More At The Shore 2023–Spring AAU Circuit Players to Watch
Yesterday we looked at the 2023 Guards to Watch at the Shore Conference. Today, we showcase another set of players from the Jersey Shore for the Class of 2023 that should get attention on the AAU Circuit this spring and…
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Continue ReadingYesterday we looked at the 2023 Guards to Watch at the Shore Conference. Today, we showcase another set of players from the Jersey Shore for the Class of 2023 that should get attention on the AAU Circuit this spring and summer.
Jayden Holmes-Cotter Jayden Holmes-Cotter 6'6" | PF Freehold Township | 2023 State NJ | 6’6”| F | Freehold Township
Brian Golub has seen more than his fair share of top level talent come through Freehold Township over his magnificent tenure at the helm of the Patriots and the 6’6”-210lb Holmes-Cotter is certainly among the best frontcourt players he has ever had. He can run the floor, handle the ball, attack the basket, has a decent range on his jump shot, can do his job on the FT line, is a tenacious defender, rebounder and shot blocker. In other words—He’s got most of the gifts that any college coach would salivate over. Holmes-Cotter averaged 21PPG and 12RPG as the backbone for Township. If he turns it loose on the AAU Circuit with the Jersey Force , NY Metro D2 schools will be lurking and his raw potential could push higher. He’s got potential to be the top forward at the Shore in 2022-2023.
Chris Venturoso Chris Venturoso 6'3" | SG Lacey | 2023 State NJ | 6’3”| G-F| Lacey
Venturoso could have gone on the initial guard list—He probably should have. That said, we found a spot to make sure one of the top players in Ocean County gets his spring due. He crossed the 1,000 point mark as a junior and if not for the pandemic shortened season last year, his 1,015 points would probably be more along the lines of 1,501 points. He single handedly kept Lacey competitive in many games. His top performances as a junior were against Lakewood(33Pts) and Donovan Catholic–aka Monsignor Donovan or Saint Joe’s depending on how far over 30 years old you are—(26 pts). He projects as a guard should he play college basketball.
Josh Michigan Josh Michigan 6'4" | SG Compass Prep | 2024 State NJ | 6’4” | G| Brick Memorial
Michigan teamed with Luke Braaten Luke Braaten 6'7" | PF Brick Memorial | 2022 State NJ (University of Scranton) to take Brick Memorial to a 20 win season this past winter and he will return to be the leader for the Mustangs in 2022-2023. He has excellent range and can hit shots from beyond the college line, can use his size to his advantage while driving to the basket, handles the ball well and has good vision when passing. His top performances of the winter were against Toms River South(32), Middletown North(28) and Toms River East(26). His most impressive outing was 23 against a good Jackson Memorial team that also won 20 games. Michigan will play AAU for the Jersey Force this spring as a member of their 17U team that also features the previously listed Holmes-Cotter.
Collin Teter Collin Teter 6'3" | SG Red Bank Reg | 2023 State NJ | 6’3”| G-F | Red Bank Regional
The second RBR player featured in as many days, Teter plays an inside-out game that sees him float in the paint but also extend himself beyond the arc. Like Venturoso, if he plays in college, he’ll likely play as a guard, but he does a little bit of the back to the basket work for RBR as well. He hit threes in his final 13 games of the season. His keynote performances were vs Saint John Vianney and Donovan Catholic(18 each night). Teter plays AAU for the East Coast Cyclones and carries a high GPA. A wide range of D3s should be lining up to gauge his interest in playing college basketball.
Max Judson | 6’4”| F| Keyport
Playing on a team loaded with 2022 talent, Judson was often playing the third wheel, if not fourth priority, in Keyport’s electrifying offense this past year. The athletic Judson proved to be a problem in the paint for both divisional and non-divisional opponents. While his scoring totals don’t jump off the charts ( DJ Thomson DJ Thomson 6'3" | PG Keyport | 2022 State NJ did the heavy lifting and earned All-Shore honors), Judson did prove to be the difference maker in both Keyport wins over Class B-Central rival Mater Dei, who may have been the best 8-16 team in the state with the schedule they took on (12pts at MD, 22 at home). His top performance came in their 74-73 state playoff loss to Burlington City, when he had 12 and 11. Judson should expect a massively expanded role from Phil Recco in 2022-2023 as several key players, including Thomson and athletic forward George Mitchell George Mitchell 6'6" | PF Keyport | 2022 State NJ , graduate. Judson will also have some options for his future, as he plays football, basketball and volleyball. As far as hoops is concerned, if he is the centerpiece of the Red Raiders as a senior, D-3 schools should show interest in him.
Alex Jenkoski | 6’3”| G | Brick Township
Brick Township struggled in the 2021-2022 season, but Jenkoski was the stabilizing force for them in many of the contests. He has a shooter’s touch but can also run the floor well, knows how to run fast breaks to the foul line to create the most options and can finish drives with both hands. A crafty offensive player, he also was a leader on defense for the Dragons. His best contests of the year were against Barnegat & Point Beach(24 each night) and Lacey(23). He’s featured for the ShoreShots. If he plays well this AAU Season, then follows it with a strong senior year, he should have options from a host of D-3 programs.