Shore Conference A-Central Top Players To Watch This Summer

<p>Shore Conference A Central is home to several of the top teams in the conference in the coming year and is loaded with talent. We featured Holmdel's incredibly talented returnees earlier in the spring and will have more on them as the season approaches…They're actually in a pack within their division that will create a real buzz throughout the year as RBC will be one of the favorites down the Shore, ever consistent Raritan has several key pieces back to make things interesting and a youthful Matawan has players to watch as well. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1153991" first="Gio" last="Panzini"] | 6'5” | G | Red Bank Catholic 2024</p> <p>Panzini was highly heralded as a freshman and his sophomore season was equally impressive. A big bodied guard with all the tools to be a D-1 player, Panzini gets the job done at both ends of the floor. He's got an expanding skillset—He can attack the rim, pull up from range, his defensive game continues to get better and he's got a basketball brain. He had a few statement games as a sophomore, including 22&amp;13 vs Saint John Vianney, 23&amp;9 vs St. Joes of Metuchen, 17 vs Camden Catholic and 15 vs Rutgers Prep.  Panzini plays for [program_tooltip program_id='2078590' first='Team' last='Rio'], so he will have plenty of eyes on him from D1 coaches over the next two years.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1153969" first="Zach" last="Meeks"] |  6'6” | F | Red Bank Catholic 2024</p> <p>Meeks is a multi sport athlete who also is a big prospect as a tight end on the Casey's highly respected football team. He brings that toughness to the basketball court as well. His frame is still filling out and he's going to be a physical menace in the post but is also an athlete who can run the floor. He keyed RBC's victory over CBA with 12&amp;8. His numbers don't say “wow” yet but recall that RBC relied on a senior heavy, guard focused lineup and Meeks will see a more expanded role as a junior for a Caseys team that won't be hurting for talent. Another [program_tooltip program_id='2078590' first='Team' last='Rio'] player, he'll have eyes on him in multiple sports.</p> <p><strong>Ryan Prior</strong> | 6'3” | G | Red Bank Catholic 2025</p> <p>Prior made a name for himself as a freshman playing on a loaded RBC team. He's mature beyond his years at both ends of the floor, is a sharpshooter and can use his broad frame to finish through contact. He's going to have a big role to play the next few years for the Caseys. He had 12 vs Camden Catholic and 10 vs Rutgers Prep in the state tournament. He's a major baseball prospect but expect him to light it up on the hardwood as well.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1206523" first="Jack" last="O'Leary"] | 6'1” | G | Raritan 2023</p> <p>After seeing time his first two years, O'Leary made his name as a junior. He's got a quick first step to the rim and drives through defenders. He also gets after it on defense.His best performances saw him score 29 against Steinert, 22 against Holmdel team and dropped 24 on South River in states. He also had good outings vs Roselle and Ranney(14pts each night).  O'Leary's play with Raritan and the Force has drawn eyes of college coaches throughout the Northeast.</p> <p><strong>Tyler Burnham</strong> | 6'5”| F | Red Bank Catholic 2024</p> <p>An immovable block on the low post who will compliment Meeks in the frontcourt. Burnham uses his strong frame and size to push around players as he battles under the basket.  He had two double doubles and another solid game vs Holmdel as a sophomore. He'll be able to expand his statistics as a junior with RBC graduating several key players.</p>