Boys Basketball 2024-25 Preview: Class B Central
The Class B Central division in 2024-25 is collection of teams that collectively own a very rich basketball tradition but may have fallen on hard times. Perhaps the two best public-school programs in Shore Conference history are among them, with Neptune and Lakewood in the six-team B Central field coming off a season in which the two went a combined 4-38. In a new division, both could find more success — particularly Neptune, which has been used to playing in one of the Shore’s toughest divisions year-in and year-out.
Point Pleasant Beach also has experienced its share of program success since the early 2010’s and, with a young roster, just barely missed winning a division title during a 12-14 campaign in 2023-24. During a few of those runs, Point Beach has run into New Egypt – the newest member of both the division and the Shore Conference as a whole.
Wall does not have the championship history of Neptune, Lakewood or even Point Beach, but the Crimson Knights are just five seasons removed from winning an NJSIAA sectional championship by beating Neptune. Both teams are now in a more winnable division and, like Neptune, Wall is hoping to take advantage of the opportunity.
In predicted order of finish
1. Point Pleasant Beach
By the letter of the law, Point Beach finished second place in the Class A Central division because its record in division games plus crossover games was one game worse than that of Henry Hudson. In any other year, however, Point Beach would have been the division champion. The Garnet Gulls ran the table against the four other teams in Class A Central, including a road win over Henry Hudson. This year, Point Beach brings back four starters who are hungry to win its new division outright and author more success outside of divisional play.
Every starter on this year’s Point Beach team has played significant minutes since their freshman season, including three sophomore starters who were integral pieces as freshmen. Senior Scot Crowley heads into his fourth varsity season and will be a key figure in the starting lineup as a 6-foot-3 frontcourt player. Junior Jacob Edgecomb is a third-year starter and the top all-around player on the 2023-24 team, which included better than 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Point guard Tyler Preston, wing Daniel Cavanaugh and guard George Breckenridge are the three sophomores in the starting lineup. Preston and Cavanaugh both impressed as freshmen starters a year ago and Breckenridge played enough that moving into the starting five will not phase him. The bench will be junior-heavy, let by Elijah Ives and 6-5 Justin Tierney, which means every player on Point Beach outside of Crowley is due back next season as well. Perhaps Point Beach’s big season is still a year away, but with a new division and an opportunity in Central Jersey Group I directly in front of them, the Garnet Gulls want to make the most of this year.
Point Beach at a Glance
Head Coach: Ed Goodman, fifth season
2023-24 Record: 12-14 (7-3 crossover; 4-0, second in Class A Central)
Key Losses: John Coakley (6-4, Forward)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
Tyler Preston, So., 5-9, Guard (8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals)
Jacob Edgecomb, Jr., 6-0, Guard (12.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.8 blocks)
George Breckenridge, So., 6-0, Guard (4.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.0 steals)
Daniel Cavanaugh, So., 6-2, Guard/Forward (5.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.9 blocks)
Scot Crowley, Sr., 6-3, Forward (6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks)
Off the Bench
Elijah Ives, Jr., 6-0, Guard (2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds)
Justin Tierney, Jr., 6-5, Forward
Ben Marzarella, Jr.
Ryan Kurmin, Jr.
Chris Mosca, Jr.
2. Wall
Since graduating a decorated senior class in 2021, Wall has been in the same division as Manasquan – including the last two years with both Manasquan and St. Rose. The Crimson Knights finally get away from the giants of the Shore Conference and will have a chance to make a run at a championship in their new division – and not just because their schedule will be far more manageable.
Wall brings back three starters from last season’s team, and although top scorer Bo Pepe graduated in the spring, three capable finishers return from a team that had four starters average between five and 10 points per game. Junior Liam Killea is the top returning scorer and the Crimson Knights point guard also pitched in better than three assists and two steals as a sophomore. Seniors Demitri Tu and Tom Ekberg are back in the starting lineup as well, with Ekberg returning as the team’s top rebounder.
