Albert J. Carino
Our Vision
The Basketball Club of South Jersey, a long-time dream of founder Al Carino, was organized in the fall of 1962 with the help of Courier-Post sportswriters Charlie Schuck and Walt Burrows.
Thanks to the dedication of several standout coaches, players and officials, the Club has flourished for over 60 years. Coaches such as Bill Hiltner (Sterling), Bill Lange (Overbrook, Bishop Eustace and Lenape), Harold Little (Lindenwold), Bob Byatt (Washington Township), Dave Troiano (Wildwood) and Russ Winsett (Glassboro) have played huge roles with the Carino Club. Others such as John Valore (Cherry Hill East, Cumberland & Holy Cross), Paul Rodio (St. Augustine), Joe Kessler (Shawnee), Jim Crawford (Camden Catholic) have been extremely supportive of the Club’s activities and basketball officials have stayed active is a sport they love. Thanks to the likes of the Bill Thomas, Jack Mongulla, Robert DeLambily, Jason Lewer, Tony Caracci, Robert DePersia, Brian Turner and Ernie Troiano, this organization stands among the elite.
During the first year, men such as Al Mattern, Sam Strauss, Bob Kenney, Dick Carpenter, Ben Mark, John Kling and the Rev. William Hart added their support. An All-South Jersey team and the Coach of the Year were honored at the first post season banquet and the Suburban Newspapers presented the Suburban Cup. State Champion coaches were feted.
In 1964 the Courier-Post started the Top Ten Award and in 1966 the Club selected the first South Jersey Collegiate Player of the Year and held its first South Jersey Invitational Tournament. In addition, the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO), Camden District Board 34 presented the initial Sportsmanship Award in memory of Kenneth E. Smullen.
In 1970, the Al DiBart Memorial Foundation began the top scoring award and named it the “Bob Elder” Award. That year the Club held its Unsung Heroes night for seniors who contributed to the team.
1971 saw the best foul shooting award. It now honors Tom Bowe and is presented by IAABO Board 34. In 1973 the Club honored its first woman coach for winning a state championship.
In the fall of 1974, the Club began honoring girls at the regular meetings and the 1975 banquet cited the girls’ scoring champion in addition to the girls’ Coach-of-the-Year. The Courier-Post added the girls Top Ten Award.
Charles Nash began honoring the South Jersey girls’ scoring champion and named it the Sara J. Taylor Memorial Award in 1975.
In 1976, the first Female College Player of the Year was honored by the Club with the aid of the women officials of West Chapter 5 honoring Ginny Whitaker, the former long-time Athletic Director at Cherry Hill East.
In 1977, the first Small College Player-of-the-Year was honored. A player from a Division 2 or 3 college is recognized. 1978 saw the first All-Star games featuring senior boys and girls from South Jersey.
The Major College Player-of-the-Year Award was named in memory of Samuel Strauss in 1980.
In August, 1982, President Albert J. Carino died as the result of an automobile accident and William G. (Bill) Thomas was elected President of the organization.
Hall-of-Famer Tony Caracci began to sponsor an annual award to the Outstanding Guard in South Jersey in 2000. The “Most Courageous Award was renamed in memory of the late popular coach from Haddon Heights and Triton Albert “Butch” McLean, who passed away in 2012.
Jack Mongulla was named President in 2019 after William G. (Bill) Thomas was named President Emeritus of the Club.