Boys Basketball 2024-25 Preview: Class B South
The re-shuffled Class B South division represents opportunity for its five occupants, none of which finished better than second place in their respective divisions a year ago. Reigning division champion Central Regional and a talented Manchester squad move into Class A South this season, with Toms River East joining a five-team B South field that will play fewer division games (eight) than the rest of the Shore Conference this season.
No team in the field is without its questions in the starting lineup, with only one team returning its top scorer from last season. There is young talent that could swing the division one way or another, but to start the season, the team with the top player and a solid supporting cast starts as the favorite.
In predicted order of finish
1. Lacey
One of the benefits to Lacey cycling through different lineups last season is the Lions built up some depth and even though it did not translate to a winning campaign in 2023-24, it has Lacey set up to field a talented lineup in a division that is primed for the taking. The Lions return to the Class B South division – the lone five-team division in the Shore Conference – that has a slightly different look.
The other teams in the division will have to deal with Lions senior Jon Stabile, who was a regular double-double source while also protecting the paint on defense for the Lions. Classmates D.J. Duffy, Maris Mooney and Anthony Mezza also rejoin Stabile in the starting five, with Duffy and Mooney showing scoring prowess as juniors and Mezza bringing defense to the equation. Frank Smith rounds out what is likely to be an all-senior starting five, with senior Andre Ortiz as one of the first players off the bench.
The underclassman to watch is sophomore Mason Mooney, who will be a valuable member of the rotation with his 6-foot-3 size and impact on the future of the program. If Mason Mooney can quickly acclimate to the varsity game, Lacey will have an array of weapons – most of them seniors – to go with the motivation that comes with being an experienced team coming off a 17-loss season.
Lacey at a Glance
Head Coach: Sean McAndrew, eighth season
2023-24 Record: 8-17 (4-7 crossover; 3-2, tied third in Class B South)
Key Losses: Logan Brash (5-11, Guard), Trevor Santucci (6-2, Forward), Joe Miereles (6-5, Center), Derek Roth (So., 6-2, Guard; transferred to Central)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
D.J. Duffy, Sr., 6-0, Guard (7.0 points)
Maris Mooney, Sr., 5-11, Guard (5.0 points)
Anthony Mezza, Sr., Guard
Jon Stabile, Sr., 6-3, Forward (14.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks)
Frank Smith, Sr., 6-1, Forward
Off the Bench
Andre Ortiz, Sr., 5-11, Guard
Mason Mooney, So., 6-3, Center
2. Barnegat
Led by one of the best players in Ocean County, Barnegat proved to be a tough out come tournament time, losing a hard-fought game at Marlboro in the Shore Conference Tournament first round before dropping an overtime heartbreaker to perennial South Group III contender Moorestown in the sectional quarterfinals. With the graduation of Jamari Smith, Barnegat will have to reconfigure its lineup to be more balanced and coach Mike Puorro will have a chance to do that with the group that returns.
Seniors Mason Krey and Cole Toddings are the returning starters from last year’s team after two players finished second and third, respectively, on the team in scoring. Krey will run the point on offense with regular 2023-24 contributor Todd Muhammad playing with him in the starting back court. Toddings will fortify the front court after leading the Bengals in rebounding as a junior.
Barnegat will miss 6-5 senior Kyle Greenleaf, who is focusing on track and field in his last year of high school but will not lack for size. In addition to Toddings, the Bengals will boast a 6-7 sophomore center Gavin Gerckens, as well as 6-3 forward Corey Greenleaf. With the big starting lineup, Barnegat will have its share of experienced backcourt help coming off the bench, led by senior Johnnel Johnson. Making the pieces fit around Krey and Toddings could take some trial-and-error, but Barnegat should remain competitive near the top of Class B South as the Bengals round into form for the postseason.
