WEST LONG BRANCH – Any success Monmouth has this season will hinge in great part on the play of redshirt sophomore forward Jaret Valencia and sophomore guard Abdi Bashir Jr.

But there’s more to it in college basketball during the era of NIL and the transfer portal. It’s an open market for talent, with big bucks at stake, placing incredible pressure on young talent from coast-to-coast.

The 6-9 Valencia, a preseason All-CAA second teamer after making the All-Rookie team a year ago, and the 6-7 Bashir, who flashed his sharpshooting ability as a freshman, had opportunities elsewhere last offseason but opted to stay.

Bashir drained one 3-pointer after another during Monday’s practice at OceanFirst Bank Center, after shooting 39.2 percent from deep last season.

“It’s supposed to be a big year for him. I’m hoping he’s not putting too much pressure on himself,” Monmouth head coach King Rice said. “But these guys understand if they have a good year their lives could be changed.

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“I’m a little concerned just with the state of our game. Everybody is trying to play for a contract. We all did that when we were playing trying to make it to the pros. Now it’s the state of affairs, so that’s what they should be trying to do. But I’m a 100 percent believer in how you get that, by handling what’s in front of you first. But I think our society is a little impatient.”

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Bashir averaged 6.4 points in 13 minutes off the bench last season, but a lot more will be expected of him this season as he steps into the starting backcourt, both scoring and on the defensive end. His brother, Abdul, plays at Casper (Wy.) Community College and has multiple high-major offers, including from Arizona State, Kansas State and Texas A&M.

“All everybody talks about is NIL, got to get my money,” Rice said. “He has a brother that is being recruited - that’s probably getting offered a lot of money places because he’s a junior college kid that can get talked to right now. I’m sure that’s putting some extra things on (Abdi), and that was never an issue before. Back then the NBA was a dream that was far, far away. Now it’s, ‘if I play good in these few games against Michigan State, Auburn … ‘ “

Valencia is still recovering from a sports hernia during the preseason and is unlikely to be ready for the first week of the regular season, when Monmouth opens at Michigan State next Monday, before taking on Temple in Trenton next Friday. He did not practice Monday but was moving around the court well.

“He’s on schedule. He’s doing a lot, but not really basketball stuff,” Rice said. “We’re not going to rush him. This is a big year for his life. For his college career, for his future so we’ve got to make sure Jaret is 100 percent before we feel comfortable.

“Everybody wants your best players out there, and I need him out there. But I also have to think about him as a person, and his family and his future, so we’ve got to make sure before we put Jaret into these games.”

It’s all part of the new landscape of college basketball.

3 reasons to hope

1. The return of Jack Collins

The Manasquan High School product is on a trajectory pointed toward an All-CAA season, having made the All-Rookie team in 2022. The 6-5 junior’s intensity on the court sets the standard for everyone, at both ends of the floor.

2. A bigger role for Boog Robinson

The 6-6 Camden High School product is one of the core four players this team is built around. That’s how much promise the 6-6 sophomore showed as a rookie. He’s physical, has a nice midrange shooting touch and can really rebound, all things Monmouth needs.

3. The Italy trip

There are so many examples of teams taking international trips, having an incredible bonding experience and then outperforming expectations, even winning championships, that next season. Most of the Monmouth players were in the playing trip Italy this summer, and it could pay dividends this winter.

3 reasons to mope

1. No more Xander Rice

Beyond the sheer excitement of his game-winning moments, Xander Rice scored a lot of points (20.4 ppg.) in his one season playing for his dad. And when they really needed a basket, he got one. Now it’s a matter of filling that void, especially late in games.

2. A brutal non-conference schedule

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and this non-conference schedule could make or break a young team. With just one home game before New Year’s, Monmouth faces Michigan State, Temple, Rutgers, Wichita State, Seton Hall, Princeton and Auburn in the opening weeks. It’s a sign of the times, as the Hawks schedule more guaranteed money games to help fund the program.

3. Uncertainty in the paint

Monmouth struggled on the glass against Division 3 Rhode Island College in a recent scrimmage. Expect 6-8 North Texas transfer Chris Morgan, who played just five games last season, to start at center, with 6-8 Georgia Tech transfer Jordan Meka, managing an ailing knee, and 7-0 Cleveland State transfer Dok Mourdar rotating in. Last season Nikita Konstantynovskyi averaged 9.3 points and 8.1 rebounds in 24 minutes per game.

MUST-SEE GAMES

Nov. 15 at Rutgers

You’ll get to see some of the top young talent in college hoops in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, in a great environment, a short trip up Route 18. Circle this one on the calendar. The Scarlet Knights are No. 25 in the Associated Press preseason poll.

Dec. 10 at Princeton

If you want to see another team that will likely be in or near the top 25 all season, head to Jadwin Gym, where the Tigers feature the two best players in the Ivy League in reigning Player of the Year Caden Pierce and Xaivian Lee.

Dec. 21 vs. Fairfield

Hopefully it’s worth the wait, as the Hawks take the court in OceanFirst Bank Center for the first time six weeks into the season. Andy success the Hawks have this season has to start with protecting the home court.

Jan. 11 vs. Charleston

This caps off a homestand against two of the CAA’s top teams – UNC-Wilmington is in town two days earlier - as the two-time defending champs come in with Preseason Player of the Year Ante Brzovic.

Feb. 8 vs. Towson

The Tigers are the preseason favorites after winning 20 games a year ago and falling to Charleston in the CAA Tournament final. CAA Rookie of the Year Tyler Tejada scored 30 points on Monmouth last season.

OUR PROJECTION

This is a daunting task at a time when half of everyone’s roster is new. How the pieces will fit together and what kind of chemistry develops is anyone’s guess. Monmouth has talent, but CAA teams brought in a fair share of talent during the offseason.

They have 13 non-conference games. Six of them you look at as winnable, and if they can somehow get five, maybe six, that’s a success. Monmouth was picked to finish eighth in the CAA, but has the talent to get a little higher. Sixth in the league last year was 11-7. And they could be playing well enough come March to win a few games in the tournament.

Final record: 18-16

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth NJ basketball: Season prediction, key games, NIL considerations