Boys Basketball – 2014-15 Preview: Class A North

A year after Christian Brothers Academy steamrolled through the Shore Conference Class A North division, there is little doubt who the A North favorite is heading into the season. The Colts went 13-0 (the second Freehold Township meeting was postponed and never made up with the division title already decided) and won every division game by a margin of at least 11 points. While winning the division title is a first step for any team in the Shore Conference or elsewhere, it won’t be good enough for a CBA team that has its eyes on its first Shore Conference Tournament title since 2010 and first NJSIAA sectional title since 2009.

Even though CBA is the heavy favorite, there are still a number of interesting A North teams that could be a factor in the postseason. Freehold Township returns a strong core and appears to be the favorite among the public schools, but Marlboro, Howell, Manalapan and the Middletowns each have some level of optimism, as well as some flaws to overcome.

Christian Brothers Academy

Head Coach: Geoff Billet, eighth season
2013-14 Record: 18-6 (13-0, first in A North)
Returning Players: Jack Laffey (Sr., 6-4, Forward), Pat Andree (Jr., 6-8, Forward), Shaun Belbey (Sr., 5-10, Guard), Connor Aldridge (Sr., 6-1, Forward), Derek Loehner (Sr., 6-2, Guard)
Key Losses: Louie Pillari, Rob Kennedy, Chima Ekekeugbor, Evan Gordinier
Newcomers: Jack McGuire (Jr., 6-7, Forward), John Salcedo (Jr., 5-10, Guard), Matt Dean (Jr., 6-6 Forward), Sam Houston (Jr., 6-2, Guard), Jack Boyan (Jr., 6-0, Guard)

In a lot of years, the collection of talent at CBA last year would have been enough to win a Shore Conference Tournament championship, but Point Beach’s time had finally come and there was not much any team could have done to stop them. Now that the Colts have taken their lumps with some so-so seasons and now with an SCT championship loss and tight NJSIAA sectional quarterfinal loss to close the season, it might once again be CBA’s turn to rule the Shore Conference.

If nothing else, CBA enters the season as heavy favorites in Class A North despite losing three starters to graduation. The Colts return junior forward and All-Shore first-teamer Pat Andree and recent Adelphi commit Jack Laffey in the front court and will slide senior guard Shaun Belbey into the starting lineup after he came off the bench in each of the last two years. Connor Aldridge and Derek Loehner also played some minutes here and there for the Colts and will shift into bigger roles this year as the Colts look to revamp their backcourt. An influx of juniors, led by 6-foot-7 forward Jack McGuire, will also be an integral part of CBA’s effort to replace four key seniors from a year ago and get CBA back to the top of the Shore Conference.

Freehold Township

Head Coach: Brian Golub, 20th season
2013-14 Record: 17-10 (11-2, second in A North)
Returning Players: Jason Czajkowski (Sr., 5-10, Guard), Kyle Czajkowski (Sr., 5-10, Guard), Dan Saunders (Sr., 6-1, Forward), Nick Facendo (Jr., 5-10, Guard), Tyree Wilson (Sr., 6-2, Guard), Mike Staklinski (Sr., 6-2, Forward), C.J. Stenftennagel (Sr., Forward), Terrence Burdge (Sr., 6-5, Center), Austin Ramos (Sr., 5-10, Guard), Brandon Tajfel (Sr., 6-1, Forward)
Key Losses: Chris Talbott, Mike Alexander, Jordan McGill, Brian Dziobak
Newcomers: John Carroll (Jr., Forward), Tyler Von Nessen (Jr., Forward), Bobby Weise (So., Guard), Steve Staklinski (So., Forward), A.J. Hardy (Sr., Forward)

There was a distinct gap between CBA and Freehold Township, the top two teams in the Class A North standings last year, but not enough was made about how much better Freehold Township was than the rest of the A North field. While CBA was clearly the best team in the division, Freehold Township’s place as the best public school team was equally secure and Class A North could be looking at more of the same this season with the Colts and Patriots returning so many key pieces. The question for Freehold Township will be, “Can the Pats take down CBA and contend for the overall Class A North championship?”

