Boys Basketball – Player of the Week Vote, Week 3
Each week, Shore Sports Network nominates a group of players as the Shore Sports Network Player of the Week, sponsored by Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey, and the SSN readers will have a chance to pick the winner. Below are the players of the week from the six Shore Conference divisional, plus two wild card candidates from which to choose for this week's honor. Voting ends at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Class A North Player of the Week
Jared Kimbrough, Neptune
The Scarlet Fliers have come on strong of late, winning four straight following a 1-3 start to the season. Last week, Neptune beat Howell and Middletown North to extend the streak, with Kimbrough leading the way in both wins. The 6-6 junior put up 18 points and 13 rebounds in the 18-point win over Howell, then filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in a 54-46 win over Middletown North on Saturday.
Class A Central Player of the Week
Ian O’Connor, Rumson-Fair Haven
The Bulldogs were supposed to replace Brendan Barry’s scoring by spreading the wealth and for the most part, O’Connor has been a steady contributor for an offense that has done exactly that during the Bulldogs’ 7-0 start. For one game, however, O’Connor was a Barry-like force scoring the ball when he poured in 35 points on 13-for-15 shooting in a 19-point win over Middletown South on Tuesday of last week. O’Connor also scored 11 in a win over Red Bank and hit four key foul shots to help seal a win over Marlboro on Saturday.
Class A South Player of the Week
Jaden Rhoden, Toms River North
Juniors Hunter Petrick and Travis Holland came up big for Toms River North at different points this week, but Rhoden was right in the middle of all three Toms River North wins last week. He posted 14 points and seven rebounds in a win over Colts Neck on Tuesday and turned in a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in a win over Jackson Memorial on Thursday. The senior capped the week with 20 points and 12 rebounds in Toms River North’s 57-51 win over No. 8 CBA at the Hoop Group Boardwalk Showcase.
Class B North Player of the Week
Terence Calandrillo, Red Bank Catholic
As one of two returning starters from a year ago, Calandrillo has been a big part of RBC’s steady start to the season. He was a little better than steady last week, when the senior swingman scored 22 points in a win over rival Red Bank Regional on Tuesday, then put up 25 to help the Caseys survive a challenge from Monmouth Regional, 56-48.
Class B Central Player of the Week
Scottie Lewis, Ranney
Just like last year, Lewis had a so-so start to the season but once the holiday break hit, he has come to life. After earning all-tournament team honors at the Battle of the Villages in Florida, Lewis came back with a strong showing in a win over Keyport on Tuesday and a monster game against a solid Rutgers Prep team on Friday. Lewis scored 21 points to go with 11 rebounds and four assists against the Red Raiders, then put up a career-high 34 points along with 14 rebounds and six assists in an overtime win over the Argonauts.
Class B South Player of the Week
Adi Palmer, Lakewood
The Piners played just one game this week, but it was a convincing 15-point win over rival Manchester on Friday. Palmer led the way with 18 points and six rebounds in the victory, which kept Lakewood unbeaten in Class B South play (4-0).
Wild Cards
Chris Panduri, Shore
Shore Regional is on a three-game surge after starting 0-4 and contributed to that mini-streak with wins over Henry Hudson and St. John Vianney last week. Panduri led both efforts, scoring 20 points in the win over Henry Hudson and 19 more in a win over the Lancers, who beat Shore in a consolation game at the Buc Classic.
Marc Dennis, Long Branch
Dennis and the Green Wave played only one game this week, but it was a big win over Middletown North. Dennis led the way with 22 points for Long Branch, which has now knocked off both Middletown North and Manasquan – the two favorites in Class B North coming into the season.