Boys Basketball – SSN Player of the Week Vote, Week 6

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 midnight on Wednesday.

Class A North Player of the Week

Liam Kennedy, CBA

The Colts have a trio of sophomores emerging as the core of the program and last week, the future began to transition to the present. Kennedy is the point guard of the group and he helped lead CBA to both of its wins last week. He scored 18 points in a win over Howell on Jan. 24 and poured in 16 points in the Colts’ big 63-58 win over Freehold Township Friday, which marked the Patriots’ first loss after a 16-0 start. Kennedy hit four of CBA’s nine three-pointers in the win, which propelled the Colts back into the Shore Sports Network Top 10.

Class A Central Player of the Week

Nick Harris, Holmdel

While Rumson-Fair Haven appears poised to run away with the Class A Central title, Holmdel is the one team that has a chance to delay the Bulldogs’ celebration thanks to a strong showing last week. The Hornets strung together a four-game winning streak that culminated last week with wins over Raritan and St. John Vianney. Harris led the 46-43 win over Raritan with 16 points and poured in 14 more in a 66-49 win over St. John Vianney on Thursday.

Class A South Player of the Week

Denis Corbin, Central

The Golden Eagles are on an eight-game winning streak thanks to its senior-heavy rotation of unselfish, versatile players. Corbin embodies Central’s lunchpail attitude as much as any and he had the stats to back it up last week. He turned in a career performance in a 72-51 win over Southern in which Corbin put up 26 points and 20 rebounds. He also controlled the glass in a big 54-49 win over Ridge on Saturday, when the senior finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Corbin is currently the Shore’s leading rebounder with more than 11 per game.

Class B North Player of the Week

Mike Conley, Red Bank Catholic

While Red Bank Catholic began its season in nearly ideal fashion, a 30-plus-point loss to Manasquan in December was the glaring blemish to that start. The Caseys drew closer to Manasquan in a five-point loss in the WOBM Christmas Classic and last week, they got over the hump. Conley led the way with a game-high 19 points and RBC knocked off the first-place team in B North, 55-44. Conley was also part of a defensive effort that limited Warriors leading scorer Devin Jensen to 10 points, which is less than half of his season average.

Class B Central Player of the Week

Yasin Pretlow, Mater Dei Prep

Mater Dei’s offense at the peak of its powers last week, with plenty of offense from plenty of sources. Pretlow scored 11 points and handed out five assists in a 88-38 win over Keyport on Jan. 23, put up 13 points in a 98-40 win over Asbury Park, and dropped a team-high 19 points in a 77-56 win over Lakewood on Sunday. Pretlow, who transferred to Mater Dei from Roselle Catholic prior to the 2016-17 season, was named MVP of Sunday’s win over Lakewood, which was part of the Valerie Fund Classic in Toms River.

Class B South Player of the Week

L.J. Robinson, Manchester

As January comes to a close, no Shore Conference boys basketball player has reached the 1,000-point milestone this season, but Robinson is close to changing that. He entered play Tuesday 21 points shy and not only did he pull himself closer with a strong week last week, but he also helped raise the play of his team. Robinson scored 25 points in a big win at Donovan Catholic on Jan. 24 and poured in 19 on Thursday, when the Hawks took Point Boro to overtime on the road before ultimately falling, 56-49. Robinson also scored 12 points against a 14-2 South Brunswick team Saturday  in a Manchester loss.

Wild Cards

Sean O’Donnell, Toms River North

The Mariners are a threat to reach a fourth Shore Conference Tournament semifinal in five years thanks to a stellar starting five and now they have a dangerous weapon off the bench to boot. O’Donnell scored 17 points off the bench twice last week – once in an 89-37 rout of Toms River East and again on Saturday in a 71-67 overtime win over Wildwood Catholic. O’Donnell has become another three-point marksman for the Mariners, which we demonstrated with five threes in each game.

Billy Frost, St. Rose

The Purple Roses capped their week with a big road win over Donovan Catholic on Saturday, led by Frost’s game-high 17 points. The senior also scored 11 in a rout of Asbury Park, 14 in a 33-point win over Keansburg and a team-high 10 in a loss at Point Beach on Jan. 25.