The key to answering that question with a resounding “yes” will be replenishing some of the depth that made Freehold Township the workhorse, 32-minutes-of-hell team that it was at its highest level last year. As far as top players go, the Patriots are in good shape with the return of five key contributors from last year’s squad. Twins Jason and Kyle Czajkowski return to the back court as standouts on both ends of the floor, while Dan Saunders and Tyree Wilson bring some size, athleticism and versatility to the table. Both Saunders and Wilson are ideal frontcourt players in Freehold Township’s system because both can play a little bigger than their respective heights while still offering enough athleticism to guard different types of players. A key to the season could be the development of point guard Nick Facendo, who was mainly a facilitator while starting a good deal during his sophomore season. If Facendo can continue to develop and the Patriots get some frontcourt help from seniors like Terrence Burdge and Mike Staklinski, they might have the firepower to hang with CBA, which will be put to the test on opening night at the Academy when the two foes square off.

Manalapan (Updated)

Head Coach: Rick Garretson, 21st season
2013-14 Record: 5-13 (3-11, sixth in A North)
Returning Players: Kyle Mullen (Sr., 6-5, Forward), Gerard Hodge-Rocourt (Sr., 6-0, Guard), Zach Misischia (Sr., 6-3, Forward), Scott Scherer (Jr., 6-4, Forward), Brian Conforth (Sr., 6-2, Guard), Mike Venezia (Sr., 6-0, Guard)
Key Losses: Joe Pisciotti, Quentin Hodge-Grant, Matt Colella, Zach Koenig
Newcomers: Anthony Schimbeno (Jr., 6-1, Guard), Kasahn Morgan (Jr., 5-10, Guard), Justin Seeman (Jr., 6-2, Guard), Rocky Garretson (So., 5-10, Guard), NyRhique Smith (Jr., 6-3, Guard)

The Braves took an expected step back last year after reaching the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals in 2013 with first-team All-Shore guard Anthony Firkser. While the season certainly was not a complete disaster, it is not something the Manalapan players have any intention of enduring again as many of last year’s key contributors are back and hoping to carry the Braves back into the postseason. While a number of Class A North teams have more proven lineups, the Braves have enough returning experience to make a play for a spot in the top half of the division.

As much as any team in the division, Manalapan will look to take advantage of athleticism and strength, led by 6-5 senior forward and football standout Kyle Mullen. Senior Zach Misischia also brings back some scoring ability, while Gerard Hodge-Rocourt adds some speed in the backcourt. Junior Scott Scherer has been a varsity player since his freshman season and is poised to break through as a junior with a 6-4 frame and depth to his game. The big addition is junior NyRhique Smith, who began his career at Monmouth Regional as a freshman before transferring to Frederick Douglass in Maryland. Smith averaged just under 20 points per game for the Falcons and is receiving interest from a number of Division I programs. Mullen will be a load on the glass for a lot of teams and Misischia and Scherer each has a chance to be one of the breakout players in the conference, and if everything comes together, with Smith in the mix, the Braves match-up well with Freehold Township and could be a force by the end of the season.

Marlboro

Head Coach: Michael Nausedas, third season
2013-14 Record: 12-13 (7-7, fifth in A North)
Returning Players: George Elghoul (Sr., 5-10, Guard), Kenny LaRocca (Sr., 6-1, Guard), Matt Ringel (Sr., 6-5, Center), P.J. Ringel (So., 5-10, Guard), Dan Weiss (So., 6-5, Forward), Steven Johnson (Sr., 6-0, Guard)
Key Losses: Justin Markowitz, Mike Fasano, Robert Jastrzebski
Newcomers: Noah Kiczales (Jr., 6-1, Guard), Michael Jastrzebski (Jr., 6-3, Guard/Forward), Brian Reilly (Jr., 6-3, Forward/Center), Nicholas Valenti (Jr., 5-8, Guard), Emir Anda (So., 6-3, Guard/Forward), Ryan LaRocca (So., 5-10, Guard)

If any team looks primed to crack the top-two and win a public division title outside of Freehold Township and Manalapan, it is likely the Mustangs. Although Marlboro loses Justin Markowitz, its top scorer from a year ago, the Mustangs return senior point guard George Elghoul and senior center Matt Ringel, both of whom were key pieces on a Marlboro team that knocked off Shore Regional in the opening round of the Shore Conference Tournament and made it back to the NJSIAA Tournament after one rebuilding season under third-year coach Michael Nausedas. Elghoul averaged 12.4 points per game last year while Ringel averaged just under nine points and more than seven rebounds while shooting 59 percent from the field, giving the Mustangs an established inside-out combo that some of the other top A North teams are still searching for to this point.

