This Sunday the Girls HOOP GROUP Boardwalk Showcase returns. This event is for everyone, coaches fans and future stars watching. There is also a lot at stake in these games. Like reputation and state rankings. The talent in the event is earth shattering. Make no mistake this event is a college coaches dream. There are over 30 Division One players in this event. There are nationally ranked players, nationally ranked players, player of year candidates, legendary coaches, and legendary programs. This event has it all. They’ll be no sitting around watching bad games. Once again the HOOP GROUP has chosen quality over quantity. That alone should get coaches, fans and media folks excited. So get set, this going to be a basketball junkies dream day and a great way to spend the day.
THE NOON GAME
This game will feature two Top 20 teams in the State MANASQUAN vs. RED BANK REG . Both teams are beaten up. One physically and the other mentally. Manasquan is led by Loyola, MD University D1 Commit Olivia Shaughnessy. But she is far from 100%. Neither is Shannon HEINE who has had a breakout season. Now throw in the return of Kayden Clark who had to sit 20 days as a transfer and you really do not know what to expect. JORDYN Holloway. has been wonderful all season. Meanwhile Grace Love has been solid as a rock. The bench has been a huge surprise as LOGAN MCCARTHY and Freshman CALISTA VOWTERAS have been too good for words. They have been shockingly effective. But the story of the year to this point has been Shea Donnelly. She right now looks like a GROUP 2 First Team All State Player. The Colby commit is having a dream season.
They say timing is everything. RBR was flying high until this past Tuesday. They were coming off a WOBM TITLE for the 2nd consecutive year. But ran into a RBC team coming off 3 straight looses and RBC made RBR pay the price for their unhappiness as RBR caught RBC’s “A” game. It was RBR’s first loss of the season. The good news is SYNAI BLYCHANTON Is playing at a D1 level. Caroline Polloway has been been dominant at times and they trio of guards . Riley Wheeler, Riley Joyce and Kristen Connor’s have proven they are ready for prime time. Pay real attention to this first game of the day. That’s because these are two Top 20 teams in a hard nose matchup. This game will have Top 20 ramification. RBR is one of the real up and coming programs in the Shore as well as the state. MEANWHILE Manasquan has played a tough early season schedule to get ready for the meat of the season. You couldn’t pick a better matchup to start the day .
THE 1. 30 PM GAME
This game features the two teams most believe are the best two teams in the state. RBC the Group B State Champs who just may have found themselves in the nick of time vs red hot and nationally ranked defending state champs MORRIS CATHOLIC. RBC is led by Seniors Tessa Carman who signed with Monmouth University and Christina Liggio who signed with Navy. But that’s not all because they have one of if not the best shooter in the state in Katie Liggio who has more D1 offers than she can count. Tessa Liggio who has multiple D1 offers and is a true pure point guard. But you can’t talk about RBC without bringing up the biggest name of all . Addy nymchek.is one of the best players in the country She has P5 offers and the best academic schools in the country are recruiting her as well. . Daniela Maletsky has recently moved into the starting lineup, Lola Giordano, Sophia Smith and SAVANNA LeVake all are future D1 players. RBC is deep, experienced, and talented with a Hall of Fame Coach in JOE MONTANA. They are a STATE CHAMPION CONTENDER from a talent standpoint.
Morris Catholic is making a reputation for themselves as a unbeatable . They knocked off every major contender on there way to a state title and #1 ranking last year. It seems not much has changed under new coach, Rahim Huland El. Mia Pauldo is not only the leading candidate for PLAYER OF YEAR in New Jersey. She is one of the best players in the country. Here sister Mya was named All State last year and is having a monster start to the season. But there not alone. SOPH Jax Edelman has been off the charts good, her game has grown leaps and bounds. She is certainly living up to the hype. ANASTASIA BONFANT has show she is ready for prime time these days. She had 18?points vs Top 20 Saddle River Day. Kennedy Brown has been rock solid all year. But the key and biggest surprise of the year has been the of MORGAN FULSTON. The 6’3” forward has stepped up in a major way this season. She has been nothing short of amazing: Morris Catholic may not be a team full of household names outside the twins . But they will feature some of the best players in this event. As a group they’ll bring the total package to the table on Sunday More importantly the bigger the game and the bigger the reputation of the opponent, the better they perform. This is a battle of what most believe are the two Top teams in the state. It has all the makings for the best game of the year. If it’s anything like last years barn burner …buckle up!
THE 3:00 PM GAME
SJV and Blair Academy is the best way to wrap up the girls portion of the boardwalk showcase. That’s because they is a massive amount of D1 talent in the game. While Blair is not part of the NJISSA girls basketball. They have always played the best teams in the state. The amount of D1 talent on the roster is breathtaking. From Ava FAJARDO a well know favorite to a group of studs at every position make them a nightmare matchup.
SJV will be led by, the three headed monster of Madison Kocis, Taylor SOFILKANICH, and Stella Lockhart. All are considered ALL STATE type players. 6’4” Taylor SOFILKANICH Is ranked nationally in the top 30. SJV has been up and down this season. But the tools and talent is in place for them to make a run at the state title. Brooklyn Taylor, Aleena Dinker and Charlotte Bradley are all battle tested and have showed real flashes of greatness at times. There bench is deadly with the much improved Lissy Lyons looking like a serious impact player. Tatum sharpe is gaining experience and appears ready to step into the spotlight. Babies Gianna Sano and Antonia Jackson are both future mega stars in the state. The standard for SJV is unrealistic but it is Coach Dawn Karpell who created it and she who must feed the monster. Sunday the monster will want to eat once again. Do not be surprised if come Monday morning SJV is once again #1 in the state.
FINALLY THIS SATURDAY WE GET OUR FIRST PEEK AT THE BEST GRAMMAR SCHOOL PLAYERS….
