WHAT I KNOW RIGHT NOW
There are a lot of things I know RIGHT NOW. That’s because the picture gets clearer by the day as we stare down the start of the 2025-26 Season.
I know the Hoop Group Fall League is starting to paint the picture of what to expect this year. It’s all about the haves and have nots. RBC and SJV will not be challenged this year. The talent gap is just massive. But after those two, we could be looking at the most competitive year in the Shore in years. Anyone is capable of beating anyone after the two elephants in the room step aside.
I Know the young talent in the Shore is deep and filled with gym rats. Ari Wissen aside from Addy Nyemchek has been the best player in the fall league. The BRICK TWP sophomore has been sensational. Emily Donahue and Allison McAndrew of Colts Neck look like up and coming stars. Both have not only stepped up their games. They are performing against high level competition and have turned into GYM RATS. CALISTA VOWTERAS of Manasquan is simply one of the best kept D1 players secrets in the state. I know the biggest mystery has to be KENZIE KLATSKY- MARLBORO. It seems nobody is paying attention to the future D1 guard. She gets very little love. But I know if a college coach is doing there homework. She has to be a priority. She is a professional scorer. The Sophomore class is deep and gifted.
I know this is the first time in recent memory. The Shore is not loaded with impact freshman. It’s simply a matter of kids not being ready and a lack of development due to poor summers and in some cases parents (college coaches beware). But what is clear is that ELLA KRYAL is the clear favorite to run away with the Freshman of the year award. Brooke Solfilkanick could give her a run if she can get mins for a deep SJV team. SUMAIYAH LASHLEY- RED BANK CATHOLIC still has a chance to make an impact at RBC. But injuries has sit her back and this may serve as learning and adjusting season. Natalie Whitehead also of RBC has had some nice moments in the fall league. Maybe she can step up. Either way it’s about the upper classmen in the Shore this year. That’s as clear as day.
I know injuries are going to play a major role this season. The amount of injuries this fall has been disappointing. Name it and we have seen it. RBC has watched two possible starters in Sophie Smith in a boot and Scarlett LeVake, broken nose go down with injuries. LeVake had put in massive amount of hours. So her injury has to hurt in a big way. SJV has had injuries all fall up and down the roster. They have been in recovery mode for much of the fall. It may be why Dawn Karpell choose not play the upper classmen in a fall league. St. Rose has held Bella Alvarado out of fall games. This is a small picture. There are many more. Some of it has to do with kids drilling and drilling. Then trying to dail it up in competitive play. Some get hurt playing in silly hype games. Some are just injury prone. Either way it could affect the upcoming season.
I know Kylee Bean of Howell has established herself as maybe the best post player in the Shore not named Solfilkanick. She torched the RBC post players this fall in both games. But more importantly has been GYM RAT and it has led to her consistently.
I KNOW everyone is sleeping on Manasquan. This is a major mistake. Not only are they talented. But they play hard and as a unit. They Share the ball and appear to be excellent shooters as a group. But it’s their dynamic guard play that should scare everyone. Looney, Hollawell and VOWTERAS are a dangerous interchangeable group. All can score and defend.
I KNOW nothing prepares a kid more for the start of the season than NBS. It amazes me how me how some kids skip the PRE SEASON PREP. But I understand many kids don’t like grind or the pressure. Not everyone is built for NBS.
I KNOW TRINITY HALL is going to have a break through season. They have tighten up the off season approach as a group. Grace FEENEY is clearly on a mission. There Freshman easily have been the most effective group of babies in the fall league.
I KNOW forget RBC, who is shooting the ball well this fall and who is not. While many are bragging about making a shot in a game. Go back and chart the freshman or role players for example, not the stars or veterans starters. Outside Ella Kryal and Gianna Schoor of TRINITY and the Manasquan crew. Not many are over the 15% shooting percentage. The missed layups simply goes to working with a purpose. This is a real statement. It goes to kids not understanding the importance of shooting the ball. Not to mention people not giving them truth. The video don’t lie folks!
I KNOW MY TOP 10 has finally come into focus
- RBC
- SJV
- TRINITY HALL
- MANASQUAN
- ST. ROSE
- COLTS NECK
- HOWELL
- RFH
- RBR
- NEPTUNE
I KNOW SOME PLAYERS who stock has risen. I say when April rolls around and the Transfer Portal settles in they get real offers. I’m talking D1 offers. I say ABBY STURM, ELLA KRYAL, GIANNA SANO, ANTONIA JACKSON all pickup multiple “REAL” offers.
I KNOW two players in the last 10 days tired to collect on D1 offers only to find out the bad news. The coaches told them “they’re in a holding pattern” and “sorry we been meaning to reach out to you. I know these two kids were crushed because they did everything the right way.
I know that many kids are picking AAU TEAMS for hype and not development. It only a reminder how people no longer understand the recruiting process
I KNOW 6 WEEKS is a lot of time for everyone to fix what is wrong. I know there is time to prepare to win Chips, get ready for college, to learn what needs to be done… I KNOW THIS RIGHT NOW!
