Brina Pollack, a 5'7 guard rated the 26th best 2004 player by All Star Girls
Report, is a strong target of the Boiler staff. A shooting guard in high school
along side nationally-rated point guard Sharnee Zoll, Pollack will likely play
the point in college. Pollack has the complete package for the point. She sees
the floor very well at any speed, has a host of evasive moves making her hard to
pressure into a mistake, beyond-the-perimeter type range on her shot, and an
infectious personality. Defensively, from what we have scouted in the past, she
is very capable. She's one of those 'frantic' type defenders, one who will get
in your space, waving and reaching until you pick up your dribble. Quick hands
and feet coupled with a fearless style of play. She averages three picks a game,
and is athletic enough to defend fullcourt. Pollack was one of our favorite
players at the 2001 Blue Star Elite Camp.
Pollack's junior season is now getting underway, with Marlboro rated the 6th best
team on the east coast. Pollack is due to surpass the 1,000 career point mark
this season.
As a sophomore, Brina averaged 14.7 points, 4.0 assists and 3.2 steals for 25-4
Marlboro. The schedule was tough, including games against two of the nation's top
national programs, Christ the King and Our Lady of Lourdes. They were undefeated
against New Jersey schools until St. John Vianney of Holmdel avenged its regular
season loss to Marlboro by edging the Mustangs in the Shore Conference Tournament
final. Marlboro’s bid to make the Tournament of Champions was derailed in the
Central Jersey Group IV final by a seasoned Trenton team, which went on to win the
New Jersey Tournament of Champions. The team was ranked as high as 13th in the
country.
As a freshman, Brina averaged 15 points per game on a team that shocked New Jersey
girls basketball. With five freshmen and a sophomore in their rotation, they won the
Kuhnert Holiday Tournament and Shore Conference A North Division crowns. Then the
team won the Central Jersey Group IV title. They would advance to the State Group IV
final, losing in overtime to a senior-dominated Columbia team.
In AAU play, the 2002 summer tour concluded with yet another trip to the AAU Nationals
Final Four. In 1998 they won the 11-and-under National Championship and they were the
national runner-ups in 1999, 2000 and again in 2002. The team is believed to be the
first team in AAU tournament history to the make the Final Four five straight years.
Pollack is considering Purdue, Rutgers, Georgia Tech, Penn State and Florida. She
plans to major in business in college. Grades are not an issue. As a matter of fact,
her high school team GPA average at the end of the sophomore year was 3.6. Pollack
does not want to stretch out the recruiting process, and would like to make a choice
sometime before next summer.
Brina Pollack verbally committed to Purdue on April 14, 2003, and signed during the
early signing period on November 17th, 2003. She chose the Boilers over Penn State,
Stanford, Southern California and Rutgers.
11-24-02...Naming Purdue as her early number one favorite, star guard Brina
Pollack of Marlboro HS (NJ) unofficially visited campus with her father.
Pollack, who excels in a shooting guard role in high school next to another
all-american at point, will likely play point in college. She lists Purdue,
along with Penn State, Florida, Rutgers, Georgia Tech and Stanford as schools
she would like to unofficially visit. She is likely to commit before next
summer, and is looking for a school with a national basketball program and a
good business program.
Purdue head coach Kristy Curry..."Brina is a true floor general and has an
incredible will to win. Her ball-handling abilities are special, and she
understands how to get the ball to the right people at the right time. She
will fit our system very well at the point guard position." (November
17, 2003)
Scouting report by the Bob Richards at the Blue Star Elite Camp..."One of my
favorites of the camp. This girl always has a smile on her face. Very athletic
and rather fearless, Pollack is smooth on offense and always under control.
She has a nice handle on the ball, has a great crossover and can finish on the
drive. She is even tough backing a defender in and posting her up. Her quickness
isn't the main reason she's a good defender. Rather, she's one of those
'frantic' type defenders, one who will get in your space, waving and reaching
until you pick up your dribble. A gym rat. Had trouble making shots the final
day of camp." (8/7/01, Old Gold Free Press)
Scouting report by the Tim Morris of the News Transcript..."Pollack is a smart,
slick, ball-handling point guard who can do it all. She averaged 17.3 points per
game for Marlboro during the season to lead the team, but it was her passing that
hurt teams the most. She had the ability to read any defense and find the open
player." (3/31/00, News Transcript)
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