LONG WEST BRANCH – The numbers are staggering. Last season, some 45 former Shore Conference athletes played Division 1 women’s college basketball, confirming that Monmouth and Ocean counties are a recruiting hotbed for those who make a difference at the next level.
A season earlier, just five were part of the Monmouth University women’s basketball team that returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 40 years.
So on her first day on the job at the OceanFirst Bank Center, new head coach Cait Wetmore said what needed to be said moments after her introductory news conference ended Thursday.
“We have to recruit our backcourt,” said Wetmore, Charlotte’s former associate head coach. “Its important to me. I want to recruit my backyard first and then we’ll expand from that. There’s a lot of good basketball here. And I think communities like to hug a local hero. I think we can recruit top players here.
What no one, including former head coach Ginny Boggess, could land was one of Shore’s elite players qualified for a big-time program. Because convincing top players to stay home and compete in front of family and friends could help the program take the next step, especially with several talent-laden classes currently rising through the ranks locally.
“Basketball in New Jersey is awesome. There are so many top players here,” said Wetmore, a New Jersey native who played at Kittatinny High School in Newton. “One of my first tasks was to call and check in with all the high school and AAU coaches and reconnect. There are so many great programs, on the coast and across the state.
Athletic director Jennifer Sansevero’s profile for hiring was that of a good human being and a proven winner at the top of the list. And No. 3 was a “tireless recruiter”.
“It’s very important. We haven’t been able to recruit the big players,” said Sansevero, who has known Wetmore since she was an assistant coach at UNC Greensboro. “Ginny tried and was recruiting them heavily, and there are great players who have gone to top institutions but with Cait’s connections and proven experience in other places, I think she can do a really good job engaging the basketball community. -ball from Shore and trying to keep some of these kids here in Monmouth.
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Women’s basketball in the spotlight
Energizing the local community is especially important at a time when the spotlight is on women’s soccer following record-breaking television audiences for the NCAA Tournament.
“I want this to trickle down locally,” Wetmore said. “I think people are excited about women’s basketball. I think Shore loves women’s basketball, so I think it’s a great opportunity to marry the two and enjoy it on a micro level and get everyone excited.
It’s all part of a symbiotic plan for success that includes solutions to the name, image and likeness (NIL) issues each program faces as players seek compensation beyond scholarships.
“The NCAA just changed the rules to allow institutions to connect student-athletes with businesses in the community and get them involved, and Cait was already doing that in Charlotte and it was part of her candidacy and one of the things that really appealed to him,” Sansevero said. “They were engaged in a grassroots effort for name, image and likeness, and that is the healthiest part of NIL. It just fosters connections, gets student-athletes to buy in and the community to buy in to our student-athletes.
“For better or worse, this is where we are. If you want to stay competitive at a mid to high level, you need to be present in the NIL space,” Wetmore said. “It’s on my calendar.”
Rebuilding the list
There were at least seven current Monmouth players in attendance, including senior center Belle Kranbuhl, named to the CAA All-Defensive Team, senior guard Sandrine Clesca and senior forward Taisha Exanor, the sophomore forward Ella Farrelly, freshman forward Divine Dibula and sophomore guard Amiya Carroll. .
And it’s likely the core group Wetmore will build around via the transfer portal and high school signees.
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There are currently six Monmouth players in the transfer portal from a 22-win team that has won a game in the WNIT, including: senior guard Ariana Vanderhoop, a third-team All-CAA selection; senior guard Kaci Donovan, a third-team All-CAA member; senior guard Jania Hall, CAA Sixth Player of the Year; freshman guard Rosalie Mercille, a sharpshooter who scored 20 points twice; reserve guard Antonia Panayides; and freshman guard Diamond Wiggins.
“There were some conversations (with players on the portal), but by the time I got here, some of them were further along in their process, even though they hired a coach as quickly as they could,” Wetmore said.
Wetmore brings with her a coach from Charlotte, Aja Boyd having played at UNC Greensboro when Wetmore was coach there. She said she also had conversations with Anjale Barrett, who was on Boggess’ staff.
