Paulina Paris signs with UNC women's basketball, headlining class at Saddle River Day
SADDLE RIVER — The Carolina blue No. 23 made it apparent that Paulina Paris is ready to be like Mike.
The senior guard was one of three Saddle River Day girls basketball players to ink Division I letters of intent at the school’s Early Signing Day ceremony on Wednesday. Five Rebels in all committed to D-I colleges.
Paris, who signed with North Carolina, wore her UNC Michael Jordan jersey to the ceremony.
“I’ve been a big Jordan fan my whole life,” she said. “And, although I can’t wear 23 at North Carolina – because it’s retired [for both men’s and women’s basketball] – it’s just a blessing to be able to go there, to be able to play for that program. I’m really excited.”
She was especially excited when opening the present that her uncle gave her for the occasion – a pair of rose-gold Jordan sneakers.
Paris has been No. 23 for Saddle River Day since transferring from Albertus Magnus in Bardonia, N.Y. following her sophomore year. The previous Rebel to wear that number, Michelle Sidor, became Bergen County’s all-time leading scorer and now plays for Michigan.
The 5-foot-9 Paris scored 317 points in 13 games (24.4 average) for the Rebels last winter after eclipsing the 1,000-point mark at Albertus Magnus. She also averaged 4.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds in being named to the All-North Jersey first team.
The New City, N.Y. resident admitted that making the decision to transfer at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020 was “risky,” but she added, “it was the right thing to do, and I’m really excited that I made that jump. … I couldn’t ask for better teammates or a better family.”
Although Jordan is her favorite player, Paris got into basketball because of her father, Bryan, whom she said played for the Puerto Rican national team.
“He inspired me from a very young age,” Paulina said, “and being able to watch him as I grew up just made me fall in love with it.”
‘Dream’ hoops team?
As it did with the 2019 squad that reached the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions final, Saddle River Day once again will feature multiple D-I signees in its starting lineup this winter.
Guard Saniah Caldwell, a veteran of the TOC run, will join older sister Sydnei (SRD Class of 2019) at the University of Pennsylvania. Sydnei transferred to join the Quakers after starting her college career at Arizona State.
“She transferred before I decided,” Saniah said. “I was still in my recruitment process when she was deciding schools. And then, once we talked with the Penn coaches, and I was there with her on her visits, I loved it, too.”
Guard Cierra Pearson signed with Central Connecticut State (CCSU), and not because her nickname since childhood has been “CC”.
“That is pretty coincidental that it’s like that,” Pearson said with a laugh, “but it had nothing really to do with [my decision].”
Caldwell, who lives in Franklin Lakes, takes a career total of 1,062 point into her senior season after averaging 18.2 as a junior. Pearson, who grew up playing basketball in Teaneck, averaged 7.9 points and 2.2 assists last season.
Two Rebels headed to UNC
Saddle River Day will send two girls to Chapel Hill next year, as Ella Adamek signed with North Carolina for women’s rowing. Since the Rebels don’t field their own crew team, the Glen Rock resident competes for the Nereid Boat Club, based on the Passaic River in Rutherford. Adamek hopes to study journalism at UNC.
Senior Leanna Tsahalis signed with Georgetown for women’s lacrosse. The Mahwah resident was a North Jersey Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year nominee in the spring after scoring 86 points (65 goals, 21 assists) for the Rebels.
Greg Tartaglia is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.
Email: tartaglia@northjersey.com
Twitter: @njtags13
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paulina Paris signs with UNC women's basketball from Saddle River Day
