One of the top players in New Jersey's high school baseball Class of 2023, North Brunswick's Zack Konstantinovsky decided the lure of big-time college baseball right around the corner was too much to pass up. Under head coach Steve Owens, Rutgers has again become a force in recruiting the state's bounty of talented players and the Scarlet Knights were all over the talented RHP with the smooth, repeatable mechanics, and punishing stuff. It's a match made in heaven and a big part of our discussion on this episode of Generation Next. We also discuss the role of Zack's brother Victor, a half-dozen years older who was a great college catcher for St. John Fisher, as well as training at Baseball Warehouse - and much more. Watch this episode with one of GMC's best !

Now it's easy to see why Old Bridge junior Justin Herbstman is one of the top pitchers in New Jersey's Class of 2023. Pumping into the 90s, great classic lefty stuff, the traditional lean LHP frame, a body you can see filling out and becoming more dominating. Justin is as good as it gets in the junior class. But before all that - before all the calls and the love from the best baseball schools in America - there was the young boy waiting for his shot at a showcase. Waiting. And waiting. Past midnight and into the early hours of the morning. And showing why you ALWAYS have to be ready for your opportunity, wherever - and WHENEVER - it comes. Watch our profile of Justin Herbstman here on Generation Next - and learn more!

Enjoy our conversation with Jackson Memorial's ace lefty Zach Crotchfelt, the young man who has impressed at national level showcases and is pegged by many observers as one of the Top 100 high school draft prospects in the country. He recently signed his Letter of Intent to play baseball in the SEC at Auburn University - an environment and level of baseball as close to the pros as you can still have while you're in college! But you'd never get that impression just from talking to him though - Zach remains humble, hard-working, competitive, and ready to get better every day. Zach opens up on a variety of topics and talks of overcoming some struggles at a younger age, dealing with anxieties and insecurities and using them to fuel his drive for the game, his cool shoe restoration side hustle with the silly name, and his expectations for what should be an incredible next 12 months. We are thankful for this opportunity to meet and learn about Zach's story - and we know you will be too! Enjoy this special Generation Next.

A one-hitter in the state championship game is the stuff of dreams, but for Middletown South's Ben Schild, it also brings a question - what can he do the FINAL two seasons of high school baseball? Schild absolutely dominated in the Eagles biggest game in years but that's become expected of this 2023 graduate with the fastball now into the 90s and some lethal secondary pitches. Much more than just an overpowering arm, Schild has also shown an advanced feel for pitching and is an early verbal commitment to the University of Connecticut - reigning Big East champion. Younger brother of former Monmouth standout Zach Schild, Ben tells us how that relationship has helped him grow through the years. This is a great conversation with one of the best players in the Shore Conference and one of the fast-rising arms on the national 2023 charts. Enjoy our time with Ben Schild on this episode of GENERATION NEXT.

There's so much truth to the adage Tradition Never Graduates. Players come and go in high school baseball, but culture can carry over from graduating class to graduating class for generations. Ridge's Connor Byrne is a perfect example of what keeps a program like that among the elite for years and years. Hard working, great leader, emerging talent, Connor has his fastball into the 90s now and with strong secondary offerings, is poised to emerge as one of the best pitchers in a loaded junior class. He recently committed to Siena College in the MAAC - which means he'll become a New Jersey RIVAL soon of Rider, Monmouth, and Saint Peter's - but we'll always be a fan of the affable RHP with the unquenchable desire to get better. We enjoyed our sit down with Connor and know you will too!

Growing up down the Shore, Logan Duffy always seemed destined for a Division 1 athletic career. In soccer. But it turns out the Manchester Township senior was pretty good at his "second sport" too. Duffy has emerged in high school as one of the most feared hitters in New Jersey - although one with a unique story - and recently signed a Letter of Intent to play for Old Dominion, one of the top programs in the country, as the Norfolk, Va., school plucks another star from the Garden State. We talk with Duffy about that and much more on this fun edition of Generation Next. Learn why every Chipotle in the Norfolk area should be excited that Duffy is coming to town (NIL opportunities???) and why Duffy owes some of his success to Duke-bound Shore-rival and close friend Andrew Fischer. Enjoy this holiday edition of JBS Generation Next.

