There are kids that make you JUMP OUT YOUR SEAT, the first time you see them. They have that swag you cannot teach. In many cases they have an ability to dominate a gym. That is exactly what happen the … Continue reading →

The summer recruiting season is right around the corner. There is no doubt the July recruiting period will bring the pressure it brings on all kids once again. While there are many kids in the 2022 class committed to D1 … Continue reading →

I don’t have the answer to why but all I know is this …there are a boat load of kids injured right now. I can’t think of the last time so many kids have been out with injuries. We are … Continue reading →

I want to give you some information regarding recruiting today. Keep in mind information is KING during the recruiting process. You are going to be given lots advice by people who DO NOT UNDERSTAND how the process works. You will … Continue reading →

I have known Georgia Heine since she was in 4th grade. I have watched her grow into a beautiful young lady and wonderful basketball player. When I tell you this has been a journey for her and her family… it’s … Continue reading →

To say Ginny Boggess and her Monmouth staff are off to a flying start is a major understatement. That’s because she has hit the floor running since taking over the head coaching duties at Monmouth University. Last week she added … Continue reading →

We are moving towards the first day of high school summer practices. It’s always the most exciting time for so many 8th graders moving on to high school. There’s no doubt it’s an adjustment for all kids. Not just the … Continue reading →

We are now in the meat of the recruiting season. It’s also a time for me to talk about the things I have noticed around the Shore area. Now let me start by saying this, I see most of the most … Continue reading →

Last night Emma Von Essen showed up at NBS and did exactly what I thought she’d do.. confirm that is one of the smartest and most talented point guards I know. But of course I knew this two summers ago … Continue reading →

There are kids with an ability to dream big but more importantly play big. There are kids who believe in themselves when few others do. There are some kids who simply refuse to lose faith. They simply cannot surrender to … Continue reading →

Todays Spotlight team is filled with more potential than any team currently in the Belles organization. THE MASONIUS/PRIOR 2023 BELLES This is a team loaded with size, shooters, ball handlers and special young talent. They have 3 current of former … Continue reading →

There is a recruiting shutdown across the country until Sunday. College coaches cannot speak, text, email or contact a player. But college coaches can read and watch and that’s what they better be doing when it comes to “Cracking”  ROSIE … Continue reading →

The Shoreshots Showdown was exactly that this weekend. Some of the best AAU teams and players in New Jersey did battle. The event was stacked with top players and coaches and did not disappoint. Big Push was on hand so … Continue reading →

I have a few Random thoughts today. These are my thoughts about everything from players, coaches, recruiting, parents and anything else that comes to mind. New Monmouth women’s basketball coach Ginny Boggess is not playing around folks. She is covering … Continue reading →

Today’s Spotlight team should be dubbed the team with a little something for everyone. THE FAGAN BELLES are a blend of talented loyal players who all hope to have a breakout summer. They are a team that is loaded with … Continue reading →

“Under the radar” The team with players nobody wanted, but is becoming the team nobody wants to play!! Todays SPOTLIGHT TEAM IS THE TRUHAN NJ BELLES. To put it simply they are NOT the most recruited group by a long shot. But are … Continue reading →

I worked out the Shoreshots u16 and U17s yesterday. It’s always fun to train teams in a closed setting. You learn so much more about kids. Like there work ethic, attitude and relationships with peers. Yesterday we had had two … Continue reading →

Here is why recruiting these days is so much harder for college coaches, especially at the D1 level. Casey Prior last weekend went 7 for 7 from the three point line. Now that, is no question a eye opener. But … Continue reading →

Sometimes the stress, the waiting and doubting is not worth chasing a dream. Sometimes when others don’t believe in your dream. It’s hard to keep dreaming. But there are still those kids and families who bet on themselves . Their … Continue reading →

There was a press conference yesterday at Monmouth University. Ginny Boggess was introduced as the 9th Women’s Basketball Coach. She will be new Athletic Director Jeff Stapleton’s first hire. The two will be tied to the hip from here on … Continue reading →

Today, you get the EARLY BIRD D1 LIST. This is a list of potential D1 players, key word potential that coaches are hoping to sign one day. This list is by no means a list of all the best players or … Continue reading →

This pass weekend I made a discovery. No it was not that the HGSL is going to be a college coaches dream. What I discovered was the best keep secret in the state of New Jersey’s freshman class…and she isn’t … Continue reading →

