Shore Sports Insider Week 1 Boys Basketball 2025-26 Top 10
Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball Top 10 — Week 1
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It has been two weeks since the first official game of the Shore Conference season and while there is now enough of a sample to reset the Shore Sports Insider rankings, there have not been a whole lot of results that have enough weight to change the preseason rankings.
Below, you will find a Shore Conference Top 10 that looks a lot like the rankings in this space 12 days ago, but there are some key changes. There have been four games between teams ranked in the preseason Top 10 and the lesser-ranked team pulled off wins in two of them, so the changes to this week’s rankings reflects those big wins.
As for the No. 1 spot, there is no dispute heading into the final week of 2025.
CBA sophomore Izayah Cooper drives by St. Mary’s Rutherford senior Xavier Sam. (Photo: Patrick Olivero)
1. Christian Brothers Academy (4-0, 0-0) Last Week: 1
To this point, CBA has looked every bit the part of Shore Conference favorite and one of the top teams in the state. The Colts have beaten four teams from out of the area (Newark Collegiate, Paramus Catholic, Hudson Catholic and St. Mary’s Rutherford) by an average of more than 24 points per game. All that and CBA is still waiting on senior guard Charlie Marcoullier to return from a groin injury that has kept him out of action to open the year. Over the break, CBA will test itself vs. two Florida teams during its trip to Miami.
2. Rumson-Fair Haven (4-0, 0-0) Last Week: 3
The Bulldogs are another Shore Conference team off to a 4-0 start while missing a starter and in the case of Rumson, it is a prove All-Shore player that the team is waiting on. Luke Cruz is close to making his season debut after missing the first four games and in the meantime, his teammates have picked up the slack, particularly senior Luke Lydon. In the last two games, Lydon scored 64 points, including a career-high 38 in a win over another top 10 team in Red Bank Catholic.
Rumson-Fair Haven senior Luke Lydon. (Photo: Patrick Olivero)
3. Jackson (4-0, 0-0) Last Week: 4
As it pertains to the Shore Conference rankings, no team has a bigger win so far this season than the Jaguars. After routing Lacey and laboring for wins over both Red Bank and Point Pleasant Boro, Jackson took down Manasquan, 48-42, in a game the Jaguars led by as many as 16. Jackson has one of the Shore’s top players in George Boley leading the way and have played the kind of defense that championship teams play. When senior Jimmy Pappalardo is knocking down shots from behind the arc, which he did against Manasquan, Jackson will be hard to beat.
4. Manasquan (1-2, 0-0) Last Week: 2
With only one starter back from last season’s Group II championship team, Manasquan is still ironing out some wrinkles on its roster, which is currently relying on three first-year sophomores (Sean Bilodeau, Noah Matuch and Luke Winn) for major production. The early season grind includes losses to Seton Hall Prep and Jackson, with Manasquan bouncing back to beat St. John Vianney, 49-29, in its final game before it defends its Kevin Williams Christmas Classic title as the No. 1 seed in this year’s tournament.
Southern junior Noah Perna fires up a shot. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
5. Southern (2-1, 0-0) Last Week: 5
The early returns have been encouraging for Southern, which beat a quality Cedar Creek team to open the season, pulled away for a win over Toms River North on the road, then lost to a talented Overbrook squad. For the final 10 minutes vs. Toms River North and the entire Overbrook game, the Rams played without All-Shore junior guard Noah Perna, who was ejected from the game vs. Toms River North along with Mariners junior Wes Tanner for a shoving exchange between the two players. Perna will also be required to sit for the first round of the Score at the Shore Tournament on Saturday before returning, at which point he will join senior Jake Sliwinski to reprise one of the Shore’s top backcourt duos.
6. Red Bank Catholic (2-1, 0-0) Last Week: 10
In a Top 10 that has not changed all that much from the preseason list, Red Bank Catholic makes the biggest jump in the poll. The Caseys fought off a tough challenge from rival Red Bank in their season-opener, then went on the road to knock off Freehold Township – the preseason No. 6 team in the Shore Sports Insider rankings. RBC’s lone loss prior to Christmas is a competitive home loss to No. 2 Rumson-Fair Haven and the caseys will now storm into the Kevin Williams Classic as a balanced, defensive-minded team that will have as good of a chance as any team in the field to raise the trophy to close out 2025.
