Three Shore Conference Teams Open 2024-25 Boys Basketball Season Tuesday

The first ever Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball Preview is coming later this week, but that will be after at least three Shore Conference teams play their first official game of 2024-25. The NJSIAA allows for an earlier start to the season if teams choose, so while most of the state is still in scrimmage mode, a small number of teams are choosing not to wait around.

Henry Hudson, Red Bank and St. John Vianney will tip off the season on Tuesday, with Red Bank hosting Henry Hudson and St. John Vianney traveling to Staten Island to play New Dorp. All three teams will appear in their respective divisional previews later this week, but to get you warmed up for the season and to get to know each team before their respective openers, here is a look at all three ahead of opening night.

 

Henry Hudson

There were many reasons to be excited during Henry Hudson’s best season in decades, but perhaps the most exciting part of the breakout 2023-24 season was that almost the entire team was due to return in 2024-25. Henry Hudson cracked 20 wins for the first time in more than three decades, won its first division title since 1989 and reached the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I semifinals for the first time since 1997 – all with a team that started just one senior and played only two.

Although the team looks almost the same as it did a year ago, the offseason was an eventful one for the Admirals. Shore Conference leading scorer Jack Fitzpatrick began the 2024-25 school year at College Achieve in Asbury Park before transferring back to Henry Hudson. With two transfers, Fitzpatrick will have to sit out for the first 30 days of the season, which gives him a target of Jan. 9 vs. Matawan at home for a season debut.

With Fitzpatrick back and a proven supporting cast around him, Henry Hudson will be a contender in the Class B Coastal division and Central Jersey Group I. College Achieve obliterated the competition in Group I last year but is no longer qualified as an NJSIAA-Tournament-eligible team, which opens up the CJ I field in 2025. Junior Mike Fitzpatrick, sophomore JoJo Newell and junior Kevin Pharo give the Admirals a well-rounded returning starting group, while Billy Quinn moves into the starting five. Junior transfer Masio Tucker and Phinn Kozic provide some additional size and will step up while Jack Fitzpatrick waits to become eligible. Once Jack Fitzpatrick is back, Henry Hudson will begin its march back toward the postseason.

Henry Hudson at a Glance

Head Coach: Brian Kelly, fifth season
2023-24 Record: 21-5 (8-2 crossover; 3-1, first in Class A Central)
Key Losses: Jeremy Way (5-11, Guard), Damyon Sparks-Edwards (6-2, Forward)

Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)

Returning starters in bold

Michael Fitzpatrick, Jr., 6-2, Guard (7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists)

Jack Fitzpatrick, Sr., 6-3, Guard (22.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 steals)

Billy Quinn, Jr., 5-9, Guard (4.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists)

JoJo Newell, So., 6-3, Forward (10.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.4 blocks)

Kevin Pharo, Sr., 6-4, Forward (5.8 points, 7.4 rebounds)

 

Off the Bench

Phinn Kozic, Sr., 6-2, Forward

Blakely Smith, Jr., 5-10, Guard

Masio Tucker, Jr., 6-5, Forward – Transfer from Longwood (N.Y.)

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Red Bank

After a resurgent season for the program in 2023-24, Red Bank is back with a roster that has a chance to be even better than the team that won the Bucs’ first division championship in 17 years and pushed them to an NJSIAA sectional final for the first time in 10 years. Bringing in Zayier Dean as the point guard took Red Bank to another level and tied together what was a roster with built-in potential. Dean is back for his senior year and as a two-time All-Shore guard, he gives Red Bank a leg up on a lot of their competition in the Class B North division, as well as around the Shore Conference.

A guard-heavy lineup from a year ago will be more balanced with the increased roles of Trey Moore and Anthony Moore (no relation) to go with returning supporting guards Ryan Fisher and Justin Valentino. Trey Moore is a returning starter with the ability to play inside while also boasting skill and athleticism and Anthony Moore provided toughness off the bench. Fisher, meanwhile, emerged as a top scorer down the stretch and Valentino was a spark off the bench as a freshman.

For the second straight year, Red Bank will add an impact transfer who used to star at Ocean Township. Ron Richardson was a bench player for Group I champion College Achieve of Asbury Park last season and will join the Bucs for 2024-25 after sitting the required 30 days as a second-time transfer. Richardson will add to Red Bank’s deeper, improved front court that will give coach George Sourlis more ways to match up against the top teams on the schedule. The division will again be competitive, but Red Bank has the impact talent to win a back-to-back title and get back to the NJSIAA sectional final after coming up one win short of a championship last year.