Marlboro also brings back three more contributors from 2013-14, including sophomores P.J. Ringel and Daniel Weiss. Each saw an increase in playing time as the season progressed and Ringel hit some big shots for the Mustangs down the stretch. At 6-5, Weiss joins the elder Ringel in the frontcourt to give opponents two tall bodies to account for and provide the Mustangs depth at the center position. Senior Kenny LaRocca is also back after averaging five points per game as a junior, which gives Marlboro another shooter to space the floor. Freehold Township has a more proven lineup and CBA has the top-level talent that most teams covet, but Marlboro has a significant amount of talent back from a team that made strides a year ago.

Howell

Head Coach: Patrick Ramsay, second season
2013-14 Record: 5-19 (2-12, tied seventh in A North)
Returning Players: Aaron Trimble (Sr., 6-3, Guard), Will Kocsis (Sr., 6-4, Forward), Zack Rovner (Sr., 5-9, Guard), Greg McManus (Sr., 6-4, Forward), Matt Morton (Jr., 5-9, Guard), Tom Carraher (Sr., 5-10, Guard)
Key Losses: Donovan Griffiths, A.J. Barreto
Newcomers: Gino Palummo (Sr., 6-0, Guard; Transfer from Jackson Memorial), Alex Morton (Fr., 5-11, Guard), Steve Palumbo (Jr., 5-11, Guard), Connor McCleod (Jr., 6-0, Guard), Ryan Goodwin (Jr., 6-5, Forward), Bobby Cavallero (So., 5-11, Guard), Dan Cacciatore (So., 5-10, Guard), Tyler Hoops (So., 6-2, Forward)

Two years ago, Howell was looking toward this season as one that could be a leap forward for the program, which has not been competitive in A North since the graduation of Ryan Keegan in 2011. Those plans were derailed by the transfer of Gino Palummo to Jackson Memorial during the 2012-13 season and some general growing pains in a tough Class A North division. Now, however, Palummo is back at Howell alongside standout returnees Aaron Trimble and Will Kocsis, giving the Rebels a solid trio around which to build a team in 2015.

Palummo was a starter on Jackson Memorial’s Class A South championship and Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinalist team last year and brings some winning experience back with him. Trimble was Howell’s leading scorer each of the last two seasons and averaged 16 points per game as a junior last season. Kocsis, meanwhile, averaged a shade below 10 points per game last year while also grabbing seven rebounds per game. Seniors Greg McManus and Zack Rovner also bring back experience and production to the Howell lineup, with the 6-4 McManus averaging a team-best 8 rebounds and two blocks per game. Howell will be a deeper, more experienced team this season and that should translate to a better season overall.

Middletown North

Head Coach: Mike Iasparro, eighth season
2013-14 Record: 13-12 (8-6, fourth in A North)
Returning Players: Dylan Frawley (Sr., 6-7, Forward), Troy Thompson (Sr., 6-2, Guard)
Key Losses: Ian Wyckoff, Brian Esser, Tristan Hook, Matt Dieckmann, Jimmy Coppa, Colin Frawley (Torn ACL; Out for season)
Newcomers: Marc Cerbo (So., 5-9, Guard), John Tomassetti (So., 5-10, Guard), Jules Calhoun (So., 6-2, Forward), David Campbell (Fr., 5-10, Guard), Ryan Harmon (So., 5-10, Guard), Vincent Youncofski (Sr., 5-9, Guard), Trevor Teehan (Sr., 6-3, Forward)

Replacing senior scoring is not a new challenge for Middletown North. Over the last four years, when two or three significant players leave the lineup, the next two or three step right in and help keep the Lions competitive. Middletown North appeared to have this year’s group ready to face that challenge, but a torn ACL knocked junior guard Colin Frawley out for the season. Last year, Frawley was third on the team in scoring and tops among players back this season, while also leading the team in three-pointers made while shooting 32 percent from behind the arc. The Lions lose a shooter to stretch the floor when they needed one to help replace graduated seniors Brian Esser and Ian Wyckoff – the lone players to average double-figure scoring last season.