It was at the same time the easiest and hardest decision of Sebastian Pisacreta's life.

Over the summer, Pisacreta - one of the state's top 2023 players - was given the opportunity to spend his last two seasons of high school baseball training at TNXL Academy in Florida. That was already the plan for 2023 anyway, a postgrad year to get ready for the rigors of University of Pittsburgh and the Atlantic Coast Conference. But going NOW would speed up the timetable and take away his senior year at his beloved Bishop Eustace. Ultimately - Sebastian decided to follow his dream to Central Florida. We talk about that decision, his future goals, his love for South Jersey and his Bishop Eustace family - all on a powerful edition of Generation Next that showcases someone we're proud to call part of NJ College Baseball Nation!

The speed stands out. Laser timed, 6.32 seconds in the 60. An 80 grade by any scout's metric system. And Kai Hutchins is just starting his junior year, so you realize that's probably only going to get better. But this Pemberton High School baseball star knows its the rest of his game that ultimately will tell the story. The hard work, leadership, developing power and average skills. The defense, hustle, and all-around hard work. Hutchins is an emerging star in South Jersey, a leader in the school, and our guest on this edition of Generation Next. He's a 2023 verbal commit to Old Dominion - a program that has done exceptionally well recruiting some of New Jersey's top players in recent years - and emerged as one of the top 25 programs in America. Up-and-coming player, up-and-coming college baseball force, talent rich state - sounds like a perfect match. We also talk Kai's OTHER favorite sport - if not baseball, Hutchins would be crushing it on the golf course. Adds up to a great edition of Generation Next!

ENJOY THIS SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION OF GEN NEXT 2.0

PLEASE NOTE: 11:00-18:30 - Jimmy Mulvaney, Ryan Jaros (Georgia Tech commit), and Mark Gialluisi (Boston College commit) talk about their special friendship with Austin Nace, who has been friends with Mulvaney since they were 8 and battles a genetic disease called Mucopolysaccharidosis, or MPS. Austin has undergone an assortment of surgeries, nearly a thousand intravenous infusions, goes to physical, speech, and occupational therapy multiple times per week. More can be found by reading Bob Behre's excellent story at https://diamondnation.com/austin-nace-and-djack-teammates-show-power-of-friendship/

This edition of Generation Next 2.0 features one of the more unique pitchers in New Jersey's 2023 class, Saint Joseph's (Metuchen) sidewinder Jimmy Mulvaney. Jimmy picked up throwing from down under pretty naturally and toyed with enemy hitters over the summer, hitting 83 with the fastball, showing the potential for more, and making batters look silly with his frisbee like movement. Jimmy shares his story and talks about being part of a special culture at Saint Joseph's, being one of the longest tenured Diamondjacks players ever, and drawing special inspiration from his friendship with Austin. DO NOT MISS this Christmas edition of JBS Generation Next.

GENERATION NEXT 2.0 starts today! Merry Christmas to all.

A consensus top player in the New Jersey high school baseball Class of 2023, Ryan Jaros is working hard to deliver on the high expectations he has for himself. A powerful, 6-4, 215-pound corner infielder, Ryan moves like a speed guy (6.6 in the 60), hits like a power guy, and throws hard across the diamond. His game projects well at the next level and he's committed to the powerhouse Atlantic Coast Conference and a great Georgia Tech program.

But the coolest thing about Ryan to us is that he seems to have it all in perspective. That it's more important to be a good person than anything else. One of the nicest people you'll ever meet, Ryan is trying to change the paradigm and show that Nice Guys can indeed finish first. The top junior baseball player in the state is a great choice to kick off Generation Next Volume 2.0!