THE 2026 MOST IMPROVED TEAM AND MOST IMPROVED PLAYER PLAYER
There are many awards that are given out each spring. But none in my opinion say more about a players commitment and desire more than the MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARDS. It goes to a players, sacrifices and willingness to overcome obstacles. This year’s MOST IMPROVED PLAYER winner, bet on herself more than any other player I know. Allison McAndrew of Colts Beck high school is our NEW JERSEY SHORE CONFERENCE 2026 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER.
Allison McAndrew entered Trinity Hall high school as one of the best freshmen in the state of New Jersey. She was considered a Pre Season leading candidate for Freshman of the Year. Allison McAndrew by most people’s standards had a solid freshman year. But Allison McAndrew has her own standards and didn’t feel she lived up to those standards. She was disappointed she did not get extended minutes and also fell short of her personal goals. She decided after averaging three points game, she needed a change. So she bet on herself, her talent, her work ethic, skill and competitive nature and transferred to Colts Neck High School.
When Allison McAndrew decided to leave Trinity, I told her she was making a mistake. I told her her it was too early to past judgment and that Trinity was a program of the future and on the rise. But Allison McAndrew has real confidence in her abilities. She told me, Trinity was not for her. She told me “COLTS NECK was going to win the Shore Conference Championship one day”. I laughed and told her she was nuts. Well I’m not laughing these days and it’s me that looks nuts. That’s because in just one season Allison McAndrew impact at ColtscNeck has been nothing short of magnificent. She helped Colts Neck to one of its best seasons in over 15 years. This season Colts finished 23-7… 9-1 in conference. They won the B NORTH TITLE… won a sectional title and was one point away from playing for a state title. The 8 game win improvement, 5-5 to 9-1 in one year is impressive. It’s a tribute to Coach Russo and his staff. It’s a tribute to the Colts Neck players and their dedication. But the biggest change as to why Colts Neck was a Top 5 team in the Shore and is now considered the team of the future is ALLISON McANDREW.
On paper nobody can match the statistical improvement of Allison McAndrew. She scored 300 points more this season than she did a year ago. Going from 90 points to an eye popping 395 points. She went from 70 rebounds to a whopping 270. She went from 9 assists to 58. She went from 15 steals to 39 steals. Folks this transformation took place in just one season. Even more remarkable is that she got her numbers against some of the best in the state. She showed up in the biggest games. Allison McAndrew impact on the entire Colts Neck program can’t be put into words. She now is a full blown star. She is now a sure fire D1 lock. These things are easy to see. But what college coaches, fans, and opponents did not see, is her journey in just 6 months.
Starting over is not easy. It’s takes maturity and real belief in yourself. Allison McAndrew a year ago made a hard decision. She left Trinity Hall and started a new journey. That’s the easy part too see. But the part nobody could see was the tears, disappointment and pain of starting over. What people didn’t see was the work put in when there were so many doubters and those hoping she fails. That’s is the nature of haters. But Allison McAndrew’s impact and desire to be the best is still her #1 mission. She is a gym rat and someone who is totally committed to greatness. She comes to after school shooting, she does point guard school, she trains with D1 killers. She is relentless in her commitment. She doesn’t take short cuts. She more than anything else “HAS BET ON HERSELF”. She has outworked her massive natural talent.
Allison McAndrew has proven her improvement curve this past season has no match. But she is clearly not satisfied and like all great players wants more. She was named All Shore and First Team All Division by the coaches in the Shore. She will be on the EARLY BIRD D1 LIST. All these things are happening for Allison McAndrew because not only did she believe in herself but so did her inner circle. Start with her parents Beth and Karee who refuse to let her pity herself during hard times, her teammates who embraced her and Coach Nick Russo who made her love the game again. These are the reasons, Allison McAndrew ended her season with one of the most dynamic performances of the year in the states semi final. She was sending a message of what more is to come…CONGRATULATIONS TO ALLISON MCANDREW OUR NEW JEREEY SHORE CONFERENCE 2026 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER!
SCARLETT LEVAKE- RED BANK CATHOLIC- SR
Last season Scarlett LeVake was new to the RBC culture. She had to learn what it was like to be in the fire, day in and day out. She was not in the rotation. This season all that changed. That because she put massive hours into the gym all spring and summer. She changed her shot. Developed a serious post up game and became an impact player. A Division One player. She will attend UNH next fall. Her performances in big games cannot be dismissed. Her show stopping start of the season vs National Ranked Newman Goreti should have been a sign of things to come. Here play off the bench vs. SJV was life saving. Her performance vs Paul the VI in the state tournament can only be described as sensational. But her near double vs Morris Catholic in the state Championship was a perfect way to cap off her journey to her fantastic season… CONGRATULATIONS TO SCARLETT LEVAKE … a member of the 2026 NEW JERSEY SHORE MOST IMPROVED TEAM.
SHANNON LOONEY- MANASQUAN- SR
She might be the most under appreciated played in the Shore. She was named the SHORE SPORT INSIDER MOST IMPROVED PLAYER for good reason. Manasquan goes nowhere without Shannon Looney. Her performances in big moments cannot be denied. Her ability to impact the games on both sides of the ball was special this season. Her ability to play without the ball was a lesson in how to play the game correctly. Shannon Looney did something rarely seen these days. She doubled her stats in every major statistical category this past season. It’s one of the reasons she went from a role player to a prime time player. Shannon Looney is a great example of a player whose growth is a tribute to staying focus and mastering your role. CONGRATULATIONS TO SHANNON LOONEY A MEMBER OF THE 2026 NEW JERSEY MOST IMPROVED TEAM.
SOPHIE SMITH- RED BANK CATHOLIC- SR
“Big Game “ Sophie just capped of a dream season. She had been a role player at RBC for the past 3 years. But during those years she has had some of the biggest shots in the biggest moments. Her numbers will never tell the entire story. Sure she almost doubled her scoring production from a year ago. Yes. She grabbed 196 rebounds compared to 66 the year before. Yes she was on the 2026 ALL DEFENSIVE TEAM. This would be enough for just about any player to hang their hat on, to stamp their legacy. But what Sophie Smith will be forever known for is being clutch. If there is a list of big shot makers in Shore history, Sophie Smith is on it and it’s not going to take long to call her name. Sophie Smith will continue her career at Harvard in the fall. She’ll bring a track record of winning and big shots with her.. CONGRATULATIONS TO SOPHIE SMITH ON BEING NAMED TO THE 2026 NEW JERSEY MOST IMPROVED TEAM.
ERIN RED- RUMSON FAIR HAVEN- SR
Erin Reid has been a very good player for RFH over the years. But this season she had a breakout season. She became a superstar and dominant player. She just put together one of the best seasons in recent RFH history. Erin Reid was a walking double/ double this season. She had 17 double/doubles, scored her 1000th point and led an over achieving RFH to a state sectional final. Erin Reid is off to of the most improved programs in college basketball in IVY LEAGUE BROWN UNIVERSITY. Brown, is hoping to become one of the best in the Ivy League. ERIN REID ends her RFH career as one of the schools best ever. It has seem to come out of nowhere. Her improvement serves as a reminder that anything is possible when you play harder than anyone can imagine . … congratulations to ERIN REID A MEMBER OF THE 2026 NEW JERSEY MOST IMPROVED TEAM
NBS SPOTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE…
