By: Chris Iseman – Record Sports Department
Damaris Rodriguez began playing basketball at the age of 3.
She hasn’t stopped since.
“I have a basketball in my hands 24/7,” Rodriguez said.
That’s evident whenever the Secaucus sophomore point guard steps onto the court.
Her ball-handling is stellar, her court vision is excellent. She’s a strong shooter but always looks to pass first. Her speed and athleticism have also made her an outstanding defensive player.
She’s still early in her high school career, but Rodriguez already has forged her spot as one of North Jersey’s elite point guards.
She has helped the Patriots get off to a 4-0 start this season by averaging 11.5 points, 7.8 assists and five steals per game.
Rodriguez burst onto the North Jersey girls basketball scene as a freshman last year, when she averaged 13.3 points and 7.2 assists per game.
But she’s continued to get better.
“She’s tremendous,” coach John Sterling said. “She’s very quick, has great vision of the floor. She’s a superb shooter but she doesn’t shoot a lot. She’s a true point guard. I said on some other teams without some good players around her, she could average 35 or so a game because she’s that good of a player she is. But she’s so unselfish that she looks to pass first and then her shots when the time is right.”
That’s the type of point guard Rodriguez takes pride in being.
“I’ve always been a pass before shoot player,” Rodriguez said. “That’s just the kind of point guard I am. I love to pass before I shoot, think about other people before I think about myself.”
Rodriguez came into the season as one of Secaucus’ returning players from last year’s 26-4 team that advanced to the North 2, Group 1 final.
The Patriots returned their entire lineup, which also includes senior forward and sharpshooter Lindsey Mack, who’s headed to Fairleigh Dickinson, as well as junior guard Amanda Ulrich.
Mack is averaging 19.5 points through four games and is shooting a blistering 63 percent from the arc, while Ulrich is scoring 24.3 points per game.
So Rodriguez has consistent scorers to pass to and she takes advantage of it.
With her sharp court vision, she always knows where her teammates are to feed them the ball.
“I penetrate more and then I look for a better pass this year more than I did last year,” Rodriguez said.
Still, Rodriguez is a quality shooter herself.
She’s attempted six three-pointers this season and has made four of them.
Rodriguez said she does want to play basketball in college. Her ultimate dream is to make it to the WNBA.
She’s already an elite point guard, yet there’s still more to come.
“I think she’s just going to continue to get better,” Sterling said.
Email: iseman@northjersey.com
