Moorestown Friends Jack Stern Enjoying a Big Senior Season

His Moorestown Friends basketball team has gotten off to a 3-6 start against a typically tough schedule, but 6-foot-8 senior Jack Stern has quietly enjoyed an outstanding first part of the season.

Moorestown Friends competes in the Friends League, the only New Jersey team against many Southeastern PA powers such as Westtown, which has become a national powerhouse.

Stern is a versatile player who often brings the ball up the court. He is a rugged rebounder and an intimidator inside who can block shots.

After a recent 54-51 loss to Haddon Heights, winning coach Mike Ricci had plenty of admiration for Stern, who scored 22 points and grabbed 10 against the Garnets.

“He is really good,” Ricci said. “He played well against us last year.”

In this year’s game, Haddon Heights provided extra defensive attention on Stern, but he was able to overcome it.

Stern showed great skill handling the ball and at times getting the Foxes into their offense, but his real strength was in the post.

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“He is tough and you can’t box him out,” Ricci said. “He is a big strong guy.”

That game against Haddon Heights was the beginning of a four-game tear for Stern, who had 35 points and 18 rebounds in a loss to Abington Friends, 20 points in a defeat against Academy of New Church and 31 points and 14 rebounds in a victory over Gloucester Township Tech.

Stern has been a four-year starter and is over the 1,000 point career mark. Moorestown Friends coach Colin Haynes says that Stern hasn’t made a college commitment, although Ithaca was one of the schools he was said to be considering.

“For us to be competitive, we need Jack, especially on the inside,” Haynes said.

Few teams rely more on one player than Moorestown Friends does with Stern. The Foxes are a relatively young team although they got a boost when senior soccer standout Ollie Frank decided to play basketball this year after not playing last year.

“He came out for the team and has been a pleasure,” Haynes said. “He brings a certain level of intensity and competitiveness.”

Sophomore Christian Parsi and junior Corey Dennis have been key backcourt performers. Not only does Moorestown Friends compete in a loaded Friends League, but the Foxes are in South Jersey Non-Public B, another unforgiving section, with Wildwood Catholic and Ranney among the state Top 20 teams in that section.

So with such a formidable schedule and a young team, it’s easy for a player such as Stern to get lost in the publicity shuffle, but he is enjoying an outstanding senior season while facing the best of competition.

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Author: Marc Narducci; Photo by Marc Narducci