List: Shore Conference basketball alums playing men's college basketball
The clocks have changed and the weather is getting colder, which means it's time to head back into the heated gyms for the basketball season.
There's no surprise that the Shore has produced top-notch men's basketball players for years now. Here's our look at which former local high school stars will be playing for college basketball teams at all levels this season:
More: List: Shore Conference basketball alums playing Division I women's college basketball
More: College basketball preview: 10 reasons for New Jerseyans to watch in 2023-24
Scott Gyimesi, Tufts (Rumson-Fair Haven)
A 6-foot-6 sophomore that spent his freshman year averaging 5.3 points and 6.4 rebounds a game. He had two double-doubles last season, one of which was against Colby (10 points, 10 rebounds).
Spent three years at Rumson-Fair Haven where he finished with 571 points and 397 rebounds in 34 games.
Nate Williams, Gettysburg (St. John Vianney)
Played in 22 games last year as a sophomore where he totaled 166 points and shot 41% from the field. He also led the team in steals with 30 and pulled in 73 boards in just his first season.
Finished his high school career with 1,253 points, putting him at third on the all-time list. In his senior season he averaged 22.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.
Jonathon Spatola, Scranton (Marlboro)
A sophomore that started in all 29 games for his school last season. In his first year at Scranton, he averaged 5.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and two steals.
Overall, he averaged 14.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and four assists in high school. He was the team’s second-leading scorer during the program's best season in school history.
Jack Seidler, UCLA (Marlboro)
He sat down last year as a redshirt, so he will hope to play a role in the rotation.
Was a four-year varsity player at Marlboro and a two-time team captain. He was the high school's all-time leading scorer with 1,503 career points. His senior season he averaged 20 points and six rebounds.
Isaac Hester, NJIT (Ranney)
Spent his freshman year at Gill St. Bernard’s before spending the next three at Ranney. He led Ranney to a Shore Conference Championship game as a senior.
CJ Ruoff, Catholic (Red Bank Catholic)
A sophomore guard who appeared in nine games last year as a freshman. Made his college debut against Gallaudet scoring five points.
Was a three-year varsity player and led his team to a state championship in his senior year. He was also a three-year honor roll student.
Will Bradley, Drew University (Christian Brothers Academy)
Bradley will be a freshman this winter. In high school, he finished with 449 points in 39 games.
Matthew Solomon, The College of New Jersey (Manasquan)
Last year he received two NJAC Rookie of the Week honors during the season. Last season he played 27 games and started in 17, also averaging 6.3 points a game.
Justin Rivera, Mount Saint Mary (Raritan)
A 5-foot-8 point guard who played in 26 games last year as a freshman. He averaged 13 minutes and totaled 91 points last season.
Savon Myers, Brookdale Community College (Manchester)
In his four years at Manchester, he finished his career with 1,288 points, 864 rebounds, 235 assists, 319 steals, and 139 blocks in 92 games.
Patrick Brown, Misericordia (Middletown South)
In his two seasons with Middletown South, he totaled 517 points, 283 rebounds and 90 assists in 48 games. He’s a freshman this season and will hope to play a role in the rotation.
Ogheneyole Akuwovo, Fordham (Ranney)
A Binghamton transfer that’s spending his graduate season at Fordham. Last year he averaged four points, 4.1 rebounds, and 13 minutes a game. He also led Fordham in offensive rebounds last year with 1.8. He spent his freshman year at Howard where he started in 32 games.
In high school, he helped Ranney win the 2018 Shore Conference Tournament title.
Bryan Antoine, Radford (Ranney)
Last year, he was named All-Big South Honorable Mention and started in all 31 games and averaged 11.4 points a game. He also shot 47.9% from the field and 90% from the charity strike. He led the Highlanders with 52 steals as well. Antoine was previously at Villanova before heading to Radford.
Antoine’s the Shore’s all-time leading scorer with 2,514 points, helping Ranney win back-to-back SCT crowns. He was also named a McDonald’s All-American.
