Everything Antonia Panayides has ever done, has been quite without fanfare. She is the true Definition of a blue collar worker. Toni as everyone calls her, has spend her athletic life, outworking others. She is one of the most competitive … Continue reading →

To say I love the Sabino family truly would be a insult to the word love. I have known them for what seems forever. Pat and Tracey Sabino, I consider friends first and foremost. While basketball is what brought us … Continue reading →

There is a journey each kid must take in order to make there dreams come true. There is a road map for each young lady who hopes to one day play college basketball. For some the road is smooth and … Continue reading →

So it’s been a long summer for so many. It’s been stressful and most importantly a summer full of uncertainty. But things are starting to clear up. Like all difficult times people seem to always rise above the problems and … Continue reading →

The beauty of this time of year is all the new gems you discover. Some old and some new. Like that kid who has taken their game to another level. That kid who has grew a few inches or maybe … Continue reading →

Well hold on to your seat because the Shore Conference is getting ready to have a shift in power thanks to the new transfer rule. When state decided to allow players to transfer and not sit out the 30 days. … Continue reading →

Now you can stop worrying and get focused. There will not be any college Coaches out this summer. There may not be any college coaches out in the fall. The college season will be cut in half. The high school … Continue reading →

There are those special kids that you know are different from the day you meet them. They look you in the eye and make you feel they are hanging on every word you utter. They are born leaders and understand … Continue reading →

I didn’t know much about Shelby Barksdale until recently. I barely knew her name. But when she signed up for NBS in the spring it caught my eye. She had never trained with me and was going into her junior … Continue reading →

So AAU coaches are starting to have practice again. Kids can finally spend time with teammates and friends. There is no question this is a good thing. Especially for everyone’s mental health. It’s really not that hard to maintain social … Continue reading →

Finding talented D1 players, to play a role, to accept a role at the high school level is not easy. Trying to convince talented high school players to embrace competition, not hype is even harder. Kids often want to be … Continue reading →

Do you know who Gabby Recinto is? Well you should and if your a college coach you better learn it quickly. You see Gabby is one of the best 2023’s in state of New Jersey. She started at Top 10 … Continue reading →

Now I want to give parents, coaches and most of all kids some advice today. You need to listen to what I’m about to tell you. I am going to give facts. I also hopefully will ease your mind, but … Continue reading →

Sometimes you get it wrong. It’s so easy to form opinions about kids. It’s so easy to label them. But if the kid is talented you can see the big picture. You can realize how special and different they are. … Continue reading →

Yesterday Maddie McCrae woke up and told the Mt. St. Mary’s coaching staff her recruiting process was over. She gave them a verbal commitment. When Maddie McCrae makes her mind up about something good things tend to happen. In the … Continue reading →

Where do I start with Colleen McQuillen? Do I start with her insane ability to get buckets? She has scored 2000 points in less than 3 years. Who does that? She already the schools all time leading scorer. Only superstars. … Continue reading →

Today I want to send a message to every young player with a dream. I want to talk to that kid moving to high school next year, that has no hype. I want to talk to that kid who is … Continue reading →

There is something interesting taking place in the Shore that some folks just might be missing. It may seem like small potatoes but it could be a peek into the future. Two programs that have not created much interest outside … Continue reading →

To play at the highest level of basketball. There are few things you much have in your tool box. Like being talented is a good start. Having a great work ethic certainly helps. Finally having a unique skills set always … Continue reading →

I really believe at the end of the day it really comes down to how hard a kid is willing to work. What are the sacrifices a kid is willing to make. What are there limitations. Because when a kid … Continue reading →

The BERNDT FAMILY… Motivation is a word coaches throw around a lot these days. There are motivational speakers everywhere. These days motivation from coaches play a huge part in players becoming successful. If you can motivate a player, you have … Continue reading →

Times are different, things are not just the same. We are all looking for something uplifting. We all want something to smile about during these difficult times. I am very lucky because I found something that has made me smile. … Continue reading →

Jordyn Keating and Rachel Capua are AAU teammates. They play for the Truhan Belles and now will continue to be teammates in college because this weekend they announced they would be attending New York Institute of Technology on Long Island. … Continue reading →

There are many who are disappointed that the spring AAU season was taken away by the Coronavirus. Now everyone is playing the waiting game. The players are waiting for the all clear horn to go off. The coaches are waiting … Continue reading →

When Megan Gentile of Hudson Catholic spent last summer at NBS camp. I knew she was talented and a hard worker. During the week she was disappointed about not playing on the Top 20 court. I told her there were … Continue reading →

Are you worried about being a senior and maybe not playing AAU this summer? Are you a underclassmen who was hoping to get your name out there and build name recognition this summer? Are you worried because you were hoping … Continue reading →

