RUF RIDER: Princeton Day School girls’ basketball player Shelby Ruf soars to the hoop in a game last season. Senior Ruf, who also stars in soccer and lacrosse at PDS, will bring athleticism and competitiveness to the Panthers this winter. PDS, is being guided by new head coach Patrick Reddington, will be starting its 2024-25 season this week by playing at Allentown on December 17 and at Nottingham on December 19 before hosting Florence on December 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Patrick Reddington, serving as an assistant coach for a powerhouse Ewing High girls’ basketball team proved to be a transformative experience.

“It was amazing, it really was; I told the girls all of the time that I learned more from them than they learned from me,” said Reddington, who coached at Ewing for two seasons and helped the Blue Devils win the 2023 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state title.

“Seeing highly motivated young kids like not only on the court but in the classroom is really impressive to be around. It makes you want to step up your game because of how serious they take their lives and their futures.”

Reddington, 32, is bringing that serious approach as he has taken the helm of the Princeton Day School girls’ basketball team this winter.

“I had a little bit of experience playing against them last year; one of the reasons I took the job was how hard they played for each other and how much they supported each other,” said Reddington, who is succeeding Seraphine Hamilton, now coaching the William Smith College women’s hoops program. “My message as a coach and our process is just getting better every day. When we are on the court, we need to make sure that we are preparing and getting one percent better every day.”

The Panther players have responded well to Reddington’s message.

“It has been amazing, I am very lucky with the group that I have,” said Reddington, who is taking over a team that went 3-16 in 2023-24. “They all did more work in the offseason than they have ever done on the past. We played in a summer league and a fall league this year. We had nine girls through the summer and through the fall, in and out of workouts with us.”

PDS is expecting some good work from a pair of junior guards, Sophia Rae Barber and Nica Martin.

“Sophia is a great shooter, she shoots the ball at a very high clip,” said Reddington, who works as the sports director at Iron Peaks and Events in Hillsborough. “She worked really hard in the offseason, she is one of our only girls who is competing on the AAU right now. For Nica, it is her grittiness. She adds a level of toughness to our team at the guard position that we might not have had in the past. She is our table-setter, she sets the floor for us. She is passing the ball, she is getting everybody involved. She can knock it down and get to the basket herself a little bit.”

Sophomore Briana Camp adds depth to the PDS backcourt. “Briana is another one that will be an interesting piece, she is a great athlete,” said Reddington, whose guard unit will also include sophomore Sophia Vriesendorp, junior Mackenzie Brodel, sophomore Ava Fairbanks, freshman Ellie Lesaca, and freshman Mae Braswell. “She gets up and down, she can shoot it as well. She can get to the rim. She has a big, strong body where she doesn’t get pushed around by girls so that is nice.”

At forward, senior co-captains Nandini Kolli and Shelby Ruf, who also stars in soccer and lacrosse at PDS, will be leading the way.

“Nandini is great around the basket, she plays so hard, rebounding and finishing,” said Reddington. “She works her butt off on defense. Now she is expanding her game a little bit outside as well which is nice to see. She is shooting the three, driving to the basket and doing some other things. Shelby is probably our best defender; like she defends the goal in soccer, she brings that mentality to basketball. Defensively she sets the tone. Offensively she will do some great things for us with her athleticism as well. She has a decent mid-range shot, she can shoot the three if she is open.”

Juniors Anya Gruteser and Ella McLaren also bring some game to the paint.

“Anya is a great piece for us off the bench because she brings a good head space and she never gets down,” said Reddington. “She will be in the middle of an intense game with a smile on her face from ear to ear. She brings great energy for us off the bench. Ella is a kid who I am going to have tough time keeping off the court. She is just such an instinctual athlete. She is strong, fast, understands the game and sees the floor well. She is very coachable. She adds a great element to us.”

In order to have a strong season, the Panthers will need to get in sync at both ends of the floor.

“We just have to buy in and all get on the same page, whatever it is that we are running or doing,” said Reddington. “If we are all in as one unit and one team, we are going to be in a good place to be successful. Defense is my thing. I am very particular on the defense, that is our biggest focus and then sharing the ball. As much as we have practiced on these things, that is great but we have to apply it to the games.”