Jackson Memorial High School’s Brandon McDonnell (21), seen here going up against Desmond Hubert of New Egypt High School during a game that was played on Jan. 15 at Monmouth University, returns to the Jaguars’ lineup for the 2011-12 season to lead the Jaguars in their pursuit of the Shore Conference A South Division crown. ERIC SUCAR staff Losing three starters off a record-setting basketball team could make for a daunting challenge for the season ahead, but Jackson Memorial High School boys coach Joe Fagan is reassured by how his returning players have performed as they prepare to open the 2011-12 season on Dec. 17.
The Jaguars will open the new campaign at 6:45 p.m. in the WOBM Classic at Toms River North High School against Brick Township High School.
Fagan is not the only person who believes the Jaguars will be a good team this winter. The tournament’s directors have seeded the Jaguars No. 1 based on a projection of talent, even though they finished third in the tournament last year.
“So far I think we’re looking good,” said Brandon Holup, a 6-7 forward who started on last year’s 21-8 team that reached the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional championship game, where the Jaguars lost to Rancocas Valley. “The key from here is [improving] communication and meshing with Brian Kenny.”
Kenny transferred from Colts Neck, where he was a three-year starter for the Cougars.
“He’s really good. He’s a big guard who can score, he passes really well, rebounds well and plays solid defense,” Fagan said of Kenny.
Jackson Memorial went unbeaten in Shore ConferenceASouth Division play for the first time last season.
Brandon McDonnell, a 6-8 starter for the past three seasons and a leader on last year’s team who dropped in 12 points per game and was a force on the boards, returns for his senior season. He has been recruited by Navy, New Hampshire, Stonehill, Lafayette and Davidson.
Graduated off last season’s team is Connor Saker as well as guards Eric Kelly and Brian Specht.
Returning for the Jaguars are guard Elliot Bell and Anthony Skwiat, a 6-3 senior swingman.
There is also a 6-8 sophomore, Eric Carter, whom Fagan said could be a future NCAADivision I player, and 6-3 senior forward Eric Sosa.
Brian Specht’s younger brothers, Nick, a 6-3 junior forward, and Mike, a 6-2 junior guard, are expected to see action.
With a lot of height again, Fagan said this year’s Jackson Memorial team “will run a similar offense, but look to score inside a lot more.”
On the other hand, Fagan is looking for McDonnell to step back and shoot threepoint field goals more this year.
McDonnell appeared confident about how his shooting is going and said he is “developing a good post game. I’m working a lot on that.”
Last season, 15 of the Jaguars’ victories came by five or fewer points, said Fagan, so as for the tall lineup, the coach said, “We had a lot of close games. Size can only do so much in a 32-minute game. It matters more over 40 minutes, where you can wear down teams. Execution, discipline and toughness wins high school games.”
“Last year we had success a lot off our defense and we are very similar this year,” McDonnell said. “We’ll just play our offense. We won’t have significant scoring every night, so it’s the defense.”