Seniors Dylan Frawley and Troy Thompson will look to lead the team in the wake of the loss of graduating and injured production. At 6-7 with range, Frawley can provide some match-up issues for opponents, while Thompson is a tough, athletic guard who did most of his offensive damage from behind the three-point arc. With only two returning seniors, Middletown North will turn to an influx of sophomores and freshmen to keep the team in the A North hunt. Sophomores Marc Cerbo, John Tomassetti and Ryan Harmon and freshman David Campbell give coach Mike Iasparro some options in the backcourt, which 6-2 sophomore Jules Calhoun is set for time in the frontcourt. Seniors Vincent Youncofski and Trevor Teehan will factor into the Lions’ depth as well, as Middletown North looks to rattle off another winning season in Class A North despite some trying circumstances.

Middletown South

Head Coach: Kevin Cullen, ninth season
2013-14 Record: 4-19 (2-12, tied seventh in A North)
Returning Players: Dan Roibal (Sr., 6-2, Guard/Forward), Kevin Naughton (Sr., 6-1, Guard), J.J. Larkins (Sr., 6-0, Forward), Nick Wiley (Sr., 5-7, Guard), Alex Mrusek (Jr., 6-4, Center), Kevin Higgins (So., 5-11, Guard), Matt Lobasco (Sr., 5-10, Guard/Forward), Julian Laura (Sr., 5-8, Guard)
Key Losses: Matt Gray, John Whelan, Patrick Campbell
Newcomers: Andrew Roesch (Jr., 5-11, Guard), Tom Gannon (Jr., 6-0, Guard/Forward), Luke Benigno (Jr., 6-0, Forward), Tom Marron (Jr., 5-10, Guard), Tom Coffey (Jr., 5-11, Guard), Brian Higgins (So., 5-11, Guard)

The Eagles never got off the ground in the 2013-14 season, losing senior guard John Whalen to a torn ACL on opening night. With an unexpected hole to fill, the Eagles pushed some players up the depth chart while struggling their way through the Class A North schedule. With many of those players back, Middletown South should have an easier transition into this season, even though it will have to replace second-leading scorer Matt Gray. While he would have been a big part of a healthy version of Middletown South, Dan Roibal stepped up his game with his team ailing and put together a strong junior season during which he averaged 14 points and seven rebounds per game. Of all the Eagles’ returnees, Roibal is the player who has proven he can be a No. 1 scoring option.

The Eagles are not limited to Roibal, and that has something to do with the fact that so many players were thrust into roles last season. Senior Kevin Naughton developed into a second option as a guard in the lineup, while junior center Alex Mrusek, guard Nick Wiley and sophomore Kevin Higgins all earned major minutes last year, with Higgins doing so as a freshman. Senior J.J. Larkins also brings some toughness to the frontcourt, which will hope to turn some of those close losses in Class A North into wins and get back into the public title race.

Freehold Boro (Updated)

Head Coach: Jesse Ryan, second season
2013-14 Record: 6-13 (4-8, fifth in Class B North)
Returning Players: Josh Dixon (Sr., 5-9, Guard), Ky Watts (Sr., 5-11, Guard), Chris Hannigan (Jr., 6-5, Forward), Jake Curry (Jr., 6-1, Guard), Daniel Gewirtz (Sr., 6-3, Guard)
Key Losses: Danny Parr, Glenn Bates, Donald Allen, Matt McCarthy, Elijah Barnes (Transferred to Central)
Newcomers: Chris Cassandra (So., 5-11, Guard), Ashante Worthy (Fr., 5-9, Guard), Josh Jubilee (Sr.), Jamie Alamo (Sr.), Evan Bothmann (Sr.), Justice Jubilee (So.), Dan Mastrinanni (So.), Markee Gill (So.), Brian Santos (Jr.)

By the end of last season, Freehold was a dangerous team in Class B North and appeared like a team that could take another leap this season. The Colonials, however, lost center Elijah Barnes – a standout on both ends of the floor as a freshman – to Central Regional via transfer and will not have that centerpiece around which to build as they enter the season. Although they return some other pieces that would have made a quality team around the 6-7 sophomore, the ceiling for the Colonials is considerably lower without a player like that.

