12/23 New Jersey Recruiting Update

<p>Even though the freezing temperatures have arrived in New Jersey, the recruiting landscape seems to be heating up even after December's National Signing Day. There's players who are getting offers and some who have committed in recent weeks and days. Here's a quick look at what's what within high school girls basketball recruiting in the Garden State.</p>   <p>Just over the past few days, we've seen two commitments and a new offer. Let's start with Wildwood Catholic forward [player_tooltip player_id='481565' first='Carly' last='Murphy'], who announced on Dec. 20 on Twitter her commitment to Swarthmore College.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/cmurph021/status/1605351820863209472?s=20&t=Bjqsryxb5nkIJ-LPDg18nA </div></figure>   <p>Murphy had her best season with the Crusaders as a junior, knocking down more than one three a game while being a consistent producer on both sides of the ball. In four games this season, she's averaging 16.0 PPG and nearly 7.0 RPG, knocking down over 3 three-pointers a game and already surpassing a single-season high in blocks with eight total.</p>   <p>From Murphy, we head to St. Rose and guard Julia Whesper, who announced on Friday that she'll be continuing her basketball career at Georgian Court University.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/jwhesper12/status/1606442581579243520?s=20&t=Bjqsryxb5nkIJ-LPDg18nA </div></figure>   <p>Whesper is in her second season with St. Rose and she's in the midst of her best one to date, taking advantage of the free throw line in a big way. Averaging close to 9.0 PPG, Whesper has been a big contributor for the Purple Roses, who have stormed out to a 4-0 start this season.</p>   <p>UMass Amherst has been busy in the Garden State, making two official offers over the last week to Ewing guard [player_tooltip player_id='325195' first='Rhian' last='Stokes'] and Colonia forward [player_tooltip player_id='325182' first='Taylor' last='Derkack'].</p>   <p>Stokes, who has multiple Division 1 offers to date, has an exciting junior season upcoming for the Blue Devils, a state championship favorite once again.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/StokesRhian/status/1605748258080296961?s=20&t=Bjqsryxb5nkIJ-LPDg18nA </div></figure>   <p>She's wasted no time getting in the swing of things this season, scoring nearly 25 points a game and recording seven assists a game. Without even trying, she's a triple-double threat and might even be a quadruple threat with nearly nine steals a game for Ewing already.</p>   <p>Derkack, if you didn't see, put up a 39-point triple-double earlier this season for Colonia and is one of the best forwards in the state without a doubt.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/taylorderkack04/status/1605336723390619648?s=20&t=Bjqsryxb5nkIJ-LPDg18nA </div></figure>   <p>Colonia has struggled out of the gates, rather unusual for a team that went 25-5 last season and returned two major pieces this season, but Derkack will look to right the ship early. With three double-doubles already, that shouldn't be much of a problem for her.</p>   <p>Morris Catholic, a no-doubt juggernaut in New Jersey, had a player commitment on Dec. 18 as senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='483099' first='Natalie' last='Stoupakis'] announced she'll be continuing her basketball career at the University of Scranton.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/nat_stoupakis/status/1604526376568164354?s=20&t=Bjqsryxb5nkIJ-LPDg18nA </div></figure>   <p>Stoupakis was one of the best three-point shooters in New Jersey last season and is already well on her way to replicating that this season, knocking down 3 three-pointers a game on average. She already hit the 100 career three-pointers plateau for the Crusaders on Dec. 18 against University.</p>

Even though the freezing temperatures have arrived in New Jersey, the recruiting landscape seems to be heating up even after December's National Signing Day. There's players who are getting offers and some who have committed in recent weeks and days. Here's a quick look at what's what within high school girls basketball recruiting in the Garden State.