Raiders’Walker, Kelly sign letters of intent

Two members of the North Brunswick High School girls basketball team have received full scholarships and will continue their playing careers in college.

Jasmine Walker, a 5-8 guard, will play for Monmouth University beginning in the winter of 2012-13, and Taryana Kelly, a 6-3 center, will play for Maryland Eastern Shore. Both players formally signed their National Letters of Intent last week.

Both players were key cogs in the Raiders’ successful 16-9 campaign and a trip to the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) tournament finals a year ago. With Walker, Kelly and several other returnees, North Brunswick is expected to have a strong season and again contend for the GMC crown.

Walker, who is entering her fourth varsity season as a starter, has been a stalwart in the backcourt since joining the team. A dangerous three-point shooter, Walker can also take the ball to the hoop. Last year she averaged 16 points and nearly five assists per game. Her success from the free-throw line is another positive.

She enters her senior season with 812 points and should surpass the 1,000-point mark about halfway through the season.

“Jasmine is a great scorer, but she’s also dedicated to winning,” North Brunswick coach Shaun Morrell said. “She’s totally committed to the team, and she’s a phenomenal student. She’s a great leader.”

The coach also noted that while Walker’s offensive skills are well known, her defensive abilities are strong as well. She averages 3.5 steals and often guards the opposition’s top outside shooter.

Walker should be a good fit for new Monmouth coach Jenny Palmateer, who hails from South Amboy and played college ball at North Carolina State. Palmateer has indicated that she would like to recruit more of the state’s top high school players.

“Jasmine has a lot of talent, and her quickness sets her apart — she has a great first step,” Morrell said. “She’s fast and she’s strong and best of all, she has not even reached a plateau. Jasmine has a lot of growth potential.”

Kelly, meanwhile, is a strong presence in the middle for the Raiders. She was a member of the Raiders freshman team before moving to New Brunswick, where she played her sophomore year. She moved back to North Brunswick last year.

“Taryana is not your typical center,” Morrell said. “She’s a great passer. She just seems to know where her teammates are and gets them the ball. She’s also strong positionally; she’s excellent defensively away from the ball. She’s a leader on and off the floor and she works hard in the classroom.”

Kelly averaged 11 points and led the Raiders in rebounds, averaging 10.5 caroms per game. Her presence down low gives North Brunswick the scoring threat it needs to open up room on the perimeter. Her ability to block shots deters defenders from coming down the lane.

Kelly first began hearing from recruiters as a sophomore and also attracted interest from Monmouth and St. Francis College.

“The coaching staff from Maryland [Eastern Shore] was very persistent,” said Kelly, who plans to study criminal justice. “They constantly kept in contact, plus the team is young and they’re willing to play underclassmen. When I went for my visit, that clinched it.”

Both Kelly and Walker are looking forward to their senior seasons as the Raiders prepare for their season opener at Monroe.