By Rich Chrampanis
RUMSON – The list of college basketball stars produced by Joe Montano’s Red Bank Catholic girls program seems endless. Year in and year out, the Caseys have Division I talent on their roster. When it’s all said and done, Justine Pissott may be the highest profile recruit in the rich history of RBC girls basketball.
The 6-foot-4-inch senior is signed to play in the SEC for the legendary Tennessee Volunteers. She’s ranked as the No. 11 prospect in the country and ranked second in her position by ESPNW.
“We are so excited about adding Justine Pissott to our Lady Vol family,” head coach Kellie Harper said in a school release following Pissott’s signing. “Justine is a talented and competitive wing who has great shooting ability with deep range. Her versatility and size allow her to make plays in the paint. Justine has a tremendous work ethic as well as passion for the game and for our program.”
Pissott is averaging 19.5 points per game for the 11-1 Caseys who are ranked fourth in the latest state polls. On Jan. 13 at Rumson-Fair Haven, Pissott caught fire in the second half on the way to a season high 28 points in a 67-48 win. With RBC trailing 30-26 at the half, Pissott established herself in the paint and took over the game. In the midst of her scoring spree, she reached the 1,000-point plateau early in the fourth quarter.
“I honestly had no idea. I wasn’t really trying to get 1,000,” Pissott said. “I just knew that if we wanted to win I had to play my game. When I scored, everyone started cheering and I said I guess I got it.”
What makes Pissott a generational talent is her complete game. She has elite ball handling skills and her 3-point shot is consistent, which you rarely see from a 6-foot-4 player. Justine has 30 triples in 12 games. When she uses her height to establish position and haul down a rebound, she’s capable of bringing the ball up court and is able to score
from anywhere in the offensive set.
As the senior begins the home stretch of her high school career, she’s appreciative of achieving the elite milestone, especially after losing a number of games in her junior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To share this with my teammates, my family and everyone here is really special,” Pissott said. “I didn’t think I would ever get my 1,000th and a great milestone in my time here.”
The article originally appeared in the January 20 – 26, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