With that being said, Freehold has some quality pieces back. Senior football standout Josh Dixon missed time at the beginning of the season and returned to average 7.6 points and two assists per game and will benefit from a healthy start to this season with his teammates. Senior guard Ky Watts also brings some experience to the back court, while juniors Chris Hannigan and another football standout, Jake Curry, will both look to take big steps forward after gaining valuable experience as sophomores. Curry is a 6-1 guard and second-leading scorer back from last year, while Hannigan gives the Colonials size down low at 6-5. Sophomore Chris Cassandra and freshman Ashante Worthy are both standout athletes and will inject some youthful energy into the backcourt. Dixon and Watts will look to lead the Colonials to a surprise run in their first season in A North, and if Cassandra and Worthy can contribute right away, Freehold might be able to pull it off.

Players to Watch (Updated)

Pat Andree, CBA – A long list of Division I programs have checked in on Andree, who has a chance to cement his place in CBA history over the next two years if he can lead the Colts to an SCT title and a deep state tournament run.

Jack Laffey, CBA – A versatile player on both ends, Laffey – who committed to Adelphi University in the fall – will be a key cog defensively thanks to his length and athleticism.

Jason Czajkowski, Freehold Twp. – The leading returning scorer for the Patriots at 12 per game, Czajkowski is a lightning-quick guard who is deadly in transition in that fast-paced Freehold Township system.

George Elghoul, Marlboro – Did not put up the same assist numbers that he did as a sophomore, but Elghoul is an adept slasher, shooter and passer who could lead the Shore in a number of categories.

Aaron Trimble, Howell – Has been a good player on a bad team for the last two seasons, but a more seasoned supporting cast should open things up for Trimble, who put up 16 points per game last year.

NyRhique Smith, Manalapan - Back at the Shore after spending his sophomore year in Maryland, Smith was one of the conference's top per-game scorers as a freshman at Monmouth Regional and is currently drawing heavy Division I interest as a 6-3 point guard.

Breakout Players to Watch

Jack Maguire, CBA – At 6-7, Maguire will combine with Andree and Laffey to give CBA opponents fits with their size. He can also play down low and allow Andree to step out and shoot more freely.

P.J. Ringel, Marlboro – Hit some big shots for Marlboro last year as a freshman and is a good enough athlete to hold his own at a young age.

Zach Misischia, Manalapan – Showed signs of being a top scorer last year and with Kyle Mullen down low, Misischia can be a creative scorer on the wing.

Burning Questions

Can CBA finish the job this year?

The Colts are the early favorite to capture the Shore Conference Tournament this year after falling one win short last season. They have three frontcourt players in Pat Andree (6-8), Jack Maguire (6-7) and Jack Laffey (6-4) who stand 6-4 or taller and if the guard play can just be solid, they will be awfully difficult for any team to handle. As far as the state tournament goes, defending Tournament of Champions winner St. Joseph's-Metuchen will come back to the pack somewhat this year, and CBA will be among the teams that could benefit from any regression from the Falcons. Class A North is not as strong as it usually is this season, which could hurt CBA’s power-point profile, but if the Colts can win a handful of their out-of-conference games – which begins with Don Bosco in West Orange on Saturday – that should take care of itself.

Is any A North team good enough to beat CBA?

If a team is looking to knock off CBA, the early indications are that it will take exceptional guard play that allows said team to control the tempo. CBA’s losses to graduation are primarily in the backcourt and the Colts have such a frontcourt advantage on most teams, that the only hope is to speed the game up and make the most of open looks in the half court. Freehold Township and Marlboro do have the profile that could execute the plan and each gets at least two shots to pull it off, plus Manalapan has high-octane guard NyRhique Smith to present a match-up problem. It only takes one of them beating CBA to make the division race interesting and Freehold Township gets the first shot on opening night at the Academy. With the Patriots returning a larger percentage of their rotation, the early-season match-up might give Freehold Township a better shot to get a big win out of the gate.

Which team is most likely to challenge Freehold Township for the public title?

Marlboro and Manalapan are the easy answers thanks to the return of Enghoul and Ringel for the Mustangs and the addition of Smith for the Braves, but there should be a good deal of parity among the last six teams in the conference and perhaps even seven if a couple of them can beat Freehold Township. The only public school team to do it last year was Colts Neck, and the Cougars shifted to Class B North this year. Manalapan has the athletes to do it, Howell has the upside to make an interesting case, Middletown North has the recent history and Middletown South and Freehold were both tough games last year. If the public school battle goes down to the wire, the likely combatants are likely Freehold Township, Manalapan and Marlboro, but each of the other five teams has some potential to make a play for a banner.