Each week, Shore Sports Network senior basketball editor Matt Manley picks the top boys basketball players in each of the six Shore Conference divisions and you, the reader, have a chance to vote for the top performer as the Seaview Orthopaedic Institute Shore Sports Network Player of the Week. In addition to the six divisional players of the week, there are also two “wild card” candidates, who can come from any of the six divisions.

This week’s candidates are nominated based on their play from Monday, Jan. 8 through Sunday, Jan. 14.

Read about this week's candidates and vote at the bottom of the page. Voting will close on Thursday night at 10 p.m. Vote early, vote often and check back Friday morning to find out the Shore Sports Network Player of the Week from week three of the 2017-18 season.

 

Class A North Player of the Week

Dylan Kaufman, Marlboro

A lot of Marlboro players contributed to a 3-0 week: Alex Ratner led the team in scoring in those games (17 per game), Justin Marcus had a game with 11 points, eight rebounds and eight steals and Brian Levine put up a career-high 21 points in a win over Freehold Township. All the while, Kaufman remained the rock, averaging 15.7 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in the three wins, including a pair of double-doubles.

A North Honorable Mention: Eddie Morales, Howell; Brandon Wilson, Howell; Alex Ratner, Marlboro; Ben Bosland, Colts Neck; Robby Hill, Colts Neck; Stephen Braunstein, CBA; Nolan Madden, CBA; Jared Kimbrough, Neptune; Scott Fields, Neptune; Dan Gaines, Colts Neck; Justin Marcus, Marlboro; Brian Levine, Marlboro

 

Class A Central Player of the Week

Zach Mojica, Raritan

Mojica played the role of hero in a 50-47 Raritan road win over Red Bank on Friday of last week. With the game tied and the clock ticking away, Mojica stepped into a three-pointer as the final buzzer sounded and buried it to give the Rockets a dramatic win. Mojica scored 13 points in the win and put up 16 the next day in a tight loss to No. 7 Matawan.

A Central Honorable Mention: Chris Panduri, Shore; Kyle Koob, Shore; Elijah McAllister, Rumson-Fair Haven; Devin Cooper, Rumson-Fair Haven; Mike Dunne, Matawan; Reggie Tawiah, Matawan; Chris Mikos, St. John Vianney; Zach Moran, St. John Vianney

 

Class A South Player of the Week

Vinnie Deck, Southern

Southern has played most of the season without returning leading scorer Jake DuBois (ankle) and in his absence, Deck has emerged as a reliable perimeter scoring option. Last week, Deck led Southern to wins over Toms River East and Jackson Memorial, scoring 17 points and six steals in the win over the Raiders and putting up 24 points and five steals in the win over Jaguars.

A South Honorable Mention: Nick Silvia, Toms River East; Mike Goodall, Toms River East; Matt Bernstein, Brick Memorial; Jakari Spence, Toms River North; Travis Holland, Toms River North; Shane Williams, Brick

 

Class B North Player of the Week

Jack Miller, Ocean

Only a sophomore, Miller continues to throw up big numbers every week and he had a record-setting week this past week for the surging Spartans. Miller scored 17 points in a big win over a Red Bank Catholic team ranked No. 10 at the time and then scored 30 points with a school-record nine three-pointers in a win over Monmouth Regional. In four games last week, Miler averaged 17 points.

B North Honorable Mention: Ryan Purcell, Middletown South; Dave Gervase, Middletown South; Sky Cherry, Middletown North; Dave Campbell, Middletown North; Brad McCabe, Manasquan; Ryan Flanagan, Manasquan; Steve Geis, Wall; Marc Dennis, Long Branch; Quinn Calabrese, Wall

 

Class B Central Player of the Week

Scottie Lewis, Ranney

It’s hard to be a Player of the Week nominee two weeks in a row and Lewis cleared a high bar last week with three standout performances. After capping last week with an MVP performance in a Boardwalk Showcase win over the Patrick School, Lewis averaged 22 points in four games this week, including 23 in a win over Mater Dei Prep and 27 in a loss to Mount St. Joseph of Maryland, one of the state’s top teams with two high Division I prospects. Lewis also scored his 1,000th point in the big win over Mater Dei.

B Central Honorable Mention: Savior Akuwovo, Ranney; Ja’King Agostini, Asbury Park; Alexx Harbour, Asbury Park; Kyle Cardaci, Mater Dei; Alexander Rice, Mater Dei; Trevor Covey, Point Beach; Danny Frauenheim, Point Beach

 

Class B South Player of the Week

Kevin Dent, Lakewood

In 2-2 week for the Piners with wins over Manchester and Jackson Liberty, Dent found his scoring touch with 19 points per game in the first three games of the week. Dent put up 17 in the win over Manchester and 22 in a rout of Jackson Liberty. Dent also scored 18 of Lakewood’s 40 points in a 44-40 loss to Donovan Catholic.

B South Honorable Mention: Jordan Cohen, Lacey; Anthony Diaz, Pinelands; Ryan Savoy, Lakewood; Jyheir Jones, Lakewood; Josh Hayes, Manchester; Anthony Silvestrone, Donovan Catholic; Connor Costigan, Point Boro; Carson Francisco, Barnegat

 

Wild Cards

Eddie Morales, Howell

Howell continued its turnaround from a 0-3 start last week with two more wins, with Morales keying both victories. The senior guard scored a career-high 32 points in a win over Freehold Township and then led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points and eight rebounds in a win over Manalapan on Friday.

Elijah McAllister, Rumson-Fair Haven

Rumson has not lit up opponents from the three-point line as much as it has in recent years, but the Bulldogs have imposing length on defense with a big-time shot-blocker in the middle in McAllister. Last week, McAllister helped out on offense with 11.3 points per game over three games while also averaging six blocked shots per game during that stretch.

 

 

 

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