Juniors Dan Hennessy and Jake DeBrito are in line to start for the first time, with junior Brian McKenna and senior Nick Olsen as the first options off the bench. McKenna is a well-rounded guard who chipped in as a scorer and rebounder last year, while Olsen will give coach Bob Klatt some additional size to go along with Ekberg. Wall’s mix of players likely would have played well in its old division, so a move to a division of smaller schools and teams with losing records last year only further increases the Crimson Knights’ chances for a turnaround season.
Wall at a Glance
Head Coach: Bob Klatt, seventh season
2023-24 Record: 11-12 (3-8 crossover; 1-4, fifth in Class B Coastal)
Key Losses: Bo Pepe (5-11, Guard), Connor Dudas (6-3, Forward), Quentin Ambrozy (5-11, Guard)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
Liam Killea, Jr., 5-8, Guard (9.2 points, 3.4 assists, 2.7 steals)
Demitri Tu, Sr., 6-2, Guard (8.8 points)
Dan Hennessy, Jr., 6-0, Guard
Jake DeBrito, Jr., 5-11, Guard
Tom Ekberg, Sr., 6-1, Forward (5.6 points, 5.3 rebounds)
Off the Bench
Brian McKenna, Jr., 6-2, Guard (4.6 points, 5.0 rebounds)
Nick Olsen, Sr., 6-3, Forward
Isaac Irausquin, Sr., 6-1, Forward
Aidan O’Sullivan, Sr., 6-2, Forward
Andrew Wheeler, Sr., 6-3, Forward
R.J. Tedeschi, Sr., 5-10, Guard
Jake Eisenberg, Sr., 6-3, Forward
Finnegan Brown, Jr., Forward
Joey Ambrozy, Jr., 6-0, Forward
Navin Tu, So., 5-10, Guard
3. Neptune
It is not an exaggeration to say that the 2023-24 season was the worst in the history of Neptune boys basketball and the sooner this year’s Scarlet Fliers can get back on the court and begin to erase the memory of that 1-20 campaign, the better. Neptune was one of the younger teams in the Shore Conference, so many of the players from last year are back – this time with a few things working in their favor: they are a year older, they are getting help in the form of transfers, and the schedule won’t be as difficult.
A quartet of guards return to the rotation this season, led by seniors Jayvionne Rogers, Jayden Myrthil and David Boone. Sophomore Daaron Lynch also played major minutes as a freshman and will figure into the backcourt rotation, particularly early in the season. Later in the year, senior Faniel Shakur – one of two transfers from College Achieve on the Neptune roster – will work his way into a role with the team. Another x-factor at guard is senior Donovan Steverson, who missed last year due to injury and will be a welcomed addition.
Neptune’s front court will be improved thanks to the improvement of a group a returnee and the addition of a couple of key pieces. Junior Jordan Pierre is back at Neptune after spending last season with College Achieve and will bring some size to the lineup at 6-3. Senior Darren Fonrose is the returning forward that figures to play a big role down low, while freshman Dion Burton adds some upside to the lineup as a potential impact rookie. There is a long way to go for Neptune to be the Shore Conference contender it once was, but in a more forgiving division and with far more game experience than they had a year ago, the Scarlet Fliers are likely to be one of the Shore’s more improved teams by record.
