PGH NJ High School Team Spotlight: Camden Catholic
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Now, more than ever, the power of transfers has really made a difference in not just college sports, but high school sports as well, though those moves are much more sporadic. As Prep Girls Hoops New Jersey continues its ’High…
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Continue ReadingNow, more than ever, the power of transfers has really made a difference in not just college sports, but high school sports as well, though those moves are much more sporadic.
As Prep Girls Hoops New Jersey continues its ’High School Team Spotlight’ series across the state, there is a team that turned its fortunes around in 2021 with the help of some big time transfers.
In the Olympic Conference, the team with the second-best record in the National division was Camden Catholic, who finished 7-2 overall, giving up the second-lowest PPG on defense in the entire conference.
Things really took a turn for the better for the Irish, and much of that was due to two transfers from Clearview: Aaryn Battle Aaryn Battle 5'8" | SF Camden Catholic | 2023 State NJ and Kassidy Thompson Kassidy Thompson 5'9" | SG Camden Catholic | 2023 State NJ .
The two junior guards accounted for 60 percent of Camden Catholic’s scoring in the spring, and they still have two more years left in high school, which shows the amount of growth ahead of them.
Focusing on Thompson for a second, she averaged 18.5 PPG, including four 20+ point games and was consistent on the rebounding side of things as well.
Aside from Battle and Thompson, this team is one that is relatively young as it lost just one senior coming into this season.
A player that should be an exciting watch is sophomore guard Marley Ruiz, who recorded modest numbers in her freshman season, but she should be competing for a starting role.
Alongside her is senior guard Lindsey Bednarek, the fourth-leading scorer on the roster and second in assists and steals. Her veteran leadership now plays a massive role in how successful this team will be this season.
The Irish’s two forwards, Sarah Johnson and Carly O’Callaghan, are two incredibly important players.
While the production comes from Battle and Thompson on offense, Johnson and O’Callaghan are tasked with manning the middle and crashing the boards early and often. Their combined production was around 20 percent of Camden Catholic’s scoring and 35 percent of their rebounding.
Those two are key cogs to this machine that has been clicking on all cylinders recently. Head coach Christine Matera has a team in front of her that can turn heads, and with a full season awaiting this program, they intend to do that and then some.