JSBL Week 2 Notebook: WCT Warriors Turn Heads, Soranno Breaks Out, Aaman Hangs Up His Sneakers
Week 2 of the Jersey Shore Basketball League’s 58th season is proudly presented by Holmdel Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine. Led by Dr. Matthew Holtzer, the Holmdel Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine staff generously volunteered their time throughout the week, providing athletic training services to help ensure the health and safety of all participating athletes.
“Holmdel Physical Therapy And Sports Medicine is a state of the art facility proudly serving our community. Our Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine network is made up of highly skilled medical and administrative professionals that sincerely care for our patients and bettering the quality of life for all people. We take great pride in providing our patient base with excellent service, treatment, and modern techniques.”
The JSBL’s 58th season is in full swing with one week of action in the rearview mirror. As part of Shore Sports Insider’s wire-to-wire coverage, here are a variety of our thoughts heading into Week 2’s three-night slate of games.
Surprise Team
WCT Warriors
The fifth-year franchise entered the season picked seventh in our preseason rankings, but head coach and former Monmouth University alumnus Josh Peters and the Warriors wasted little time proving that assessment wrong. Bolstered by the addition of recent Monmouth University graduate Jack Collins, WCT Warriors opened the season with a 107-99 victory over RKE Athletic before following it up with a hard-fought 97-92 overtime win against Larson Ford on Wednesday.
Collins paced the opening-night victory with 23 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three steals while shooting 10-for-24 from the field against an RKE squad led by professional guard Kyle Cardaci (Saint Peter’s/Mater Dei Prep). Andre Wells (William Paterson/Matawan) expertly directed the offense, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting while adding seven assists and four steals.
In Wednesday’s win, it was big man Scott Gyimesi (Tufts/Rumson) who delivered a dominant 20-point, 15-rebound double-double on an efficient 8-for-10 shooting performance. The outing was even more impressive considering he battled against Larson Ford’s imposing frontcourt of 6-foot-11 Shahid Muhammad (Florida State) and 6-foot-10 Alex Leiba (Pepperdine). Despite standing 6-foot-6, Gyimesi was often the tallest player on the floor for the Warriors. Ryan Savoy (Nichols/Lakewood) also provided a significant spark, contributing 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting while adding six assists and five rebounds.
WCT Warriors’ Andre Wells (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
While other teams may boast more individual talent on paper, the Warriors have quickly established themselves as one of the league’s toughest outs thanks to their unselfish ball movement, disciplined and relentless defensive effort, and outstanding team chemistry.
Surprise Player
Justin Soranno
Soranno, a rising senior at Georgian Court who starred at Central Regional, is making the most of his return to the JSBL. Soranno last played in the league two summers ago with the now-defunct Intern Helpers franchise, a young team that struggled against the league’s experienced competition and went winless.
After sitting out last summer, Soranno has returned as a completely different player. Through two games, he leads the league with 64 points while shooting a blistering 26-for-40 from the field and has added 20 rebounds. Although OIB Ortho is still searching for its first victory, the team has been in contention deep into the fourth quarter of both games.
The 6-foot-7 wing has displayed a newfound confidence, attacking the basket relentlessly and showing no hesitation against the league’s older, more experienced players. His aggressive mindset and efficient scoring have quickly established him as one of the breakout performers of the young season.
High-Profile Appearances
The opening week of the season featured an impressive influx of high-profile talent, with several notable newcomers and returning standouts making an immediate impact.
Among the biggest names was former Florida and Ranney standout Scottie Lewis, who returned to the JSBL for the first time since 2018. The former Charlotte Hornet and NBA G League veteran suited up for defending champion ACI/Robin’s Nest, seeing limited action as he worked his way back into game shape after an extended layoff.
Larson Ford also welcomed a marquee addition in recent Providence College graduate Corey Floyd Jr., who made his JSBL debut with appearances in both games. A starter for much of the past two seasons in the Big East, Floyd showcased exactly why he was one of the premier conference’s top guards, erupting for 34 points on 14-for-27 shooting in an overtime loss to the WCT Warriors. If his first week is any indication, Floyd has all the tools to become one of the league’s top players this summer.
County Line Auto Body added an accomplished veteran in former SMU standout Markus Kennedy. A 2015 All-AAC selection and the 2015 American Athletic Conference Tournament MVP, Kennedy, now 34, has built a lengthy professional career overseas. The 6-foot-9 forward wasted little time making his presence felt, overpowering Sea View Jeep with 18 points on an ultra-efficient 9-for-10 shooting performance while grabbing 11 rebounds in a dominant league debut.
The Final Summer of Portable Shot Clocks
This is expected to be the final summer the JSBL relies on portable shot clocks. With the NJSIAA set to implement a 35-second shot clock beginning with the 2027-28 high school basketball season, Manasquan High School and the other New Jersey high schools are expected to install permanent shot clocks above each backboard. The upgrade will provide players, coaches, and officials with a much clearer view of the clock throughout games.
In reality, the shot clock has a limited impact on most JSBL contests. The league’s fast-paced, up-tempo style rarely results in shot-clock violations, with the timer typically a factor only in late-game situations when teams begin managing the clock.
Restricted Circle Returns
One year after the NBA three-point line returned to the JSBL, another professional rule has been reintroduced: the restricted area arc. Several of the league’s premier slashers had lobbied for its return in recent years, believing it would create a fairer environment for players attacking the basket.
The restricted circle was originally scheduled to debut on opening night, but time constraints delayed its installation until Week 2. With the latest change now in place, a handful of players have already turned their attention to the next item on their wish list: switching from the current basketballs to official NBA basketballs.
Scoop Starts Near Scoring Record Pace
Former Monmouth standout Justin “Scoop” Robinson wasted little time jump-starting the scoring race, erupting for 47 points in Sea View Jeep’s season-opening loss to County Line Auto Body. The performance gives Robinson a substantial early lead in the race, as he attempts to break his own league-record of 48.8 points per game, which he averaged back in 2022.
Early Season Retirements
Two longtime Jersey Shore Basketball League veterans have already announced their retirements after making just one appearance this season.
Former Wagner and Raritan standout Mike Aaman returned to his original franchise, Sterns Trailer, after spending the past several seasons with OIB Ortho. However, shortly after Sterns’ 108-106 overtime victory over his former team, Aaman announced his retirement as he left the gym, citing the physical toll of the game on his 32-year-old body. He finished with four points and four rebounds in limited minutes.
Mike Aaman pictured in an OIB Ortho uniform last summer Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com
Former Wagner forward Shack Scott also announced his retirement after just one game, doing so in an Instagram direct message. Unlike many farewell announcements that follow diminished production, Scott walked away after one of his more efficient performances in recent memory. Scott scored 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting in a victory over OIB Ortho, highlighted by three emphatic fourth-quarter dunks. Even more impressive, Scott accomplished the feat despite missing most of the first quarter after arriving late.
Of course, JSBL retirements have historically proven to be about as permanent as Brett Favre’s, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Aaman or Scott back in uniform before the summer is over.
