Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball 2024-25 Preseason Top 10

Each year since the onset of the COVID pandemic, change has been the norm in Shore Conference basketball. There have annually been new divisions, new powerhouse teams to emerge, new rules on the court (RIP to the 1-and-1), new coaches, a Coaches Cup added as a supplement to the Shore Conference Tournament, team subtracted from the Shore Conference (Mater Dei) and a team created (College Achieve) that has had a major impact on local basketball despite not actually being part of the Shore Conference.

This year, change is in the cards again. The divisions are, once again, reshuffled, and while geographic integrity is mostly intact, the word “coastal” is being used very loosely. There is a new flopping rule that will make an appearance this season in game action. Teams will now be seeded by the average of their power points in the NJSIAA Tournament rather than the total power points accumulated in a given number of games. The Holiday Tournament season will look different without Matawan’s Husky Holiday Classic, while the 40th WOBM Christmas Classic is set to be the last. There is even a new team in the conference, with New Egypt making its return to the Shore.

The biggest changes this season, however – at least as the Shore Conference goes – is in the Shore Conference Tournament. Instead of a .500 winning percentage by the cutoff date being the standard for qualification, only 20 teams will make the field this year. There will be no seeding meeting this season to determine those teams and their order of seeding because the teams that make the SCT will qualify and be seeded based on their power-point average. The only way to make the SCT without possessing one of the best power-point averages is to win a Shore Conference division championship, which gives a team the right to opt into either the SCT or the Coaches Cup.

With an eye on the SCT in February, we at Shore Sports Insider are going to adapt when it comes to the Shore Conference rankings. Although there will still be a Top 10 each week, it will be followed by the “next 10” teams – listed without numbered ranks, but roughly in the order they would be ranked. These are a qualitative ranking rather than a power-point-inspired list, but in deference to the new 20-team format, SSI is getting with the times and picking 20 teams to recognize each week.

With that, here is the first set of rankings for the 2024-25 season.

1. St. Rose

Even without 2023-24 Shore Conference Player of the Year Matt Hodge and All-Shore First-Teamer Gio Panzini, St. Rose enters the current season as the favorite to win a second straight Shore Conference Tournament and finish atop the conference again in 2025. At full strength, St. Rose will again be among New Jersey’s best and this year’s team might even be a tad deeper than last year’s state championship team. Star junior Jayden Hodge suffered a knee injury in Tuesday’s scrimmage at Rumson and while his availability impacts St. Rose’s overall potential, the Purple Roses still have enough to run through the Shore again this winter.

2. Christian Brothers Academy

It has been almost nine full years since CBA last reached a Shore Conference Tournament final and nearly 15 since the Colts won the SCT, so there is a clear rallying cry for a group that returns four starters from a 2023-24 that inched closer to those objectives a season ago. The gap between CBA – which lost to St. Rose twice last year – and the Shore’s No. 1 team was considerable and while it is unlikely the Colts have closed said gap, they may be close enough to beat St. Rose if enough things go right for them.

3. Manasquan

In each of the past six seasons, Manasquan has finished either No. 1 or No. 2 in the Shore Conference, so slotting the Warriors in the No. 3 spot to open the season could be interpreted as casting doubt on what they have returning. And yet, what Manasquan returns is potentially good enough to make it seven straight years with a top-two finish. Four-year starter Griffin Linstra and standout sophomore Rey Weinseimer are the lone returning starters, but the Warriors enter the season as healthier than they did a year ago, when they battled their way back to the SCT final and to a fifth straight NJSIAA sectional title.

4. Central

One-half of Central’s All-Shore duo from 2023-24 graduated, but the half that returns – senior Jaycen Santucci – was a First-Team performer and will be a Player of the Year candidate during his senior campaign. The Golden Eagles also return two other key pieces from last year’s lineup in point guard Jayson King and forward Royalty Riley while also bringing in some additional talent to complement the returning trio. After missing out on reaching the final four of the SCT last year and with Santucci in his final year, the urgency at Central has never been greater.

