THE CENTRAL JERSEY HAWKS: THE LAST GREAT AAU TRADITION
Most players and parents don’t do their homework when it comes to AAU basketball.
They look at what is happening right now. They look at who is on the roster, who is getting recruited, who is posting the most pictures and who is making the biggest promises.
But AAU basketball has a history.
And if you want to understand what the Central Jersey Hawks are about, you have to understand that history.
The Central Jersey Hawks are one of the longest-running and most successful AAU programs in New Jersey history.
The Hawks were around when kids actually played for something.
They played for state championships. They played for AAU championships. They played games that mattered.
And they won.
If a kid could play, the Central Jersey Hawks wanted them.
If a kid wanted to develop, compete and become a better basketball player, the Hawks were a place to do it.
For years, the Central Jersey Hawks were one of the organizations everybody wanted to be part of.
That was before the ugly side of AAU basketball became so prominent.
Before people figured out how much money could be made in youth basketball.
Before moving players around became common.
Before empty promises became part of the business.
Before hype became more important than performance.
Those were the good old days.
And unfortunately, those days aren’t coming back.
But something important has survived.
THE CJ HAWKS TRADITION LIVES.
And today, two men deserve enormous credit for keeping that tradition alive:
RANDY WESTROL AND LOU PAOLILO
Randy Westrol is a no-nonsense basketball guy.
He’s a truth teller.
He isn’t interested in telling kids what they want to hear. He tells them what they need to hear.
That’s not always easy.
But it’s what good coaching is supposed to be.
Lou Paolillo is right there beside him, handling much of the day-to-day communication with players and parents and making sure the kids are taken care of.
Together, they have kept the Central Jersey Hawks relevant while staying true to what the organization has always represented.
NO EMPTY PROMISES.
NO FALSE HYPE.
NO GAMES.
The Hawks don’t have to exaggerate who they are.
They tell players what to expect.
They tell parents what to expect.
They explain the basketball.
They explain the recruiting process.
And then they let the kids go out and compete.
That’s the way it should be.
The Hawks play hard.
They play the right way.
They compete.
And, perhaps most importantly, they create an environment where basketball can still be fun.
No unnecessary drama.
No circus.
No constant politics.
Just kids playing basketball, getting exposure, developing relationships and enjoying the experience.
And look at the history.
The list of former Central Jersey Hawks is a who’s who of New Jersey basketball.
And the current group is impressive too. Look at these names and look at the schools. Cassidy Kruesi – Jefferson University. Marisa Amitie-Messiah University. Riley Fitzpatrick- Stockton University. Grace Love- Steven’s Institute, Kate Henn-Susquehanna. These are all kids who beat the odds and still managed to have great AAU and basketball experiences. This is very rare these days and there are more on the way.
But here’s the part people need to understand:
The Hawks have always been about developing players.
They don’t need to build their program by simply taking somebody else’s team apart.
They develop their own players.
They give opportunities to players who may not have had a home.
They find kids who can play and give them a chance to shine.
That’s been the Hawks’ way.
And honestly, that’s the way we wish more AAU organizations operated.
Then there is John Mayo. The CJ HAWKS are no one trick pony. They have 2 teams inside the house … Steve heath and Jim Besso do foundational development u16. While Buddy and John are advanced performance u17. It’s been a formula that has been magical.
If you know Division III basketball, you know the name. John Mayo has built an extraordinary reputation in the D3 world, particularly for players and families who value both high-level basketball and a great education. In recent years years alone Some of Mayo girls: Hannah Orloff-Christopher Newport. Aletha Reynolds- Catholic University, Brooklyn Bella- TCNJ. Emily Marinelli- Steven’s Institute. Lola Macrae-Ursinus. These are monster programs and teams. And fact is JOHN MAYO DEVELOPED THEM ALL.. They were unfinished projects when they arrived. John Mayo squeezed there potential and all were rewarded.
John Mayo’s relationships, knowledge and track record have made him an important part of the Central Jersey Hawks tradition. That’s another thing that separates this organization.
It’s not just about getting a kid through the summer.
It’s about helping kids understand where basketball can take them. Kids like Amanda Johnson, a All American Recipient of Catholic female student athlete of year award
And maybe that’s why the Central Jersey Hawks feel like such a throwback.
They represent a time when character still mattered.
When telling the truth mattered.
When developing players mattered.
When parents didn’t have to wonder whether somebody was going to make promises just to get their kid through the door.
The Hawks aren’t perfect.
No organization is but having coaches like Ali Baumlin are important. Young girls need a role model. Someone who understands what girls in sports go through. She is just another perfect piece to the CJ HAWKS ORGANIZATION
But the philosophy is simple:
Develop kids.
Compete the right way.
Tell the truth.
Give players opportunities.
Help them find their next level.
And let them enjoy the ride.
That’s what AAU basketball was supposed to be.
And that’s what the Central Jersey Hawks continue to represent.
In a world where youth basketball can sometimes feel like it’s become more about everything except basketball, the Hawks remain a reminder of what the game can be.
A kid can walk into the gym.
Meet new friends.
Compete.
Travel.
Improve.
Get exposure.
Build relationships.
And, most importantly…
SMILE.
Maybe that’s the greatest part of the Central Jersey Hawks.
They are carrying a tradition that refuses to disappear.
A tradition built on basketball, development, competition, character and truth.
THE CENTRAL JERSEY HAWKS ARE A THROWBACK.
And in today’s AAU world, sometimes being a throwback is exactly what makes you special.
THE BANNER IS STILL FLYING.
THE TRADITION IS STILL ALIVE.
THE CJ HAWKS ARE STILL HERE.
And they’re still carrying the banner for what AAU basketball was—and what it can still be. My biggest fear is when Randy WESTROL, Lou and John Mayo move on. WHAT WE WILL HAVE LEFT?… That’s something people who love our game don’t want to think about!
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WEDNESDAY- UNTIED AAU… the gunslinger s of AAU
