There are lots of things right now I am pretty sure about these days. The fall paints such a good picture before the season starts. You learn so much about teams and players as we inch closer to the start of the season. So here are a few things I have figure out.
EMMA CARMAN folks is working on a 1st Team and Most IMPROVED PLAYER season. The senior has been nothing short of sensational all fall. Both in her preparation and performance.
If RBR can find someone to handle the point guard duties, they are looking at a monster season. Sr. JOSIE MUNSON since committing to NYU has looked great. CAMRYN GARDNER has been dominate and CAROLINE POLLAWAY has improved so much. They have two babies that have jumped into the competive jungle all off season in their training. RIELY WHEELER has been nothing short of a major surprise. KRISTEN CONNERS has been more than Coach Truhan could have ever expected. RBR is dangerous. There open gym was “PACKED” with D1 coaches.
So who is the biggest sleeper in the state? Right now looks like Ocean Twp. They beat the brakes off Trinity Hall last week and the week before that beat RBC(score board issue). They have the 4 Horse Woman, Janeen Ayyash, Eli and Kayden Clark and Gamila Betton., who are a handful. They are gym rats and have played with more chemistry than any team in the Shore this fall. If they develop a 5th starter…ALL BETS ARE OFF AND THEY BECOME A TOP 20 TYPE TEAM.
SJV is still the team to beat. But even I have to admit the gap between them and others has been closed. Why you ask? I believe Madison St Rose’s leadership was something we all took for granted. SJV is still the team to beat, but without question there are questions. But then again it’s the fall.
ST. ROSE best players are seniors Maggie Cavanugh and Crackling Rosie. But right now Cassidy KRUESI, JADA LYNCH, SHANNON LOONEY, BELLA ALVARDO and BROOKE MISSRY are the keys to a magical season. These 5 have been stepping it up lately for St Rose. They are doing it all on both sides of the ball and on the glass. There preformances have been sensational at times. If the St. ROSE seniors and other returning players step it up this season, they going to find lots of help along the way.
Manasquan is showing real life. They have looked much tighter as a group in recent weeks. KATIE COLLINS and HOPE MASONIUS are givens. But Oliva Shaughnessy and Carlie Lapinski are going to shock everyone this season. Both young ladies have show real improvement and are cleay D1 bound one day.
The Neptune vs Holmdel game was a clown show this week. I can care less about blame. I just know this we cannot have girls on a court being disrespectful to each other….LADIES ITS A BAD LOOK.
RUMSON had all 5 projected starters on the court on Wednesday and looked very good at times. RFH has become a two sport program in recent years. Now throw in what is a RFH tradition, getting one outstanding transfer and they got something cooking. Expect this years team to be no different than most Coach Callahan’s teams. They’ll play a tough schedule, then get better late in the season as most of his kids knock off the rust.Then make a run a the Group 2 title.
This week a number of kids gave verbal commitments. It’s really amazing to me how so many kids listen to the wrong people and land in the wrong inner circle. In 90% of the cases its because they refuse to be led by those with a track record.
NOW here is my ALL SHORE WATCH LIST BASED ONLY ON THE FALL…this list really shocked and not a lot shocks me. Here is the criteria
*consistency of performance each week..(NBA video is hard to get but I got enough)
*Improvement curve
*Work Ethic this FALL ONLY
ALL SHORE WATCH LIST…you get to pick 15 of the 30
*this means in my Top 10 right now based on the fall only
*Zoe Brooks- SJV
*Janine Bachmann- SJV
*Emma Carman- RBC
Christina Liggio- RBC
*Maggie Cavanugh – St Rose
Julia Karpell- SJV
*Julia Cosentino – RFH
Megan Sias- TRN
*Camryn Gardner – RBR
*Katie Collins – MANASQUAN
Hope Masonius- Manasquan
*Eli CLARK- OCEAN TWP
Cracking Rosie- St. ROSE
*NINA EMNACE- TRINITY HALL
*Tanaiyah Decker- DONAVAN CATHOLIC
Gabby Ross- DONOVAN CATHOLIC
Tessa Carman- RBC
ALLISON CANNON – HOLMDEL
ALEXANDRA LOUCOPOULOS – HOLMDEL
RYLEE DRAHOS – HOLMDEL
CASEY PRIOR- HOLMDEL
BRIANNA DELANEY- SJV
Zoe Maffei – JAX MEM
Siobhan Stapleton – TRINITY HALL
*DEYVN QUIGLEY – MANCHESTER
CASSIDY KRUESI – ST ROSE
Emily Tvrdik – WALL
Shayne Eldridge- WALL
JOSIE MUNSON – -RBR
SO WHO ARE THE BEST FRESHMAN THIS FALL….HERE are 15. YOU PICK 5….GOOD LUCK ON THIS ONE
*MY 5 picks right now
*Addy Nymcheck – RBC
*Katie Liggio- RBC
Sophie Smith- RBC
*Brooke Missry – ST. ROSE
Jada Lynch- St. ROSE
Lola Giadano – RBC
Daniela Maletsky – RBC
*Madison Kocis- SJV
Whitney Hobson – TRINITY HALL
Shannon Looney- St Rose
*The Tessa Liggio- RBC
TAYLOR SOFILKANICH – SJV
Charlotte Bradley- SJV
Grace Feeney – Trinity Hall
Riley Wheeler – RBR
The 2026 Freshman class is beyond loaded. Over the next 4 years pay attention to these three things…1.which players have the biggest improvement curve year to year… 2. which players are gym rats…3. which player focus more in hype than development. Its really not that complicated. These things play out the same way every 4 years. It’s becomes crystal clear who is going to reach their full potential and easy to see.
Funny how some kids in college are now wishing they went more prepared. Folks show me a player who had a bad fall that has had a good senior year of high school and then a good freshman year in college ….YOU CAN’T
SIDNEY QUINN of Gil Bernard is no joke. But guess who is the real deal as well? ELLA KRUEZER of Chatham folks will be on of the most recruited wings in the 2025 class. What makes them both special? The hardest thing in sports to find..size, length, athleticism and talent; THAT WORKS HARD.
The AAU Merry go round is in full swing. Let the lying and sneaking around begin. FOLKS why not just be honest with your friends and neighbors? But I get it because AAU BRINGS OUT THE WORST IN EVERYONE.
Does this look right?
SJV- there good
RBC- Clearly closing the gap
MANASQUAN- coming together
ST ROSE- the babies are stepping up
TRINITY HALL- they good
You can sign up for NBS right now. The Pre Season prep is all 5 on 5 with a 30 minute one on one block. NBS kids kick ass in December because they are always more prepared.
WE HAVE A FEW MORE COMMITMENTS ON THE WAY. It always makes me smile when kids sign those papers. It’s life changing in a lot of ways for many families.
It’s the first day of D2/D3 PRACTICES tomorrow. I also feel kids must now step up there training in a big way. I HOPE THAT’S WHAT THEY DO….it’s such a great opportunity for kids right now to gain a edge. But the kid and parent must be willing to make real sacrifices ….GOOD LUCK!
CORE SKILL TRAINING/ POINT GUARD/ BALL HANDLING SHOOTING
STARTS NEXT WEEK