There is a little thing I always pay very close to when evaluating a player’s future development. It’s called the improvement curve. That curve for me is everything. It tells me, if a kid is just full of potential or if … Continue reading →

If you have been around the Hoop Group the past week, no doubt you noticed a tall lanky girl shooting and dunking a basketball. The young lady’s name is Paula Schmidt, if the name sounds  familiar to you, there is a reason.  She is … Continue reading →

Today kids too often talk about how hard they are working. How there putting in work on their own. I hear kids say just because you don’t see me doesn’t mean I am not working. All of that may be … Continue reading →

So who are the players with most college DIVISION ONE potential in Shore? Now notice I said college potential? Not who the best high school players are. You have to understand being the best high school player does not make … Continue reading →

This years Golden Dozen is one of the deepest groups in recent years. This group of players represent the players who will have the biggest impacts on their high schools next year. They also represent many of the kids who … Continue reading →

The best Mid Major job on the east coast is available. Now the question is who should Monmouth University hire? Well let me start with this, you don’t know as a outsider what a school is looking for in terms … Continue reading →

Sometimes you wonder what a kid must do to get attention from college coaches. Sometimes things are just not fair and dead wrong. But there is a solution to this problem. Don’t stop and never give up. Even when all … Continue reading →

AMonmouth University made a coaching change yesterday. They just don’t know what the change will look like yet. But one thing is clear, everyone will want a chance to get this program back on track. It’s been 8 years since … Continue reading →

Well we’re right were everyone knew we’d be this year. RBC vs SJV. These two teams were head and shoulders above the rest of the Shore and now they get to settle it all on the court. But no way … Continue reading →

The pretenders are all gone in each POD. Tonight the SCT truly takes center stage. Each Pod will be left with two teams standing, playing for a SCT CHIP. A chance to go into history. All the talking is over. … Continue reading →

Maggie Cavanaugh was a talented freshman who saw minor minutes in big games last year. She played behind veteran players. She learned a lot from those vets. She also learned a lot of things not to do. St Rose was … Continue reading →

WELL THE GAMES START TOMORROW.. The last time a team was favored so heavily was the Sy Davis and Shakeena Richardson Neptune team. Who blew out everyone on the way to a SCT title. SJV is trying for the double, … Continue reading →

Today I hope St. Rose has a great practice. I hope they all work hard and listen to their brilliant coach. They will be short handed the rest of the season. They are going to be asked to climb a … Continue reading →

THE BEST CONFERENCE IN AMERICA Tuesday the SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT  kicks off.  People will not be talking about winning meaningless summer and fall games. The seeding debates will be old news. Some will compare scores during the season as if that … Continue reading →

It’s D -Day for Shore teams today. The seeding committee will meet today. Let the politics begin and coaches teaming up. But that is not the only story heading into the Shore Conference Championship. There were surprises on surprises and … Continue reading →

Sometimes it about survival and right now that’s exactly the mode RBC is in these days. There is is old saying that if anything can go wrong it will.. I guess you call that Murphy’s law and in the case … Continue reading →

Last night Chloe Teter did it again… the unexpected. She scored her 1000th point during the shorten COVID season. It was unexpected because she hit this milestone in just over three years. But Chloe Teter has been doing the unexpected … Continue reading →

It was truth weekend in the Shore. SJV showed RBC why are on a different level and why they are the best team in the state. They beat the Casey’s in dominating style. Then Destiny Adams and Manchester showed Donovan … Continue reading →

Every kid wants there due. Every kid wants a chance to show they belong, that there good enough. Some kids jump up and down, complain and blame the world. When these things don’t arrive on their time table. They have … Continue reading →

Week three saw major changes in the ranking. St. Rose clearly is the #3 team now after beating RFH. But Manasquan in the 2nd game VS MANCHESTER looked like an improving team. Manchester has become an jump shot shooting machine … Continue reading →

T The list of great guards that have faced SJV over the years is too long to list. Yesterday two more great guards found out what so many before them already know. Getting you numbers vs SJV is like wishing … Continue reading →

#9 ST ROSE vs. #15 RUMSON FAIR HAVEN WHERE: ST. ROSE, BELMAR TIME: 5:15 PM WHERE TO WATCH: NFHS Network POSSIBLE THE STARTERS ABBY ANTOGNONI- SR- POINT GUARD ROSIE SCOMOGILI- SOPHOMORE- SHOOTING GUARD NIAYISA ERVIN- SENIOR- WING MO STAPLETON- SENIOR- … Continue reading →

