We know about some of the top recruits in the Garden State. These are all-state players will go on to play at major universities and continue their rise in basketball. There are plenty of names that you may not know, however. These players are all very crucial to their teams, and while they may not garner the attention that some top recruits get, they can still make a noticeable impact. Let’s take a look at some under-the-radar seniors who look to make a splash in the 2020-21 season.
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134614" first="Ella" last="Fajardo"], Gill St. Bernard’s, Sr.</strong> – Fajardo is a player who can make an impact on both the offensive and defensive end. She finished with 347 points in 26 games of action last year for 13.3 points per game. She’s a top perimeter threat, and with a lot of attention on Gill St. Bernard’s star and Northwestern commit Caileigh Walsh inside the paint, Fajardo will have opportunities for a lot of touches. She is a scrappy guard. As a junior, Fajardo totaled 37 steals and hit 39 3-pointers, including four triples apiece in wins over North Hunterdon and Hillsborough. She reached double figures in 19 games a season ago, with her season-high of 28 points coming against Hillsborough in the 2019-20 opener. She also poured in 27 points against Watchung Hills and closed out the season with seven straight double-figure games. She is committed to Fairleigh Dickinson University.
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="159450" first="Maddison" last="Vaughn"], Roselle, Sr.</strong> – Vaughn is a name to know in Union County. She does a little bit of everything on the basketball court. Last year as a junior for Roselle, she averaged 12 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game, 4.7 blocks per game and 2.3 steals per game. Remarkably, Vaughn had a pair of triple-double performances with blocks included. She posted 14 points, 19 rebounds and 12 blocks against Roselle Catholic, and 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 blocks two games later against Somerset Tech. Vaughn recorded 14 double-doubles last season. She had six steals against Timothy Christian and five against Highland Park. She also showcased her ability to get teammates involved and get to the foul line.
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134622" first="Jasmin" last="Boyd"], Trenton Catholic, Sr.</strong> – Boyd plays for state powerhouse Trenton Catholic. Defense and toughness may be her best attributes. While she can certainly score and hit from the perimeter, Boyd’s dedication to the defensive end is what coaches dream of. She had five games with double-digit rebounds a season ago, and she finished with 77 steals on the season, including a season-high seven in an 88-19 rout of Moorestown this past February. She gets her teammates involved and will look to make a leap as she enters her senior year.
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="159100" first="Maddie" last="Gore"], Newton, Sr.</strong> – Gore is another player who deserves major praise for her efforts at Newton in Sussex County. She scored 464 points in 27 games last season for 17.2 points per game. Gore also totaled 188 rebounds, 53 assists, 43 blocks, 44 steals and 72 free throws. She had six double-doubles a season ago. Her season-high in points was 33 in a win over High Point. She also posted 31 points against Hawthorne. Other season-highs were 15 rebounds against Morris Knolls, eight assists against Morris Tech and five steals against Morris Tech and four blocks apiece against Morristown and Warren Hills.
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134620" first="Janel" last="Moore"], Paramus Catholic, Sr.</strong> – Moore has developed into a leader for Paramus Catholic. She has great ball-handling skills, she can shoot from the perimeter, she is great at getting steals and trapping and she can score in transition. Moore can make a wide variety of passes, and she plays very smart. As a junior, the Paramus Catholic senior averaged 15.8 points per game. She totaled 98 steals, including 10 against Paterson Kennedy, and she knocked down 47 3-pointers and made 104 assists.
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="159449" first="Erin" last="McNulty"], Mount St. Mary, Sr.</strong> – McNulty came on to Mount St. Mary after transferring from Union Catholic. She made an impact right away after sitting out the first set of games for transfer rules. She scored 237 points in 19 games, scoring in double figures in 16 games. She can hit from the perimeter, rebound and make plays on the defensive end.