Barnegat at a Glance
Head Coach: Mike Puorro, 11th season
2023-24 Record: 17-10 (7-4 crossover; 3-2, second in Class B South)
Key Losses: Jamari Smith (6-3, Guard), Shawn Javines (6-0, Forward), Kalil O’Neal (5-7, Guard), Kyle Greenleaf (Sr., 6-5, Center)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
Mason Krey, Sr., 5-11, Guard (12.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 steals)
Todd Muhammad, Sr., 6-1, Guard (5.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists)
Gavin Gerckens, So., 6-7, Center
Cole Toddings, Sr., 6-2, Forward (7.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.5 blocks)
Corey Greenleaf, Sr., 6-3, Forward (2.2 points, 1.3 rebounds)
Off the Bench
Johnnel Johnson, Sr., 5-8 (3.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists)
Stephen Griffin, Sr., 5-11 (2.0 points, 1.4 rebounds)
Luke Tortorici, Sr., 6-0 (2.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists)
Corey Zaccagna, Sr., 6-0 (4.1 points)
Tommy Szukalski, Sr., 5-9
C.J. Dringus, Sr., 6-2 (1.8 points, 1.6 rebounds)
3. Toms River East
Toms River East makes a well-timed move from Class A South to Class B South this season as the Raiders prepare to take a new starting five into the season after losing six members of their 2023-24 rotation. Jason McKelvey was a standout performer as a senior last year and his loss is the one Toms River East will feel the most, but there is reason for optimism for the Raiders.
Mason Clinton, Aidan Zitt and Anthony DeMarco are the three seniors in the lineup who will provide some experience and leadership to an otherwise young group. Junior Shamus O’Grady will look to give Toms River East a presence in the middle at 6-3, which will be especially important after McKelvey was so effective on the glass for Toms River East for the last three seasons.
Freshman Brady Gillen will be Toms River East’s x-factor as the rookie guard jumps into the starting lineup to open the season. Without an obvious lead scoring option, Gillen could fill that role right away, although he will do more than just score during his time at Toms River East. Classmate and 6-4 forward Tommy Intintola will bring size off the bench, which will lean on sophomores Joey DiMeo and Chase Bailey, as well as junior Austin Weber to back up an inexperienced lineup. There will be some growing pains, but a more forgiving schedule and some raw talent will work in Toms River East’s favor this winter.
Toms River East at a Glance
Head Coach: Tom DeRiggi, sixth season
2023-24 Record: 10-15 (7-4 crossover; 2-3, third in Class A South)
Key Losses: Jason McKelvey (6-2, Forward), Steven Scorsone (6-0, Guard), Jackson Markovitch (5-10, Guard), Nick Ferreira (6-4, Center), Justus Fergus (Sr., 6-1, Forward), Luke Mathus (Sr., 6-0, Guard), Gabe Feliciano (So., 6-1, Guard; transferred to Donovan Catholic)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Mason Clinton, Sr., 5-8, Guard (1.6 points)
Brady Gillen, Fr., 6-0, Guard
Shamus O’Grady, Jr., 6-3, Center
Anthony DeMarco, Sr., 5-11, Forward
Aidan Zitt, Sr., 6-1, Forward
Off the Bench
Joey DiMeo, So., 6-1, Forward
Austin Weber, Jr., 5-11, Guard
Tommy Intintola, Fr., 6-4, Forward
Chase Bailey, So., 5-10, Guard
4. Pinelands
The core of this year’s Pinelands boys basketball roster has grown together at the varsity level and although the Wildcats will be replacing a pair of productive starters in Gerald Newsome and Aiden Falduto, they return a mix of size and skill that will give them a chance to compete with every team in the division. Senior Ty Kline leads the returning group and will have the ball in his hands for much of the game after averaging double-figure scoring to go with steady production in the rebounding and assist categories.
Senior Tyler McNally-Ferguson and sophomore Cayden Lucas will be among the possible new starters alongside Kline in the back court, with Lucas and fellow sophomore Donnie Johnston giving coach Fred Johnson some underclassmen to evaluate and develop among returning group. In the front court, Josh Barongo and Brady Fence – both 6-3 – will clean up the glass and defend the paint, with Barongo also bringing plenty of scoring ability to the table.
