Good morning, Rat Rock Nation!  Today it’s all about our great state of New Jersey and the athletes who come from here!  We’re ranking our best sports stars from the Garden State! Behold! It’s East Side Dave’s Top 5 Athletes From New Jersey! 

And it starts…right now!

• 5.) Shaquille O'Neal (Trenton)

  The big fella who became the most physically dominating NBA player since Wilt Chamberlain was born in Newark in 1972.  Shaq would go on to have a legendary career…winning four NBA titles (three with the Lakers and one with the Heat) and was one of the greatest centers in NBA history.

• 4.) Todd Frazier (Toms River/Point Pleasant)

  

  Todd Frazier and Davey Mac at the WRAT

  OK, while we admit we’re a little biased on this one because we met Toms River’s own Todd Frazier and he’s a great guy…let’s not forget that Todd really is a beast.   He wins a Little League World Series with Toms River East in 1998…he hits .377 for Rutgers in 2007…and then goes to the Majors where he wins the Home Run Derby in 2015…and then plays for the Yankees and Mets!   WOW!

• 3.) Carl Lewis (Willingboro)

  One of the greatest Olympians of all time…Carl Lewis grew up in Willingboro where he trained to become one of the best athletes we’ve ever seen.   He’s also run for New Jersey State Senate.   But it is at the Olympics where Lewis has had his greatest glory.   Carl won an astounding 22 Gold Medals (and 28 medals overall) in his legendary career.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNFi3qPDynE

• 2.) Carli Lloyd (Delran)

  From the town of Delran Township, Jersey’s Carli Lloyd has become one of the most amazing soccer players that we’ve ever seen.   Carli was put on the First-Team All-Big East for four straight years with Rutgers.   She then was an integral player on the U.S. women’s teams that won two Olympic Gold Medals (in 2008 and 2012) and a World Cup title in 2015.   What a player.

• 1.) Derek Jeter (Pequannock)

  Born in Pequannock in 1974, Derek Jeter simply went on to become one of the greatest Yankees in team history.  You know the stats already but here are a few: 1996 Rookie of the Year, 2001 World Series MVP, 14-time All-Star, 5-time Gold Glove winner, 5-time Silver Slugger winner, 5-time World Series Champion…and Captain. Ladies and gentlemen…Derek Jeter.

• East Side Dave's Top 5

  For more fun lists…check out the Top 5 section on this site!   BAM!

  

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