Neptune at a Glance
Head Coach: Joe Fagan, 11th season
2023-24 Record: 1-20 (1-10 crossover; 0-5, sixth in Class B Coastal)
Key Losses: Aaron Lawson (6-1, Forward)
Projected Lineup
Returning Starters in Bold
Jayvionne Rogers, Sr., 5-10, Guard
Jayden Myrthil, Sr., 5-10, Guard
David Boone, Sr., 5-10, Guard
Jordan Pierre, Jr., 6-3, Forward – Transfer from College Achieve
Darren Fonrose, Sr., 6-2, Forward
Off the Bench
Faniel Shakur, Sr., 5-6, Guard – Transfer from College Achieve
Dion Burton, Fr., 6-3, Forward
Jaren Reid, Sr., 6-2, Forward
Cameron Stukes, Sr., 5-6, Guard
Donovan Steverson, Sr., 5-10, Guard
Daaron Lynch, So., 6-0, Guard
4. New Egypt
The newest member of the Shore Conference slots into the Class B Central division and is hoping to make a strong first impression on its new conference and division mates. The Warriors bring back one of the highest scorers of any player in the Shore Conference and a supporting cast that has the makings of a team that can compete on most nights against its new schedule. New Egypt is coming off a season in which it went 2-5 against Shore Conference opponents, with wins over Pinelands and Keyport and no games against any of the teams that will share B Central with the Warriors this season.
Junior 6-4 wing Nolan Arnold is New Egypt’s headliner, with Arnold amassing 573 points in just two varsity seasons, which sets him up to challenge for 1,000 career points before the end of his junior year. Arnold’s 18.7 points per game would have ranked third in the Shore Conference last year behind two other 2024-25 returnees – Jack Fitzpatrick of Henry Hudson and Jaycen Santucci of Central Regional.
Four other juniors will play in the starting five along with Arnold, including returning junior starter Clyde Ferris and two 2023-24 rotation members in Ryan Reynolds and Evan Goldberg. Forward Caleb Kowaleski rounds out the all-junior starting lineup, with Tommy Merlucci, Chris Cassandra, Dylan Harper and Lucas Burgos helping in the rotation as well. Paul Kennedy and Jake Milicia both give coach Mick Hughes some size out of the sophomore class, giving the Warriors a good mix of size and skill that will be in place at New Egypt for the next two years.
New Egypt at a Glance
Head Coach: Mick Hughes, 11th season
2023-24 Record: 8-17
Key Losses: Connor Fischer (6-0, Guard), Jack Burr (5-8, Guard)
Projected Lineup
Returning Starters in Bold
Ryan Reynolds, Jr., 6-0, Guard (5.2 points)
Nolan Arnold, Jr., 6-4, Guard (18.7 points)
Evan Goldberg, Jr., 5-11, Guard/Forward (5.7 points)
Clyde Ferris, Jr., 6-2, Guard/Forward (8.2 points)
Caleb Kowaleski, Jr., 6-2, Forward
Off the Bench
Tommy Merlucci, Jr., 6-2, Forward
Chris Cassandra, Jr., 6-1, Guard
Dylan Harper, Jr., 5-10, Guard
Lucas Burgos, Jr., 5-10, Guard
Paul Kennedy, So., 6-4, Forward
Jake Milicia, So., 6-4, Forward
5. Jackson Liberty
Last season was one of highs and lows, as well as tragedy and triumph for Jackson Liberty. The Lions played a chunk of the season without senior leader Dylan Teopaco after Teopaco took a scary fall on his head that threatened his final high-school season, only to return and play real minutes for Jackson Liberty during the season’s stretch run. Teopaco is one of three starters missing from last year, including leading scorer and all-division selection in Class B Central, Lukas Latvys, and guard Charlie Callahan.
The group that returns to Jackson Liberty this year will be a young one, with Corey Hartnett the only senior in the starting lineup and just Sean Primiano and Kuri Renouf backing him up as seniors off the bench. The rest of the rotation will be made up of juniors, sophomores and a couple freshmen – including sophomore guard and top returning starter Aidan Kelly. He will be one of three sophomores in the starting five, along with 6-1 forward Jayden Harnett and guard S.J. Wall.
Tyler Niman headlines Jackson Liberty’s junior class as the Lions’ center, with classmates Sean Dunn, Aidan Brown and James Dressler proving depth coming off the bench. Guards Steven Porter and Jack Dunn will be freshmen to watch for Jackson Liberty, which is looking to get back on track and set themselves up for a turnaround season that springboards them toward an even bigger 2026 and 2027 given all the young players on the roster.
