Big Transfer Joins Marist Women's Team

Followers of women's college basketball expecting the Marist women's basketball team to start slipping a little at some point probably need to wait at least a few more years for that to happen, particularly in light of a recent transfer to the program.

As if the Red Foxes, who have won the MAAC's regular season title for so many years in succession it's hard to keep track, needed help, they got some when they added a big piece in a literal sense with the recent announcement that 6-foot-2 forward Tori Jarosz will join the program as a transfer from Vanderbilt.

Here's a link to a recent story about Jarosz's decision, in the Poughkeepsie Journal newspaper:

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110524/SPORTS04/105240330/Vanderbilt-transfer-Jarosz-commits-play-basketball-Marist?odyssey=tab

We have more to go on than just that report about Jarocz's ability. Your blogging hoopscribe, in his role as a talent evaluator with the annual girls GymRat CHALLENGE AAU tournament played in upstate New York, got a first-hand look at Jarosz in several of the games she played in the 2009 version of the GymRat.

Here's the report on Jarosz, based on her tournament performance that year:

Tori Jarosz 6-2 Center (Long Island Xtreme/Lakeland H.S.): Strong, solid build who uses her size well inside, yet also runs the court well. Very good basic skills around the basket. Good hands, makes the tough catch. Rugged inside player with a knack for putting the ball in the basket. Has already committed to Vanderbilt.

Your hoopscribe recalls her as a gifted, true and solidly built post player whose inside work looked like it would be effective at a level higher than the MAAC.

She spent this past season as a freshman at Vanderbilt, where she saw her playing time limited due to some good upperclass front-court players. At Vandy she was listed at 6-3. When she played at the GymRat, prior to her senior season in high school, she was listed at 6-2.

No matter the height, even at 6-2 she combines the type of height and powerful inside game rarely seen in the MAAC.

Jarosz got in just six games for 15 total minutes at Vanderbilt this past season. She scored just one point but had eight rebounds and blocked four shots.

As per NCAA rules she will sit out the coming season but is allowed to practice with Marist. She will be eligible to play from the start of the 2012-13 season and have three remaining years of playing eligibility.

Jarosz is a more-than-adequate replacement for a player Marist lost due to transfer recenty. The 6-foot-4 sophomore Kate Oliver left Marist shortly after this past season and will attend USC.

Jarosz, a true inside performer, is a different type player than Oliver whose strengths were primarily on the perimeter.

Before college Jarosz attended Lakeland High School in Putnam County, about 50 miles south of Poughkeepsie.

College coaches are prohibited from commenting on a player until either they sign a national letter of intent, or begin attending classes at the school in the fall. But, Marist officials are allowed to, and have, confirmed that Jarosz has indeed transferred to their school.