5-10
Remy Mander, Jr., 5-9
6. Middletown South
Middletown South made a late change on the bench, with former Middletown North coach Mike Iasparro taking over the program in early November. Iasparro takes over a team that graduated four starters from a team that did not reach .500, but also played a difficult schedule while being led by a first-year coach in Joe Mazzarella. There will be a new system to learn and new players to acclimate, but bringing back top scorer Brady Hahn will give Middletown South a foundation for a solid showing in a deep, talented division.
In a division with several talented offensive players, Hahn was the top scorer among the returning players in Class A Coastal at 17.6 points per game, which was also good for seventh in the Shore Conference last season. Iasparro will be looking for ways and weapons with which to complement his sharp-shooting senior – almost all of which will come from the junior class. Matt Trimble is slated to be the second option after emerging as the Eagles’ sixth man as a sophomore in 2023-24.
The rest of the starting lineup most of the bench will be juniors. Guards Nick Cannizzaro and Luca Donofio will join the back court and 6-6 junior Beckett Oliver gives Middletown South some six to pair with plenty of shooting and perimeter play. The bench will have a similar mix of back court and front court, with guard Vinny Alcure the lone senior among the reserves. Hahn will want to make the most of his senior season, but with so many juniors and a new head coach that has only been in place for a month, the Eagles look like a team whose best days will come later in the season.
Middletown South at a Glance
Head Coach: Mike Iasparro, first season
2023-24 Record: 11-14 (2-8 crossover; 2-3, fifth in Class B North)
Key Losses: Will Nugent (6-7, Forward), Owen Richter (6-3, Guard/Forward), Carmine DeCrescenzo (5-11, Guard), Ryan Denery (6-3, Guard)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
Nick Cannizzaro, Jr., 5-7, Guard
Luca Donofrio, Jr., 5-11, Guard
Matt Trimble, Jr., 6-2, Guard (6.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists)
Brady Hahn, Sr., 6-3, Guard (17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals)
Beckett Oliver, Jr., 6-6, Forward
Off the Bench
Nick Chappell, Jr., 5-7, Guard
Justin Scarano, Jr., 5-7, Guard
Anthony Bennett, Jr., 6-2, Forward
Braddock Smith, Jr., 6-0, Guard
Michael Mannino, Jr., 6-3, Forward
Vinny Alcure, Sr., 5-11, Guard
Chris Mauriello, Jr., 6-1, Forward
Class A Coastal Starting Five
Zayier Dean, Red Bank
David Carr, Rumson-Fair Haven
Luke Cruz, Rumson-Fair Haven
Ryan Prior, Red Bank Catholic
Brady Hahn, Middletown South
In the Rotation
Ryan Fisher, Red Bank
Ron Richardson, Red Bank
James Vallillo, Holmdel
Daxx Corniero, Holmdel
Sean Saxton, Red Bank Catholic