Red Bank Catholic junior Gavin Biasi defended by Rumson-Fair Haven freshman Clint Martin. (Photo: Patrick Olivero)
7. Freehold Township (2-1, 0-0) Last Week: 6
In its first two games, Freehold Township raced out to comfortable early leads, only to give them up each time – including in a loss at home to Red Bank Catholic. The Patriots found a way to get the job done in game No. 2 vs. Lawrence, then operated on a different script Tuesday vs. Holmdel. Again playing at home, Freehold Township trailed by a point at halftime, then overpowered the Hornets in the second half to post a 63-50 win despite playing withing 2024-25 leading scorer and junior forward Jake Schultzel.
8. Holmdel (1-1, 0-0) Last Week: 7
Holmdel’s aforementioned loss to Freehold Township came with three likely starters out of action due to various ailments: sophomore Anthony Serini, junior Elliot Bronowich and senior Jack Cannon. It was an early missed opportunity for the Hornets to climb in the rankings, but they will have plenty more chances playing in the Class A North division with CBA, Rumson-Fair Haven and Manasquan and should be a healthier for those games. As it stands, a season-opening win over a dangerous Ranney squad is a quality win to boast.
9. Wall (2-0, 0-0) Last Week: 8
It’s been a business-like start for Wall thus far after the Crimson Knights picked up wins over rival St. Rose and Ocean to kick off their anticipated season. Dan Hennessy is off to a strong start along with fellow senior Brian McKenna and for the Crimson Knights to thrive this season – starting as the No. 4 seed at the Kevin Williams Christmas Classic this coming weekend – they will need the supporting cast to find its form to back up Hennessy, McKenna and fellow returning senior starter Liam Killea.
10. Marlboro (2-0, 0-0) Last Week: 9
The Mustangs hold onto the final spot in the top 10 thanks to a pair of quality wins in their first two games. They opened the season with a hard-fought win over an experienced, talented Howell team, followed by a nine-point victory over Red Bank in Marlboro. There are a host of teams breathing down Marlboro’s neck for the final spot in the Top 10, but the Mustangs have also done their part so far to not only hold onto their position at the end of the rankings but to set themselves up for a jump with a good performance at this weekend’s Buc Classic in Red Bank.
The Next 10
Point Pleasant Beach (4-0, 0-0) – After a shaky first half at Brick to open the season, Point Beach has been superb and after dominating defending South Jersey Group I champion Woodbury on Monday, the Garnet Gulls appear to be next in line to grab a spot in the rankings, which they can do by beating Manasquan Friday in the Kevin Williams Classic first round.
Howell (2-1, 0-0) – A four-point loss to No. 10 Marlboro is Howell’s lone blemish so far and the Rebels will be set up to make a run in the Buc Classic this coming weekend as they pursue a spot in the rankings.
Middletown South (3-0, 0-0) – Freshman Ryan Gannon (21.3 points per game) has been one of the stories to start the season at the Shore, with fellow freshman Evan Wells also playing well to start his career for the Eagles.
Ranney (1-1, 1-0) – The Panthers followed up a convincing win over Freehold Boro with a competitive loss to Holmdel as they gear up for the Buc Classic this weekend.
Central (2-0, 0-0) – Coming off a 24-win season with four new starters, the Golden Eagles are off to a solid start that includes a win over an experienced Brick Memorial squad and a comfortable win over Lacey.
Brick Memorial (3-1, 0-0) – Experience is a hallmark of this Mustangs team, but its newcomer – St. Rose sophomore transfer Luke Begashvili – has been the kind of breakout performer that can push a team like Brick Memorial to another level.
Manalapan (2-1, 0-0) – The Braves could be 3-1 if not for a wet court that forced the suspension of a game vs. Red Bank that Manalapan was leading, 17-7, at the time of the stoppage. Manalapan’s lone loss is to No. 2 Rumson and the Braves have responded by playing well since that opening-night loss.
Red Bank (2-3, 0-0) – The start of the season has been a mixed bag for Red Bank, but with a new coach (Ben DiBiase), only one starter back (Justin Valentino) and a hard schedule (losses to Red Bank Catholic, Jackson and Marlboro), it has been more encouraging than concerning.
Ocean (4-1, 1-0) – A seven-point loss to No. 9 Wall is the only hiccup for Ocean, which got past Henry Hudson on opening night and has since won its next three games (Shore, Hightstown and Neptune) by an average margin of 20 points.
Toms River North (2-2, 0-0) – The Mariners felt the wrath of an impressive Cherry Hill East team over the weekend, but has been solid in its other three games, which include wins over Matawan and Donovan Catholic and a home loss to No. 5 Southern.