There is always talk about the best Freshman entering high school. There are those babies who the media, supporters and coaches do there very best to crown. Then there are those babies who just produce. They don’t wear crowns but … Continue reading →

#11 MANASQUAN VS #12 MANCHESTER WHERE– MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL TIME– 5.00pm WHERE TO WATCH- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoW_HFbVSpn_cFPq5Fbm_OQ THE STRENGHTS MANASQUAN- They have one of the best frontcourts in the Shore conference. Georgia Heine presents a ton of problems due to her versatility. … Continue reading →

The Shore Conference is starting to kick into high gear. Things will really start heating up in the the next two weeks. So I have a few random thoughts. I am just going to hit you up with whatever comes … Continue reading →

I have been very clear about two things regarding the 2024 class. One Taylor Derkack is not from the Shore and Taylor Derkack is the best freshman in New Jersey. I knew this the first time I saw Derkack play … Continue reading →

Week two of the season saw some twist and turns. None bigger than the debut of SJV who looked every bit like…SJV. There were a number of blowouts and some great Freshman performances this week. Jackson Memorial fell out of … Continue reading →

#1 ST. JOHN VIANNEY VS. RUMSON FAIR HAVEN Where: RUMSON FAIR HAVEN Time– 5.30PM Where to Watch: NFHS (https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/rumsonfair-haven-regional-high-school-rumson-nj/gam9fbdfc4ba3) Strengths There are the defending SCT champs and return all the major parts from a year ago. They added the best … Continue reading →

Abby Antognoli, these days is the best player in the Shore Conference. If you have followed me you have heard me say this a number of times in the fall. She is not the best player in the Shore because … Continue reading →

The first week of the high school season is behind us and we had the perfect start to the season. There were so many storylines from stars to babies. We have a week of exciting games. So I thought I … Continue reading →

ST. JOHN VIANNEY– They open this week with 2 games vs Rumson. It will be a real test, knowing SJV has only started practicing this week. RBC– They had two warm up games vs Long Branch. Sophia Sabino returns this … Continue reading →

Everyone has a journey and each one is different in the basketball world. That journey can see you travel different roads. The one thing that we all know is this. These roads lead somewhere. In the case of LILY QUINTERO … Continue reading →

Do you remember when RFH looked like they were going to make a serious run at a SCT? Do you remember when everyone was saying they could be a Top 5 team in the state? All the pieces were certainly … Continue reading →

Core Skills Training will resume this Saturday. Core Skills is a launching pad for kids across the state. In fact just about every Top player has made their way to Core Skills as a 7th and 8th grader. Some come … Continue reading →

#13 ST. ROSE VS. #7 MANASQUAN OPENING NIGHT Where: St. Rose Time– 5pm Where to Watch: NFHS Strengths ST. ROSE –Abby Antognoli is one the best players in the state. She will have the ball in hands 90%. She will … Continue reading →

Yesterday Donovan Catholic broke out something old and something new. Yesterday Donovan Catholic’s season which started out with so much hope almost went up in smoke. Most Donavan Catholic fans know Jordyn Keating, she has been around for what seems … Continue reading →

High School basketball’s long wait IS OVER. Finally we will see real basketball today. The excitement throughout the state for a new season cannot be put into words. Players everywhere will have just a little more pop in their step. … Continue reading →

Trinity Hall (Girls) Freehold Boro Freehold Twp. Manalapan Marlboro Middletown South PLAYER OF THE YEAR– Jess Riepe, Marlboro FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR –Nina Emance, Trinity Hall COACH OF THE YEAR- Brad Hagensen, Marlboro… POD CHAMPION– MARLBORO Long Branch Monmouth Red … Continue reading →

Today we finally get to drop the first Top 10 of the 2020-21 season. SJV and RBC are the clear favorites to start the season Both teams are deep in talent and are stacked with division one talent up and … Continue reading →

Last year everyone expected TOMS RIVER NORTH to go into a total free fall. They had lost two all time greats in Jenna Paul and Brielle Bisogno to D1 basketball. TRN had dominated A-South. It was was supposed to be … Continue reading →

Jackson Memorial has had on of the most consistent, successful programs in Ocean County. Every year they are one of the best teams in the county. Rachel Goodale has now established herself as a top flight coach. There have been … Continue reading →