Josh Cohen, UMass Amherst (CBA)
A transfer from St. Francis who will hope to give the minutemen some inside presence. Last year he was the NEC Co-Player of the Year and had two 40-point nights (Lehigh and Hawaii). The 6-foot-10 center looks to make an immediate impact.
Averaged 21 points a game as a senior and finished his high school career as a 1,000-point scorer.
Sam Fagan, Monmouth (Neptune)
The junior guard missed last season due to a medical issue, but has returned to the practice floor with his teammates this season.
The son of Neptune’s head coach Joe Fagan, Sam was a four-year starter and averaged 11.2 points as a junior in high school.
Rob Higgins, Elon (Middletown North)
Played four years at St. Francis Brooklyn College before all athletic programs shut down, now he'll spend a fifth year at Elon. Last season he tied for the team lead in scoring while averaging 11.3 points a night. Higgins averaged double figures in the first two seasons of his collegiate time. He finished his time at Middletown North with 2,278 total points, the third highest total in Shore Conference history.
Alex Klatsky, Florida (Ranney)
Was a walk-on for the Gators and played in 17 games. He scored his first points against Stony Brook last season. Klatsky was part of the Ranney team that won 104 games in four seasons.
Brad McCabe, Lynn (Manasquan)
Played three seasons at Saint Francis and is now a graduate senior. He played in all 31 games last season and averaged 6 points and 4.3 rebounds. McCabe averaged 15.6 points and seven rebounds as a senior at Manasquan.
Xander Rice, Monmouth (Mater Dei Prep)
Scored 1,076 points in all four seasons with Bucknell before transferring to Monmouth for this year as a grad student. He was a two-time team captain for Bucknell and was Third Team-All Patriot League. Rice played two seasons for Bob Hurley at St. Anthony, and finished his career at the Patrick School.
Jakari Spence, Monmouth (Toms River North)
A Robert Morris transfer who is now a senior. Last season he was second on the Hawks with 48 steals and ranked ninth in the CAA in steals. He also played in all 33 games as a junior.
In high school, Spence scored 1,529 points to become Toms River North’s all-time leading scorer.
Daniel Sofield, Central Arkansas (Jackson Liberty)
A 6-foot-7 senior who started 28 games and averaged 34.8 minutes per game for the University of West Florida before transferring. Last season he averaged 15.4 points and 3.3 rebounds.
Ryan Savoy, Jersey City (Lakewood)
Played in 24 games last year as a junior and started in 13 matches. He averaged 8.7 points and led the team in shooting from the field at 50%.
James Anderson, Drew (Middletown South)
A senior for Drew. A big factor in high school playing under his father James Anderson. He averaged 18 points a game as a senior.
Kieran Flanagan, Montclair (Manasquan)
A 6-foot senior point guard who started in all 28 games last season and finished with 176 points, 161 rebounds, and 113 assists.
Ben Roy, Boston University (Manasquan)
Led Manasquan to back-to-back Shore Conference Tournament finals, winning it in 2020, as well as taking the unofficial title during the pandemic-impacted 2021 season. Played 13 games as a freshman for the Terriers last season.
Jack Collins, Monmouth (Manasquan)
A member of the 2020 Shore Conference Tournament winning team, Collins was selected to the CAA All-Rookie team last season, averaging 10.5 points, including a 32-point outburst in a CAA Tournament win, and 4.1 rebounds.
Elijah Perkins, Saint Peter’s (Ranney)
After three seasons at Ranney, Perkins spent this final season at Camden, helping the team go 31-3 and win the Group 2 championship. Perkins spent his freshman year at Austin Peay, where he played nine games, including six starts, before his season was cut short by injury. Transferred to saint Peter’s this season.
Jack Miller, Charleston (Ocean)
The 6-0 guard set a program record with 243 three-pointers during his career for the Spartans, while ranking second on their all-time scoring list with 1,522. Now a junior, Miller went to Charleston as a preferred walk-on before earning a scholarship.
Shane Ryan, Montclair State (Point Boro)
After averaging 15.2 points as a senior for the Panthers, scoring 401 points in 26 games during the 2022-23 season, Ryan is a freshman guard for Montclair State this season.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NCAA basketball: Jersey Shore Conference alumni playing men's college
