City of Basketball Love

Matt Allibone (@bad2theallibone)

The 2025 edition of the Jersey Girls’ High School Live event took place this past weekend at Rutgers Prep High School and Montgomery High School and featured some of the top teams and recruits in the tri-state area. 

CoBL caught up with some of the best teams and players at Saturday’s Montgomery High School session for an offseason notebook. 

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Morris Catholic 

Morgan Fulston and Jax Edelman know what elite talent looks like. 

The Morris Catholic rising juniors spent the past two seasons playing alongside twin sisters Mia and Mya Pauldo, who will both suit up for the University of Tennessee next season. The Pauldo sisters led Morris Catholic to the past three New Jersey Non-Public B state titles. 

But Fulston and Edelman are part of a group of Crusaders determined to keep the program strong next season. And if Saturday is any indication, Morris Catholic will continue to be a dominant program. The Crusaders were firing on all cylinders in a 54-24 win over Archbishop Wood Saturday afternoon.

A 6-foot wing, Edelman scored 14 points and made a number of highlight reel plays while Fulston, a 6-foot-2 post player, chipped in with 10 points. 

“Losing the twins, we know we’re going to have to step up as ball-handlers more and it’s a big role,” Edelman said. “This is really good practice for the season and a good way to build up chemistry. We have a lot of new freshmen so we have to speak up and be leaders for them.” 

Edelman has already reported offers from Siena and Fordham and told City of Basketball she recently received another offer from Stony Brook. She said she’s also been in contact with Columbia recently. 

It’s clear to see why there is interest in Edelman, who expects to play on the perimeter at the next level. The junior nailed two 3-pointers and showed off a smooth pull-up jumper. She defended well on-ball and found teammates down the court with outlet passes after grabbing rebounds. 

On one memorable possession, she drove from the top of the key to the left block and found herself walled off by two defenders. She backed them down and put up a shot — half hook shot and half prayer — that somehow went in. 

Fulston showed off more traditional post skills. She scored down low, blocked shots and controlled the boards. The junior said she’s been in contact with UMBC, Columbia and NJIT. 

Rising senior Kennedy Brown, who has also reported an offer from Siena, scored eight points and looked dynamic attacking the basketball Saturday. 

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St. Rose 

It takes one quick conversation with St. Rose seniors Belle Alvarado and Brooke Missry to realize the pair has chemistry. 

The 5-foot-2 Alvarado is the point guard. The 5-foot-10 Misery is the scorer. The two have played together for years in AAU and high school and are used to setting each other up on the court and during interviews. 

After helping St. Rose make the New Jersey Non-Public A semifinals this past season, Alvarado and Missry are primed for bigger roles next season and showcased their skills in an intense 52-48 win over Neumann-Goretti Saturday. 

Missry scored 26 points — nailing shots from the outside, cutting to the basket for buckets and even getting putbacks off of offensive rebounds. Alvarado scored 11 and assisted on most of her team’s buckets. 

“I know where she’ll be on the court at any time,” Alvarado said of Missry. “We’re together year-round and we’ve always been like this. She’s one of the best shooters I know and she makes big shots in big games.”

Missry said she will need to take a bigger role this season after serving as a role player in the past. It was clear her confidence continued to grow as Saturday’s session progressed. At one point, she winced immediately after taking a 3-pointer, but grabbed her own rebound and kept the possession alive for an eventual field goal. 

On the other hand, Alvarado oozes leadership both vocally and through her playing style. The 5-foot-2 guard plays bigger than her height, backing down defenders to draw attention away from her teammates and finding them with quick passes no one could see coming. 

“Her whole job is being a leader and she does it so well,” Missry said. “She’s like that in every aspect. 

Alvarado has committed to East Stroudsburg and Missry is hoping to play in college but is still waiting to see what opportunities materialize. 

Neumann-Goretti trailed throughout the contest but closed the gap in the final minutes. The Saints played fast and kept the pressure on St. Rose, seeming to wear the Purple Roses down. 

Kamora Berry scored 24 points and nailed five 3-pointers while Chrisette King added 12 points. 

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Red Bank Catholic 

Addy Nyemchek is used to playing with some of the best players in the country. 

The 6-foot-1 Red Bank Catholic senior plays for Philly Rise on the EYBL circuit and is surrounded by Division I recruits. She’s one of a number of players on that squad ranked in the top 100 in the Class of 2026 by ESPNW. 

But she’s happy to be back with her high school squad, which is also one of the best teams in New Jersey. Red Bank Catholic lost by one point to Paul VI in the Non-Public A title game this past season. 

Nyemchek scored 18 points on nine field goals in a win over Archbishop Wood Saturday afternoon. She dominated in the paint, drove to the basket at will and used her length to command the ball even when defenders tried to deny her. 

“I learn so much playing with some of the best players in the country and it builds and comes back here,” she said. “I can learn how to lead my team and make everybody better. The biggest thing is that the speed of the game is so fast it helps with my decision making. And my teammates feed off that.” 

Nyemchek has declined to discuss her commitment, but will likely be a power conference recruit. Red Bank Catholic also features a pair of Division I twin sisters in Class of 2026 guards Tessa (Bucknell) and Katie Liggio (Rhode Island).