Marlboro has been fighting for respect the last three years. They have done all that can be asked of them to earn that respect. They have played one of the best non conference schedules one can expect each year. They … Continue reading →

The best rebuilding job in shore recent history will continue this year. RED BANK REGIONAL was everyone’s favorite team before John Truhan arrived. They were everyone’s homecoming game. The players were all considered GREAT KIDS. The parents were considered the … Continue reading →

ST. ROSE more than any other program surprised everyone this fall. Many including yours truly expected St. Rose to be in a major rebuilding mode. But a few things happen this fall, first Abby Antognoli looked liked a player of … Continue reading →

Last year Manchester had high expectations. They were the defending SCT CHAMPS. They had a Division One point guard in Kameri REYNOLDS and a seasoned veteran in Serenity Anderson. They had what many believed was the best young backcourt, the … Continue reading →

RED BANK CATHOLIC has been a state power for years. In many ways they are the gold standard for girls basketball. Joe Montano has won more SCT TITLES than any coach in the Shore. He is the winningest coach in … Continue reading →

When Dave Callahan replaced one of the best coaches in girls basketball history in George Sourlis. He had to know his new job was not going to be easy. Coach Callahan was part of RUMSON FAIR HAVEN BOYS TEAM that … Continue reading →

Next week high school practices across the state will begin. Everyone will start out the same way… undefeated with hopes and dreams of making something special happen. The reality is many teams simply do not have all the pieces to … Continue reading →

For years Ranney High School has been an afterthought in the Shore Conference. They’ve never had year round basketball players. They’ve rarely had players play at the next level. Division one players was not even a thought. Ranney was content … Continue reading →

In many cities and states across the country, high school basketball has been canceled. New York and Pennsylvania have no plans as of now to resume basketball anytime soon. New Jersey sits in the middle of these two states and … Continue reading →

Yesterday Core Skills Winter training kicked off and to nobody’s surprise, some of the most talented 7th and 8th graders showed up. Core Skills has served as a measuring stick for many future stars over the years. If one thing … Continue reading →

There are some schools that are special. They are the schools that have found that balance between athletics and academics. These are the schools parents dream about for their kids. These are the schools that kids want to be part … Continue reading →

Lucy Alberici has been doing things her way for years. She has never felt the need to toot her horn or brag about her accomplishments. She has never had the hype machine in her corner. She has spent most of … Continue reading →

Who are we to tell a kid what to believe? Can we really we look into a kids heart, when it seems there dreams are slipping away. Can we really know if the kid has the strength within to see … Continue reading →

There trying and there trying hard. The NJISSA has taken a lot of criticism over the years. But these days they are doing anything they can to get a season in this year. Yet they are going to need a … Continue reading →

This time of year we are usually talking about the upcoming season. This the the time of year is usually when all the pre season previews come out. This is usually when we talk about the players who put real … Continue reading →

There is nothing left to do these days other than fight though; It’s that simple. Some many things are going on these days, it’s impossible to know where to start. The NCAA women’s basketball season is starting in some conferences … Continue reading →

EMMA BRUEN- SJV- SR– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OumAOSNU8UU&feature=youtu.be EMMA CARMAN- RBC- SOPHMORE- https://twitter.com/kanz43/status/1313535473281896468?s=20 SKYLAR PARIS- MATER DEI- SENIOR– https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14470023/5f564dd1a0190306ec2cb173 SIANNA BRADLEY- SJV- SENIOR– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGQ8UO5wEK8&feature=emb_logo LEYLA CASTRO- SJV- SENIOR– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGj3fEfE07Q&feature=youtu.be JHAMENA RANGE- MATER DEI- SR LALYA LAYWS- ST. ROSE- SENIOR- https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12246958/5e77eb20688e3b0a283b5f71 ALEAH JAMES- STAURT … Continue reading →

Yesterday’s Hoop Group Exposure hit the spot yesterday. In what likely could be the last time talent of this level all showed up at one time in one gym for a long time. College coaches flocked to watch the event … Continue reading →

The road is not always easy. Sometimes you have to figure things out on your own. Sometimes your ego and pride take a beating along the way. Sometimes things just don’t go the way you plan. Sometimes you feel cheated … Continue reading →

There are some kids that come along once in a while. There are the blessed ones. The ones that have been given the god given tools you cannot teach. These kids are filled with unlimited potential. But there’s nothing more … Continue reading →