Boys Basketball – Shore Sports Network Week 1 Players of the Week

The Basketball Player of the Week has been a staple of Shore Sports Network's coverage over the years and we have always left it up to the fans to decide the winner -- and still do. Now, SSN is recognizing its own choices for Player of the Week, not just in the Shore Conference, but in Monmouth and Ocean Counties individually.

You can still pick the Player of the Week in the Thrive Fan Vote and in the meantime, check out SSN's picks for Week 1 (Dec. 14 through Dec. 23). The Week 2 picks will be posted by the end of the week and we will pick up with the regular schedule at the beginning of Week 3 next week.

Week 1 Shore Sports Network Player of the Week Honors

Shore Conference Player of the Week Presented by Surf Taco

Matt Hodge, St. Rose

The early Player of the Year front-runner and Villanova commit is off to a torrid start to his senior year. With 102 points in his team’s first five games, Hodge is averaged just over 20 points, but 68 of those points came in two games against two talented N.J. programs. Hodge opened the season with 30 points in a three-point loss to the unbeaten Patrick School and right before the holiday break, he went off for 38 points on 15-for-17 shooting in a win at Rutgers Prep.

Monmouth County Player of the Week Presented by Savvy Fit Soaps

Griffin Linstra, Manasquan

The Warriors have now lost nearly their entire 2022-23 rotation to graduation, transfer or injury, but Linstra has not just been the constant: he has raised his game. The 6-foot-4 junior posted 18.5 points, 10 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game during Manasquan’s 4-0 start that included wins over No. 4 Red Bank, No. 12 Holmdel and state-ranked College Achieve of Asbury Park.

Ocean County Player of the Week Presented by AOSMI (formerly Ocean County Sports Medicine)

Jaycen Santucci, Central

Santucci started the season cold from the field, but filled the stat sheet while he warmed up. In the second half of a classic quadruple-overtime win at Southern on Dec. 19, Santucci caught fire and logged the first of back-to-back 30-plus-point outings. The junior standout scored 31 in the 74-72 win at Southern – including a game-tying three to send the game into overtime – then put up 33 in a win over Barnegat.