Manasquan’s Marina Mabrey and CBA’s Jack Laffey Named Kerwin Award Winners

Notre Dame-bound Manasquan star Marina Mabrey and Christian Brothers Academy senior Jack Laffey are this year's recipients of the prestigious James J. and Margaret M. Kerwin Memorial Awards, the Kerwin family announced on Sunday.

Six members of the Kerwin family of West Long Branch select the most outstanding girls and boys players in the Shore Conference for an award that has been given out every year since 1974.

Mabrey, a 2,000-point scorer and McDonald's All-American who led the Warriors to their second straight Shore Conference Tournament title on Friday, joins her older sister, Michaela, now a junior guard at Notre Dame, as a Kerwin Award recipient. The two Mabreys are the only two female players in Manasquan history to win the Kerwin Award.

"She has many outstanding qualities, one of which is her fierce determination which allows her to take over games at crucial times,'' family spokesperson John Kerwin said in a news release. "Whenever you need a basket, she delivers. Marina goes very strong to the basket drawing many fouls and if you play off her she'll drain the 3. What's best is that she plays both ends of the court well and is a shutdown player on the defensive side."

Laffey, who is averaging 19 points per game and is committed to Adelphi University, becomes the latest CBA standout to claim the Kerwin Award. He has helped the Colts win the Class A North title and reach the SCT final this season. Laffey's coach, Geoff Billet, is a former Kerwin Award winner himself.

"Jack is truly the team's leader on the court,'' Kerwin said. "He is a very unselfish player getting everyone involved in the offense. He handles the ball and passes very well. He always makes a few spectacular drives each game.  If you give him room he easily makes the 3."

Kerwin also noted Laffey's ability on the other end of the floor.

"You can tell who is the other team's best player by looking out on the court and seeing who Jack is guarding,'' Kerwin said.

Mabrey and Laffey will receive their awards prior to their respective teams' opening-round state playoff games this week.