Red Bank at a Glance

Head Coach: George Sourlis, third season
2023-24 Record: 21-5 (9-1 crossover, 4-1, tied first in Class B North)
Key Losses: Braydon Kirkpatrick (5-10, Guard), Jameson Ackerman (5-8, Guard), Liam Stack (6-3, Forward)

Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Zayier Dean, Sr., 5-10, Guard (14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals)

Ryan Fisher, Sr., 6-1, Guard (10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals)

Justin Valentino, So., 5-11, Guard (2.2 points, 1.7 rebounds)

Trey Moore, Sr., 6-4, Center (4.3 points, 2.5 rebounds)

Anthony Moore, Sr., 6-3, Forward (3.9 points, 2.0 rebounds)

Off the Bench

Ron Richardson, Sr., 6-4, Forward – Transfer from College Achieve

Bennett Lopez, Jr., 6-3, Forward

Nick Walker, Sr., 5-8, Guard

Josiah Johnson, Jr., 6-1, Forward

Will Galligan, So., 5-10, Guard

Quinn Gibb, Sr., 6-6, Center

Gavin Gilmartin, Sr., 5-10, Guard

Vin Neisz, Jr., 5-8, Guard

Keileb Yap, Sr., 5-8, Guard

Alex Costic, Sr., 5-11, Forward

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St. John Vianney

A surprising coaching change threw the Lancers into scramble mode heading into the 2024-25 school year and first-year head coach Logan Singleton is tasked with attempting to get his team back on schedule and to build on a strong eight seasons by outgoing coach Ryan Finch. Experience will not be a significant part of that equation for Singleton and his team, but there is enough talent on hand for the Lancers to compete for a spot in the Shore Conference Tournament and at the top of a very tough Class A Coastal division.

Senior Alex Jurado is the lone returning starter for St. John Vianney, but the 2024-25 starting five will have its share of experienced varsity contributors – including from its talented sophomore group. Dan Lavan and Justin Togans played as freshman and classmate Danny O’Neill – who attended Trenton Catholic as a freshman – is another promising player from the 2026 class. Senior Mateo Bare also played varsity minutes as a junior and slides into the starting backcourt with Jurado.

If experience is a question for St. John Vianney, depth figures to be a strength. The bench includes a mix of upperclassmen who will provide toughness and intangibles and the underclass is represented by sophomore St. Thomas Aquinas transfer Nicky Mejia and freshman Luke Angeles. Mejia and junior California transfer Jude Mbaziira are required to sit for 30 days before becoming eligible, but once SJV is whole, they will have enough ammo to hang with Rumson-Fair Haven, Red Bank, Red Bank Catholic, Holmdel and Middletown South in division play.

St. John Vianney at a Glance

Head Coach: Logan Singleton, first season
2023-24 Record: 13-14 (8-3 crossover, 4-1, second in Class A Coastal)
Key Losses: Emanuel Domingo (6-7, Forward), Dylan Costa (6-3, Guard), Mark Augello (6-2, Guard), Deon Jackson (6-4, Forward)

Projected Lineup (with 2023-24 stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Mateo Bare, Sr., 5-11, Guard

Alex Jurado, Sr., 6-1, Guard (4.4 points, 2.9 rebounds)

Dan Lavan, So., 6-2, Forward

Justin Togans, So., 6-3, Forward (3.9 points, 3.7 rebounds)

Danny O’Neill, So., 6-4, Forward – Transfer from Trenton Catholic

 

Off the Bench

Jesse Plunkett, Sr., 6-0, Guard

Nicco Aquilone, Sr., 6-1, Forward

Dan Simeone, Sr., 6-1, Forward

Jackson Michaud, Sr., 5-7

Constantine Mariolis, Sr., Forward, 5-9

J.T. Mohlmann, Sr., 5-10, Forward

Richie Hesterhagen, Sr., 5-10, Forward

Matt Cirillo, Sr., 5-10, Forward

Dante Webb, Sr., 6-1, Guard

Nick Roselli, Jr., 5-10, Guard

Jude Mbaziira, Jr., 5-11, Guard – Transfer from Napa Christian (Ca.)

Nicky Mejia, So., 6-0, Guard – Transfer from St. Thomas Aquinas

Luke Angeles, Fr., 6-1