Bronx, N.Y. – Head coach
Stephanie Gaitley and the Fordham women's basketball program announced on Wednesday the commitments of four Class of 2025 student-athletes – Colleen McQuillen, Millie Prior, Sophia Sabino, and Lexie Tarul – to begin play during the 2021-22 season. The Rams currently have five seniors expected to graduate following the upcoming campaign.
"We are super excited about this class." Gaitley said, "Our staff and team did a terrific job on our recruiting zoom calls. We have met every need with this class. Not only is this one of the most talented classes I have been a part of, but I also love that they are all dedicated student-athletes. They are also gym rats with outstanding work ethics. We really believe this group could leave a special mark on our program."
McQuillen, a 5'10 guard from Cresskill, N.J., has earned four varsity letters at Cresskill High under head coach Mike McCourt. Prior to the current season with the Cougars, she has earned First Team All-League and First Team All-North Jersey honors each of the past three years. She is also a two-time Group I All-State and All-County First Team selection, as well. As a junior, McQuillen broke Cresskill's all-time scoring record, finishing the year with 2,068 points, and was named NorthJersey.com's Girls Basketball Player of the Year. A two-year team captain, she has helped the Cougars to three state sectional championships. At the club level, she has played with the NJ Shoreshots.
"Col does so many little things well. She can hurt you in many ways. She has deep range and solid moves on the perimeter and in the post. She sees the floor as a point guard and can play 1 through 4, which makes her a dangerous matchup."
Prior, a 6'2 forward from Dee Why, New South Wales, Australia, attended Stella Maris College for three years prior to this year where she is attending Lake Ginninderra College this year. In 2017, she won the club rebounding award before upping her game in a big way in 2018. A team captain and MVP, she helped her team league and state gold medals, garnering MVP accolades in each, while averaging a double-double in New South Wales, helping her get selected for the Centre of Excellence, where she trained with members of the various levels of the national team. With the Australian U15s and U17s, she has won Oceania gold. With New South Wales, she helped the U16s to a bronze.
"Millie was our last commitment. She is from Australia and wanted to delay her process to visit some schools, but COVID had other plans. Millie is a talented big who is training at Australia's Centre of Excellence. She is part of a group that is preparing for several national teams. She is athletic and versatile, and is a threat both inside and outside. Her skills are well-suited to our system."
Sabino, a 5'9 guard from Rumson, N.J., has earned four varsity letters at Red Bank Catholic under head coach Joe Montano. A four-year starter, as a freshman she helped the Caseys to a division championship and a Hoop Group title, being named to the All-Freshman team in the process. She broke her school's single-season assists record as a sophomore, earning
Two Rivers Times Second Team and All-Shore Sports Network Third Team accolades. At the division level, she was a First Team selection and a Second Team in the All-Shore Hoop Group. A Second Team honoree in her division and Hoop Group as a junior after averaging over six assists and three steals per contest, she was also named All-Shore honorable mention in addition to Second Team honors with the
Times and All-Shore Sports Network.
"We have been recruiting Soph for a really long time. She has been at our camps and we have known her family since back in our Monmouth days, where her mom played. Soph has incredible court awareness and will add great depth to our guard position. She is a factor on both ends of the court!"
Tarul, a 5'10 guard from Bronx, N.Y., has earned her varsity letters at St. John's Prep in Astoria under head coach Mike LoCascio. A 1,000-point scorer with the Red Storm entering her senior year, Tarul is a two-time A-Division All-League selection, once as a freshman and once as a junior, also garnering The Tablet 2020 First Team GCHSAA First Team All Star accolades. A three-time She Got Game MVP, Tarul is also a three-time New York State Sportswriter Association honoree. Honorable mention in Class A as a freshman, she was Third Team as a sophomore, and an All-State member as a junior. She also competed at USA Trials in 2019 and was St. John's' MVP that year, as well.
"Lex is a hometown girl who has been at a lot of our camps. She is a big guard who is very versatile. She really stretches the defense with her range and also has the ability to put the ball on the floor. Lex is a perfect fit to our style of play!"
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the upcoming 2020-21 schedule is not official at this time, though it will be soon. Stay tuned at FordhamSports.com and with Fordham women's basketball on social media (@FordhamWBB) for all updates!
