This summer has been nothing SHORE of great year. There were many great stories and today I will give you my list of the Top Ten stories of the JULY.
TOP TEN STORIES OF THE JULY RECRUITING 2015
10. FOUR TEAMS STEAL THE SHOW- The Coyle Cardinals, the Martorelli Wildcats, the Chambers Jersey Shore and the Masonsious Exdodus Wildcats all had one thing in common this summer. Tons of talent and great performances against TOP LEVEL teams. These teams separated themselves from everyone else. They did it by not only playing the best week in and week out..but on most days…came out on top. They were all well coached and teams that college coaches loved to watch play…
9. THE TRANSFERS– Two future D1 players transferred to powerhouse programs. The 2015 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Lucy Thomas transferred to TOC finalist St. Rose. She will join Elizabeth Marsicano (has an offer on the table from a A-10 school) to give St.Rose a major upgrade in the front court. Then the “magic woman” herself Christina Antonakakis transferred to RFH giving the bulldogs a scary group of talented point guards. Nicole Morris, Tori Hyduke and Antonakakis form the most exciting talented group of point guards on one team since I have been watching shore basketball.
8. 
EMILY URBIE– The SJV guard who had such a bright future, has torn her ACL for a second time, ending her summer. Urbie 2 years ago was considered one of the up and coming stars in the Shore Conference. There was no question she was a Division 1 player. When she re-opened her recruitment this summer a number of college coaches were excited. Lets hope for the best for this all time sweet kid.
7. FORMER SHORE PLAYERS TAKE D1 COACHING JOBS– Two Former shore stars Kristen Sharkey (southern reg) and Kaitlyn Schmid (howell high school) both became Division one college coaches. Kaitlyn Schmid became an Assistant Coach at BCS school Southern Miss. Kirsten Sharkey was named an Assistant Coach at U of Buffalo the very school she cemented her name in the record books. GOOD LUCK TO BOTH YOUNG LADIES!
6. FIVE SHORE PLAYERS VERBAL– Like in most years a group of shore players came off the board before the summer even ended. First Tina LeBron(SJV) gave a commitment to Caldwell, Zoe Pero(sjv) said yes to St. Peters, Stepahine Karcz(middletown south) gave Loyola, Md a verbal, followed by Syd Sabino’s (rfh) verbal to Wagner and then not be out done, Stepahine Lesko(rfh) gave Bryant University a verbal. Proving again that no place on planet earth is there a better place for high school girls basketball…and the college coaches know it!
5. NEW JERSEY SPORT REPORT(njsportsreport.com) – SEAN MARTIN AND RYAN WYDRA gave the Shore wall to wall coverage all summer. The report is slowly becoming the voice of shore basketball. They welcomed in a new site and shore fans no question are enjoying the interviews articles and clear insights…it’s becoming clear the NJ SPORTS REPORT is giving the shore just what it needs another VOICE AND PERSPECTIVE on all Shore things in all sports
4. DALONZO, L. MORRIS and ANDREWS… BLOW UP
These players saw their stock soar this summer. Haley Dalonzo of Middletown South has to be considered one of the best players in the Shore Conference and college coaches clearly know this as she has D1 offers on the table. To say Dalonzo blew up this summer is a insult to her…she was at times dominate. Lindsey Morris of RFH made the biggest jump of any player, I have ever seen make in a summer period. Morris has offers on the table and it clearly was due to this insane improvement. Lindsey Morris was MVP at the NBS camp this summer. She will have some tough decisions to make in the coming weeks…but there good tough decisions…like where to go to school for FREE! Che”kasha Andrews of Long branch averaged over 20 points a game this summer. She also could be the most talented guard in the shore and few people know her name. Andrews at times looked like a women among little girls. She could be the most under recruited player in SHORE HISTORY and those are not just words. How good is Andrews? a All Shore lock of locks this year.
3. BABY POWER– Faith Masonious(manasquan), Brielle Bisogno(TRN), Lola Mullaney(Colts Neck) and Jenna Paul(TRN) lead a freshman class that just may be the best we have seen in years. Last years freshman class some considered one of the best. But this years class on paper is deeper and has a once in a lifetime player in Faith Masonious. But there are other talented freshman in this years class that are sure to have a impact. Sam Keenan of Middletown South showed at Maroon and White she is a impact player for Middletown South. Evi Piri is clearly a player with a HUGH future ahead of her. The 6’2″ post players rise, could be one of the best stories of the year. Isa Brennan is another future D1 point guard in the shore conference. The daughter of Tom Brennan, could be a major key to this years Middletown South team. Finally Lauren Litgow and Sara Karpell in time just might be household names.
2. BRIAN SANSOM– The Montclair Asst Coach was a hawk at recruiting the Shore Conference. He helped Montclair University steal Katie Sire. The two teamed to help Montclair to a FINAL FOUR…But the big news is one the best recruiters and believers’s of shore kids became an Assistant Coach at Division one Fairleigh Dickerson University…
1. KELLY CROUCH– While many players these days pick a school based on basketball. In a time when kids select a school out of fear. Kelly Crouch of SJV watched and passed on not 1…not two…not three but 5 D1 offers. Kelly Crouch showed a mental toughness I have never seen in a kid picking a college. Many schools did not understand her waiting. But it was simple she wanted the right spot. So now she will wait, but no worries folks she has two more offers to consider….But for me she was not only the MOST INTERESTING story but also the BEST STORY!
UPDATE– POINT GUARD SCHOOL STARTS MODAY!
IT’S BEEN A GOOD RIDE!
PERFECT WAY TO WRAP IT UP!!!