VOTE: Week 1 Boys Basketball Player of the Week

Week 1 Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball Players of the Week 

Sponsored by Broad Street Dough Co.

Each week, Shore Sports Insider will recognize the top boys basketball performers in each of the eight Shore Conference divisions and nominate those eight for the weekly SSI Player of the Week Award. Two wild cards will also be part of the contest, giving the basketball fans of the Jersey Shore 10 candidates to choose from every week.

Read about this weeks honorees and vote in the poll at the bottom of the post for the best as this week’s Player of the Week. Vote once per hour until the poll closes Saturday at 10 a.m. The winner will receive a gift card to Broad Street Dough Co., with New Jersey locations in Oakhurst, Wall and Freehold.

 

Class A North Player of the Week

Aiden Sosinov, Manalapan

After a torrid finish to a breakout junior season, Sosinov has not only picked up where he left off last season: he has raised the bar. Through two games, the Braves senior is averaging 37 points. In the season-opener, he scored a career-high 35 points to lead a 60-57 win over East Brunswick. Over the weekend, he set a new career-high with 39 points in a rout of Steinert.

Class A North Honorable Mention: Justin Fuerbacher, CBA; Connor Andree, CBA; Nolan Gong, Marlboro; Daniel Crasto, Marlboro; John O’Neill, Freehold Twp.; Dean Aviles, Manalapan; Shaan Nayar, Ranney; MeSean Williams, Ranney; Nick Cardone, Freehold Twp.; Christian Elmasri, Marlboro

 

Class A Coastal Player of the Week

Ryan Fisher, Red Bank

On a 2023-24 Red Bank team that boasted a pair of senior guards and a prominent transfer in Zayier Dean, Fisher carved out a key role for himself on what was a 20-plus win team. During the early part of this season, he has played a starring role, leading the Bucs in scoring in each of their four games – all wins – to open the season and averaging an even 20 points so far this season.

Class A Coastal Honorable Mention: Luke Cruz, Rumson-Fair Haven; Matt Trimble, Middletown South; Ryan Prior, Red Bank Catholic; James Hankowski, Red Bank Catholic; C.J. Karis, Holmdel; Sean Saxton, Red Bank Catholic; Lukas Sloan, Colts Neck; Jesse Plunkett, St. John Vianney; Danny O’Neill, St. John Vianney; Brady Hahn, Middletown South; David Carr, Rumson-Fair Haven; Carson Memmott, Rumson-Fair Haven; Will Galligan, Red Bank; Joe Curreri, Holmdel; Dan Lavan, St. John Vianney; Beckett Oliver, Middletown South

 

Class A Central Player of the Week

Rey Weinseimer, Manasquan

Manasquan is 2-1 against a high-level schedule to start the season and has already had a couple of players produce memorable individual moments: Matteo Chiarella banked in a halfcourt shot at the buzzer to beat Rutgers Prep and Griffin Linstra approached a triple-double while carrying the Warriors during overtime in a win at Rumson. All the while, Weinseimer has been a steady scorer during the start to his sophomore season, during which he has averaged 21.3 points through those three games.

Class A Central Honorable Mention: Hunter Hynes, Point Boro; Evan Romano, St. Rose; Matteo Chiarella, Manasquan; Griffin Linstra, Manasquan; Randy Holmes Jr., Jackson Memorial; Mi’Aire Anderson, Jackson Memorial; Jayden Hodge, St. Rose; Nyzier Matthews, Brick Memorial; Jovin Steinmetz, Point Boro; Sean Collins, Brick Memorial

 

Class A South Player of the Week

Jaycen Santucci, Central

Coming off a First-Team All-Shore season, Santucci has put his all-around game front and center during an impressive start to the season for both him and his Central team. He opened with 24 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks in a win over Lenape, then produced 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists in another double-digit victory over Wall.

Class A South Honorable Mention: Sherrod Nelson, Toms River North; Jayson King, Central; Ryan Jacobs, Donovan Catholic; Aidan Lunn, Manchester; Jake Sliwinski, Southern; Mekai Morse, Toms River North; James Gibbons, Donovan Catholic; Noah Perna, Southern

 

Class B North Player of the Week

Brian Tassey, Freehold Boro

Following a forgettable season-opening loss to CBA, Tassey and his team have bounced back in ideal fashion. The senior has been an enhanced version of the all-around talent that helped lead Freehold Boro to its first NJSIAA sectional title in 51 years last season. Through four games, Tassey is averaging 21.5 points, 8.75 rebounds, 4.25 assists and 3.75 blocks, including a career-best performances (37 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, seven blocks) in a win over North Brunswick.

Class B North Honorable Mention: Bryce Crowe, Shore; Maddox Paulin, Shore; Javon Bowles, Monmouth

 

Class B Coastal Player of the Week

Kai Arrington, Keyport

Arrington transferred in from Red Bank Regional for his junior season and has been a difference-maker during a 3-0 start for the Red Raiders. He opened the season with 11 points in a win over Koinonia Academy, then scored 21 points in consecutive wins over South Amboy and Asbury Park.

Class B Coastal Honorable Mention: Andrei Matthews, Keyport; Billy Quinn, Henry Hudson; Colin Byrne, Middletown North; Matt Cerretta, Keansburg; Milan Mraz, Keansburg; JoJo Newell, Henry Hudson; Nico Dispenza, Keyport; Sean Burnett, Raritan; Jayden Elijah, Matawan

 

Class B Central Player of the Week

Scot Crowley, Point Beach

On a sophomore-loaded team, Crowley has been the steady senior presence to start the season, not to mention Point Beach’s most productive player. He opened the season with a double-double – 19 points and 10 rebounds – in a one-sided win over a senior-loaded Lacey team and through three games is averaging 16 points to lead a 3-0 start for Point Beach.

Class B Central Honorable Mention: Jayvion Rodgers, Neptune; Donnie Stevenson, Neptune; Jayden Hartnett, Jackson Liberty; Cris Rosario, Lakewood; Nolan Arnold, New Egypt; Tyler Preston, Point Beach; Demitri Tu, Wall

 

Class B South Player of the Week

Jamel Pitts, Brick

Few players have announced themselves to the rest of the Shore Conference more convincingly than Pitts, who has begun his sophomore campaign by scoring 25 points in each of Brick’s first three games. The Green Dragons have benefitted from Pitts’s hot start, defeating both Asbury Park and Toms River East for a 2-1 start to the 2024-25 season.

Class B South Honorable Mention: Ty Kline, Pinelands; Josh Barongo, Pinelands; Mason Krey, Barnegat; Frank Smith, Lacey; Brady Gillen, Toms River East; Shamus O’Grady, Toms River East

 

Wild Cards

Justin Fuerbacher, CBA

Facing the reigning Group III runner-up in his team’s season opener, Fuerbacher and fellow 6-foot-5 forward Connor Andree dominated Freehold Boro to open the season, with Fuerbacher posting 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the win. The senior followed that up with 26 points in a 63-36 win over Holmdel – a fellow 2024 Shore Conference Tournament semifinalist.

Hunter Hynes, Point Boro

Another sophomore off to a huge start in 2024-25, Hynes has gone from freshman role player to top scorer for the Panthers. He started the season by scoring 13 points in a win over Hamilton West, then averaged 25.5 points during the two-game Donovan Catholic Tip-Off Classic. Hynes scored 24 points in a first-round win over Toms River East, the poured in 27 in the 57-53 championship win over Donovan Catholic.