Johnston is the only non-senior slated to round out the rotation, with seniors Matt Davis, Mateo Skeie, Jaimin Parkinson and Jordan Barlett all set to contribute. Davis and Bartlett will be alternatives to Fence and Barongo with their size, while Skeie and Parkinson will play on the perimeter. There is a gap to close in order to reach the top, but with Lacey and Barnegat filling some holes and Toms River East replacing a whole starting five, Pinelands will have a chance to close it.
Pinelands at a Glance
Head Coach: Fred Johnson, ninth season
2023-24 Record: 7-17 (1-10 crossover; 1-4, fifth in Class B South)
Key Losses: Gerald Newsome (6-1, Forward), Aiden Falduto (5-10, Guard)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
Ty Kline, Sr., 6-0, Guard (10.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals)
Tyler McNally-Ferguson, Sr., 6-1, Guard (1.4 points)
Cayden Lucas, So., 5-10, Guard
Brady Fence, Sr., 6-3, Forward (1.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists)
Josh Barongo, Jr., 6-3, Forward (7.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals)
Off the Bench
Matt Davis, Sr., 6-3, Forward
Mateo Skeie, Sr., 5-9, Guard
Donnie Johnston, So., Guard, 5-10
Jaimin Parkinson, Sr., 5-10, Guard
Jordan Bartlett, Sr., 6-2, Forward
5. Brick
Although Brick had to scratch and claw to avoid 20 losses last year, the Green Dragons ended the season on an optimistic tenor thanks to a strong group of underclassmen. Most of that group is back this season, although Brick’s top statistical performer from last year – forward Mike Sullivan (12.8 points, 8.5 rebounds) – transferred to St. Rose. Sullivan’s absence creates a lack of size in the starting five, but the guard play for Brick will be improved thanks to the return of four-year varsity player Jayden Johnson at point guard and fellow senior Gavin Maffei.
Brick’s potential for this season and beyond lies with the sophomore duo of Sean Nausedas and Jamel Pitts – the team’s top two returning scorers from a year ago. Pitts can take some of the ball-handling pressure off Johnson while also looking to score, while Nausedas is looking to build off a strong finish to his freshman season, when he became Brick’s top option on the wing.
Junior Eric Varela is in line to join the starting five, while a mix of players figure to contribute off the bench. Sophomore Ryan Tufaro and seniors Sean Savannah and Sean Gilson got some varsity time last season, junior Matt Goodfellow will provide frontcourt depth and freshman Jaylen Johnson is set to make an impact in his first high-school season. There is still a learning curve given how much Brick will rely on underclassmen and with the loss of Sullivan, but the Green Dragons are not far behind the field – if they are behind at all.
Brick at a Glance
Head Coach: Rob Panasuk, third season
2023-24 Record: 6-18 (1-10 crossover; 0-5, sixth in Class B South)
Key Losses: Aidan Dvorak (5-10, Guard), Sam Karavangelos (5-10, Guard), Mike Sullivan (Jr., 6-4, Forward; transferred to St. Rose)
Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)
Returning Starters in Bold
Jayden Johnson, Sr., 5-10, Guard (5.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists)
Gavin Maffei, Sr., 5-10, Guard (2.5 points, 2.2 rebounds)
Sean Nausedas, So., 5-11, Guard (6.2 points, 2.4 rebounds)
Jamel Pitts, So., 5-8, Guard (7.7 points, 1.2 rebounds)
Erik Varela, Jr., 5-11, Guard
Off the Bench
Ryan Tufaro, So., 5-6, Guard (1.5 points)
Sean Savannah, Sr., 6-0, Forward (1.8 points, 2.5 rebounds)
Matt Goodfellow, Jr., 6-2, Forward
Jaylen Johnson, Fr., 5-6, Guard
Sean Gilson, Sr., 5-11, Guard (2.9 points)
Dom Giovine, Sr., 6-0, Forward
Class B South Starting Five
Ty Kline, Pinelands
Mason Krey, Barnegat
Jayden Johnson, Brick
Cole Toddings, Barnegat
Jon Stabile, Lacey
In the Rotation
D.J. Duffy, Lacey
Josh Barongo, Pinelands
Sean Nausedas, Brick
Brady Gillen, Toms River East
