New Jersey ShoreCats

{{Infobox basketball club

| name = New Jersey ShoreCats

| color1 = white

| color2 = #039da5

| color3 = #f9cc2a

| logo = New Jersey ShoreCats logo.png

| nickname =

| league = USBL

| conference =

| division =

| founded = 1998

| dissolved = 2000

| history = New Jersey ShoreCats
(1998–2000)

| arena = Asbury Park Convention Hall

| capacity =

| location = Asbury Park, New Jersey

| colors = teal, yellow, white
{{colorbox|#039da5}} {{colorbox|#f9cc2a}} {{colorbox|white}}

| current =

| sponsor =

| media =

| president =

| vice-presidents =

| manager =

| coach =

| captain =

| ownership = New Jersey Hoop Group

| championships =

| conf_champs =

| div_champs =

| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/19981212032733/http://www.shorecats.com:80/ shorecats.com] {{small|(archived on December 12, 1998)}}

}}

The New Jersey ShoreCats were a professional basketball team in the United States Basketball League (USBL) from 1998 to 2000. The team was based in Asbury Park, New Jersey and played home games at Asbury Park Convention Hall.{{cite news|last1=Strunsky|first1=Steve|title=In brief: Asbury Park gets pro basketball team|work=The New York Times|date=December 14, 1997|location=New York}}

The ShoreCats were owned by a group called New Jersey Hoop Group which was composed of three investors; George Michals, Tony Caruso and Jim Jennings.{{cite news|last1=Groller|first1=Keith|title=Valley may get USBL franchise|work=The Morning Call|date=August 27, 1998|location=Allentown, Pennsylvania|page=C01}} Jennings also served as team president in 1998.{{cite news|last1=Ferrell|first1=Justin|title=Hard-nosed Barry lives with snub|work=The Florida Times Union|date=May 31, 1998|location=Jacksonville, Florida|page=C}} Rick Barry was hired as the Shorecats head coach before the 1998 season.{{cite news|title=Pro basketball; USBL; Barry named coach|work=The New York Times|date=December 10, 1997|location=New York}} Dwight D. Wilbur served as Barry's assistant coach.{{cite news|title=Berkeley College Announces Dwight D. Wilbur As New Head Basketball Coach|url=http://newsroom.berkeleycollege.edu/news/berkeley-college-announces-dwight-d-wilbur-as-new-head-basketball-coach103019|accessdate=May 15, 2018|work=Berkeley College|date=September 7, 2008|location=New York}} New Jersey's first pick in the 1998 USBL draft was Elijah Allen from Farleigh Dickenson University.{{cite news|last1=Ferrell|first1=Justin|title=Barracudas draft Williams, Ross|work=The Florida Times Union|date=April 9, 1998|location=Jacksonville, Florida|page=C}} By May 31, 1998 the team was averaging a paid attendance of 1,900 per game and had $500,000 in corporate sponsorships according to team president and part-owner Jim Jennings. Yinka Dare, the 7'1" center who previously played for the NBA New Jersey Nets, played for the ShoreCats in 1998 and averaged 14.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game. He was released by the team in June 1998 due to "personal matters" according to New Jersey coach Rick Barry.{{cite news|title=Plus: Men's basketball USBL; Dare is released|work=The New York Times|date=June 5, 1998|location=New York}} By the end of the season, the ShoreCats were averaging more than 2,000 attendees per game — a USBL best. Greg Grant was hired as head coach for the 2000 season. He replaced Rick Barry who served as the team's head coach for two seasons (1998–99).{{cite news|last1=O'Rourke|first1=Larry|title=New Jersey Shorecats at Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs|work=The Morning Call|date=May 5, 2000|location=Allentown, Pennsylvania|page=C04}} Grant suspended New Jersey's assistant coach Marshall Grier on May 8, 2000. Grant later resigned due to disagreements with Grier, who was given the interim head coaching reigns.{{cite news|last1=O'Rourke|first1=Larry|title=Atlantic City Seagulls Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs|work=The Morning Call|date=May 20, 2000|location=Allentown, Pennsylvania|page=A79}}