5. Rumson-Fair Haven

A heartbreaking loss to Manasquan ended Rumson’s 2023-24 season and denied the Bulldogs their fourth sectional championship in seven seasons, so count the Bulldogs among the list of motivated teams heading into the year. Three starters – Davey Carr, Luke Cruz and Riley Gill – are back and Rumson will back them up with another deep, physical roster that also has its share of shooters.

6. Freehold Boro

Speaking of returning starting trios, few in the Shore Conference can boast a more dynamic trio than the one Freehold Boro returns from its NJSIAA Group III runner-up squad. Brian Tassey, Aidan Hamlin-Woolfolk and Qua’Mir Everett are all at least 6-foot-4 with a full complement of guard skills to go with size that can overwhelm a lot of lineups. Depth will be a question heading into Freehold Boro’s encore to its historic 2023-24 campaign, but those three players will give the Colonials a chance almost every night.

7. Red Bank

Just as Rumson is burning for another shot at Manasquan after losing to the Warriors in the Central Group II final, Red Bank wants another crack at Freehold Boro after losing to the Colonials on its home floor in the Central Jersey Group III final. The Bucs return three starters in Zayier Dean, Ryan Fisher and Trey Moore and will also add College Achieve transfer and 6-4 forward Ron Richardson in early January to round out a more complete roster than the guard-heavy group that came close to a title a year ago.

8. Southern

The Rams rode an underclass backcourt to 17 wins a season ago and should be even better now that junior Jake Sliwinski and sophomore Noah Perna have a season of playing together under their belts. Returning starter Cooper Dempsey adds shooting and passing to the equation and if Southern can develop its front court during the early part of the season, the Rams will have a chance to break into the SCT quarterfinals.

9. Ranney

Despite graduating leading scorer, rebounder and all-around talent in Drew Buck, Ranney is set-up for success in 2024-25 thanks to the return of its other four starters from a year ago. MeSean Williams is a four-year varsity point guard, Shaan Nayar averaged 13 points per game, Justin Buck is a proven shooter on the wing and Brody Mauro is an athletic, 6-4 sophomore who fills up a stat sheet.

10. Jackson Memorial

The Jaguars started to put it all together at the end of last season and while there are some seniors to replace, there is also some serious talent coming in to supplement a strong group of returning juniors and seniors. Randy Holmes, Jimmy Papalardo and Brady Adams are all proven contributors, while freshman Mi’Aire Anderson and College Achieve transfer George Boley will be impact additions for a team that could look quite dangerous come February.

The Next 10

Toms River North – This group has a lot to prove after the graduation of an excellent senior class, but the Mariners are again athletic and deep.

Marlboro – The Mustangs are another team that graduated a lot of production, but have the program track record and young talent to overcome the losses.

Red Bank Catholic – Ryan Prior and Sean Saxton are proven scorers and if the new supporting cast delivers, the Caseys will work their way into the top 10.

Colts Neck – The lineup lacks a proven go-to scorer, but better balance could benefit the Cougars this season.

Manalapan – The Braves, meanwhile, have a clear No. 1 scoring option in Aiden Sosinov, but the rest of the team lacks varsity experience.

Matawan – Rutgers football commit Jayden Elijah is a 6-8 beast and if the Huskies can avoid the slow start that tanked their 2023-24 season, they could be a factor come February.

Howell – All-Shore forward D.J. Orloff and lead guard Chris Meehan will be sorely missed, but the Rebels have enough back from last season’s team to build on a memorable 2023-24 campaign.

St. John Vianney – The roster once again looks different and will be under the direction of a new coach in Logan Singleton, but the Lancers have the talent to make an impact in a tough division.

Holmdel – Despite graduating an excellent senior trio, Holmdel has a solid group of 2023-24 role players returning who are ready to step up and keep the program competitive.

Henry Hudson – Once Jack Fitzpatrick – the reigning scoring leader of the Shore Conference – is eligible in early January, Henry Hudson will be much improved from last year and will be better-equipped to hang with some of the Shore’s better teams.