Who is North Jersey's best girls basketball player ever? VOTE!

Who is North Jersey's best girls basketball player ever? VOTE!

Who is the best girls basketball player from North Jersey?

Let the debate begin.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities.

These are our selections for the girls basketball players who defined North Jersey. The players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standout players at the high school level before moving on to even greater heights at the collegiate and professional levels.

We even saved a spot for you to write-in a candidate that we may have overlooked or that you feel strongly about.

Essence Carson, Eastside (Class of 2004)

In her varsity career, the 6-foot Carson scored 1,829 points while guiding the Ghosts to three Passaic County titles, three sectional crowns and the 2004 Group 4 state championship. She went on to play in a Final Four at Rutgers and spent 13 seasons in the WNBA.

Anne Donovan, Paramus Catholic (1979)

The only North Jersey girl to top 1,000 points in a season (1,047 as a senior) led the Paladins to three Bergen County titles and two state championships. After capping her career with a 28-0 campaign, Donovan played at Old Dominion and went on to win Olympic gold.

Laura Dougherty, Pascack Valley (1981)

Dougherty was part of a 30-0 season her senior year, and her career featured titles in county and sectional tournaments (twice each) and a Group 3 state championship. She scored 2,259 points before heading to Notre Dame, and all three of her daughters played at Pascack Valley.

Samantha Fuehring, Immaculate Conception (2015)

The 6-3 forward from Wanaque led the now-closed Lodi school to the North Non-Public B sectional title as a senior, when she was named North Jersey Player of the Year. Fuehring tallied 2,188 career points, and in college, she helped Louisville reach the 2018 Final Four.

Hazel Howell, East Rutherford (1928)

Before her school was renamed Becton – and when girls basketball was still a six-player game – Howell helped start the “Wonder Girls” streak of 104 straight wins. She scored 686 points in back-to-back 17-0 seasons as a junior and senior, enjoying a school-record 48-point game in 1928.

Nicole Louden, Kennedy (2001)

Louden graduated as Passaic County’s all-time scoring leader for boys and girls combined, registering 2,928 points. She led the Knights to county and sectional titles as a senior, when she averaged 34 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists, and she went on to a four-year career at Auburn.

'M&M' backcourt, Ridgewood (1994)

Together, Shannon McGarrigle (1,967 career points) and Aimee McGuire (1,541) were so dynamic, the only way to recognize them is as a duo. They helped the Maroons to three county crowns, two sectional titles and a state championship with a four-year record of 99-14, and both played at Division I colleges.

Michelle Sidor, Saddle River Day (2019)

The shooting guard from Upper Saddle River graduated as the No. 2 scorer in state history with 3,268 points and helped the Rebels to nine tournament titles: Four county, three sectional and two state. Sidor spent four years at Michigan and played a post-grad season at DePaul.

Tahirah Williams, Immaculate Heart (2005)

The 6-foot post presence is best remembered for her key role in bringing the Blue Eagles their first two Bergen County championships in 2002 and 2004. They also won the Parochial A state title her freshman year, and Williams totaled 1,555 career points before playing at Connecticut.

Falisha Wright, Kennedy (1991)

She and twin sister Lakeysha enjoyed a career record of 116-5 with the Knights, which featured four Passaic County titles, two Group 4 state championships and a 31-0 record their freshman year. Falisha scored 2,021 varsity points and played collegiately at San Diego State.

Heather Zurich, Pascack Valley (2005)

The 6-foot guard scored more points than any Pascack Valley girl in the 21st century (1,798) and stood out in practically every aspect of the game. Zurich propelled her team to the Group 2 state title as a senior before going on to be a member of Rutgers’ 2007 Final Four squad.

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