Today I will give you the names of the players who at some point have a chance to become D1 players. Make no mistake all the players on this will NOT play Division one. But these are the players out … Continue reading →

Everyone’s journey towards chasing a dream is different. There are people who hope their dreams come true, and those who make their dreams come true. Dwaine Jones of Neptune High School and Convent College prep had one goal and only … Continue reading →

Today I am going to deliver a message to college coaches and basketball fans. Today I am going to give you knowledge, real knowledge. Today I am going to explain to you what a complete basketball player looks like. You … Continue reading →

Brittney Griffin, was replaced as the Head Coach of Saint Thomas Aquinas high school. She spent 10 years as an loyal asst coach and then getting her first head coaching after then Bishop Ahr fired Legendary coach Kevin Harper was … Continue reading →

These players either have Division One offers on the table or a college coach has brought their name up in conversations on multiple occasions, key word, multiple . The term lock means a player has D1 offers on the table and is … Continue reading →

So what’s going to happen come the July recruiting period? Nobody knows and that’s just a fact. What I do know is this, regardless of when basketball starts up again, it will be different in every way. Recruiting will never … Continue reading →

There are always players who don’t get the attention of other so called stars. They are always players who are highly productive and we rarely talk about them. These players do there work in the shadows. Jordyn Keating has been … Continue reading →

In the last three years Abby Antognoli has accomplished just about everything she has set her mind on doing. She has been the one constant at St. Rose. She has won a State Title, and made it to the TOC. … Continue reading →

Destiny Adams has been nothing short of historical since the day she put on a Manchester High School uniform. She has accomplished just about all a player can accomplish, with her tongue wagging out, every step along the way she … Continue reading →

SHORE CONFERENCE FINAL TOP 10 ST. JOHN VIANNEY 2-MANCHESTER 3-ST. ROSE 4-RBC 5-MANASQUAN 6-MARLBORO 7-RFH 8-JACKSON MEMORIAL 9-RBR 10-LONG BRANCH WAY TOO EARLY TOP 10.. 2020-21 ST. JOHN VIANNEY MANCHESTER RED BANK CATHOLIC MANASQUAN MARLBORO RFH HOLMDEL RBR NEPTUNE ST. … Continue reading →

Tomorrow The Hoop Group 2020 All Shore Teams and Player of The Year will be announced. These teams were selected after the SCT title game. This years group was dominated by underclassmen like no other year. Today I will past … Continue reading →

I hope everyone is safe and spending quality time with their family and love ones. Please I beg you to continue practicing social distancing. Nothing is more important than your family’s health. Today I want to help everyone who is … Continue reading →

Yesterday Katie Hill fulfilled a basketball goal. She gave a verbal commitment to the U of Richmond. It was not a surprise for a player who was recruited by almost every high Major. It was no surprise that almost every … Continue reading →

This is the shortest blog of all times. So your sitting home and trying to figure out what you can be doing to help your recruiting. Now there are no visits allowed by coaches or players. You can talk on … Continue reading →

There is a lot free time on my hands to think about fun topics. Today I have a great topic and we can all disagree, that makes it more fun. So who are the best coaches in the shore conference … Continue reading →

When you discuss the PLAYER OF THE YEAR, you must first talk about WINNING. I believe that the POY must be part of a winning team. The players team must have a defining win during the season. The impact of … Continue reading →

It feels so wrong and it has to hurt, there has to be a empty feeling in Holmdel. St. John Vianney has done all a team could do this year. They have jump every hurdle put in front of them. … Continue reading →

So it’s a wrap for Brynn Farrell and Makala Andrews. They won a state title a year ago and came up short this year. But both players today are in a much better position than they were before they arrived … Continue reading →

MADDIE HARTNETT, is now on to the next chapter in her life. She has finished her time at Chatham in grand fashion. Maddie has had to make it happen for herself; every step of the way. She has made every … Continue reading →

Soon the Hoop Group will release the  2019 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR AND All Freshman Team. This team was  finalized right after the SCT final. Nobody knows the names of the members except myself and a very special person at the … Continue reading →

I am allowed to say that jumper was beautiful… just like you? I’m allowed to tell you more than any kid I have ever coached your impact on me…YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND? I’m I allowed to tell you that you … Continue reading →

I have long said the key to becoming the best basketball player you can be is to challenge yourself. I always said the best teams play the best competition. Well Raritan High school is alive and in the state tournament … Continue reading →

Congratulations to Erika Porter on her verbal commitment to the University of Illinois of the Big Ten Conference. It’s certainly an honor to attend such a prestigious University. Erika Porter has come farther from start to finish than any kid … Continue reading →

The SJV culture is different than any team in the Shore Conference. Not because of there winning tradition. Not because they won their 14th SCT TITLE last night. Not because Coach Dawn Karpell is a brilliant coach. These things are … Continue reading →