Jackson Liberty at a Glance
Head Coach: Don Connor, fifth season
2023-24 Record: 6-18 (4-6 crossover; 2-3, tied fourth in Class B Central)
Key Losses: Lukas Latvys (5-11, Guard), Charlie Callahan (5-11, Guard), Dylan Teopaco (5-11, Guard), Stivi Nole (6-3, Forward)
Projected Lineup
Returning Starters in Bold
Aidan Kelly, So., 5-10, Guard
S.J. Wall, So., 5-11, Guard
Tyler Niman, Jr., 6-1, Center
Corey Harnett, Sr., 6-0, Forward
Jayden Harnett, So., 6-1, Forward
Off the Bench
Sean Primiano, Sr., 6-0, Guard
Sean Dunn, Jr., 6-0, Guard
Kuri Renouf, Sr., 6-2, Forward
Aiden Brown, Jr., 5-11, Guard
James Dressler, Jr., 6-1, Forward
Steven Porter, Fr., 5-10, Guard
Jack Dunn, Fr., 5-11, Guard
6. Lakewood
Lakewood’s push to get back to a winning record took a sideways step last season, with the Piners matching their 2022-23 win total of three while playing in the Class B Central division with a crossover into the A Central division. The Piners faced a slightly lighter schedule and could only get back to three wins, so now, the goal for Lakewood is clear: blow past the win totals of the past two seasons and with a strong showing, doubling those three wins should be a reasonable goal.
The schedule gets tougher again this season and the roster will be different, starting with first-year head coach Tim Reddan. The Piners have a good deal of scoring to replace from last season with the loss of Rahmel Anderson and will turn to 6-4 junior Chris Rosario to step up and use his size in the front court. Sophomore Isiah Shade also made an impact as a freshman last season, while juniors Ronny Cuevas and Zion Jones look to spark the back court.
Jayden Lopez-Rivera will be the only senior in the starting lineup – as well as the entire rotation – so his leadership will be a key ingredient on this year’s Lakewood team. The Lakewood bench will be guard-heavy, with 6-3 forward Jose Camacho the only player over six-foot tall coming off the bench. If the Piners can navigate around that lack of size and experience while highlighting the ability of Rosario, Shade and the incoming group of rotation players, Lakewood will be a tougher opponent in 2025.
Lakewood at a Glance
Head Coach: Tim Reddan, first season
2023-24 Record: 3-18 (2-8 crossover; 0-5, sixth in Class B Central)
Key Losses: Zymier Anderson (5-9, Guard), Alex Colon (6-0, Guard), Anthony Tucker (5-9, Guard), Rahmel Anderson (Sr., 5-8, Guard)
Projected Lineup
Returning Starters in Bold
Ronny Cuevas, Jr., 5-9, Guard
Jayden Lopez-Rivera, Sr., 5-7, Guard
Zion Jones, Jr., 5-7, Guard
Chris Rosario, Jr., 6-4, Forward
Isiah Shade, So., 6-0, Forward
Off the Bench
Anderson Vargas, So., 5-7, Guard
Jose Camacho, Jr., 6-3, Forward
Abel Martinez, Fr., 5-10, Guard/Forward
Alejandro Torres, Jr., 5-8, Guard/Forward
David Reyes, Jr., 5-7, Guard
Rodarios Fontus, So., 5-7
Division Starting Five
Liam Killea, Wall
Jacob Edgecomb, Point Beach
Demitri Tu, Wall
Nolan Arnold, New Egypt
Jordan Pierre, Neptune
In the Rotation
Tyler Preston, Point Beach
Jayvionne Rodgers, Neptune
Scot Crowley, Point Beach
Aidan Kelly, Jackson Liberty
Chris Rosario, Lakewood