There is a great speech by Al Pacino, in the movie Any Given Sunday. He talks about the inches in a game that makes the difference between winning and losing. Yesterday At Monmouth University ST. JOHN’S VIANNEY won the game … Continue reading →

There really isn’t much left to be said at this point. The two best teams in the best conference in America; will settle it tonight. I can give you all the reasons why each team will win. Why each team … Continue reading →

Manchester High School will playing for another SCT tomorrow. On Wednesday they needed every player that hit the floor to show up and that’s exactly what happened. But that really shouldn’t come as no surprise because all season everyone at … Continue reading →

There are some players you better pay close attention to in tomorrow’s SCT CHAMPIONSHIP. These are the players that make the difference in a championship game. The players who don’t always get the credit during the season. These are the … Continue reading →

Tomorrow the SCT championship game will take place at Monmouth University. Two teams that have answered the bell all season will do battle for a 2nd year in a row for the biggest crown of the season. They will lots … Continue reading →

This week PAIGE SLAVEN went into the history books. She joined the 1000 point club. It was special moment for she and her family. It was special because nobody predicted this was going to happen. You see Paige is the … Continue reading →

The SCT FINAL 4 Matchup #3 RBC vs #2 MANCHESTER Both teams come into tonight’s games surviving wars against lower ranked teams on Saturday. RBC came from 16 points down to defeat Manasquan for a 3rd time. Manchester held off … Continue reading →

The SCT FINAL 4 Matchup #4 St.Rose vs #1 SJV Both teams come into tonight’s game on a high. But blew out there opposition on Saturday. Both teams are loaded with Division One talent and have been ranked in the … Continue reading →

THE EXCITMENT IS GROWING BY THE SECOND…SO HERE IS A LITTLE SOMETHING TO WET THE APPETITE..UNTIL TOMORROW..

The SCT final four is now set. There is not much of a surprise SJV..MANCHESTER..ST. ROSE and RBC are the last 4 standing. These four teams were clearly the best teams in the Shore Conference this year. So today I … Continue reading →

Before I get last nights epic battle between Jackson Memorial and Marlboro, I need to say this… the display of sportsmanship by both teams last night was a thing of beauty. That amount of players falling on the floor being … Continue reading →

Today we are quick to blame the AAU culture for all the evils of high school sports. But rarely do we place any blame on a parent or athlete. I say its a two way street. I feel everyone these … Continue reading →

Tonight things get real in the Shore Conference. Tonight is the start of put up or shut up. Tonight rankings and seeding don’t matter. Tonight is the start of players and team defining there season. Tonight you going to be … Continue reading →

Round one of the SCT is out of the way and it showed us what to expect the rest of the way…EXCITEMENT. Now while some lower seeds won games it can hardly be called major upsets. But they can be … Continue reading →

Today the SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT kicks off. People will be talking about the past and whose record against whose is better. They will discuss last year and the year before, as if those players are still around. There are new players, new … Continue reading →

Today is seeding day. Today teams get rewarded for a job well done. Like every year, their will be debates about who got seeded where. So I am going to have a little fun. First I will tell you how … Continue reading →

SEASON ENDING TOP 10 RUMSON– guess who is back? Grace Munt

You have to tip your hat to the Holmdel kids. All season they have been knocking on the door, looking for that program win. Last night the door finally swung wide open. They knocked off #3 RBC at home. What … Continue reading →

Last night two milestones were achieved. The first one was expected and just a matter of time. The 2nd one was shocking to just about everyone who has been following Shore basketball over the years. Joe Montano becoming the winningest … Continue reading →

Three years ago RED BANK REG was known for a few things. It had a similar name as RBC and made a great opponent on senior night. It was a program with small dreams and ideas. Getting into the Shore … Continue reading →

Today I gave a little advice to the 2024 Shore Conference incoming class. But there are some kids who don’t need advice. There are still kids who don’t need to be told how great they are. There are still kids … Continue reading →

This weekend many kids will start making a decision on where to attend high school. This is a big decision for many families and make no mistake, it is a family decision. It’s a decision that will have a major … Continue reading →

Let’s get right to business at hand. Next week is the Shore seeding. So there are going to be some tough decisions to be made. The #1 seed there is zero discussion needed. But #2 and #3 that is a … Continue reading →

Tonight two game are going to take place with more meaning than you will ever know. RFH will take on St. Rose and RBR will travel to SJV. RFH is officially playing with house money tonight after taking out RBC … Continue reading →

I always say to win the SCT Title, you must have seniors. Seniors must be the heart and soul of your team. That doesn’t always mean points or for that matter things that show up in the overrated stat sheet. … Continue reading →

Well I’m back and there is  a lot to talk about. Last week was one of the most exciting weeks in years. So I am just going ramble. I will touch on as many topics that come to mind. Now … Continue reading →