By Rich Chrampanis
Chloe Teter is used to going down a different path. The Red Bank Regional senior had the talent to join one of the numerous non-public basketball powers in the Shore Conference yet decided to stay in her hometown public school and help build a winning program that has been one of the surprise teams in the area. The guard, who plays AAU basketball for the New Jersey ShoreShots, showcased her skills enough to be a Division I talent.
Instead, Chloe showed her maturity and reminded people that athletics is just one part of the college experience. Teter turned down Division I offers and gave a verbal commitment to play Division III basketball at New York University.
“I had D1 offers, but they weren’t the right fit for me,” Teter said. “NYU combines high academics with my dream of playing college basketball, so I knew it was the right choice for me to decide to commit to NYU. This is similar to one of my closest friends and RBR teammates, Amelia Medolla, who recently committed to Skidmore College. NYU also has a strong alumni base, and I instantly connected with the coaches.”
With so much media attention given to Division I athletes, Teter’s college choice is a reminder that there are Division II and Division III options that have just as much appeal as the higher profile college basketball programs.
“New York City provides a lot of opportunities for everyone,” Teter said. “There are many internships to choose from and different places to work. Also, ever since I was a kid, there was nothing more exciting than going into the city with my friends and family. It is such an amazing place with great energy and so many possibilities. And Washington Square Park, where NYU is located, is cool!”
Recruiting was compromised for athletes in all sports who are used to having the chance for college coaches to watch them in person. Teter’s AAU coach, Tracey Sabino, was resourceful and give her athletes a unique way to continue to get exposure.
“Normally July is the biggest ‘live’ period where coaches can watch players play live in big tournaments like Chicago and Louisville, but since the dead period kept getting extended (it’s now Jan. 1), my AAU coach had to get creative.” Chloe explained. “In addition to a few tournaments in PA, she arranged outdoor games at the Markham & Mason courts and had them filmed so we could at least email the coaches high-quality film. Fortunately, D3 schools were allowed to have outdoor visits, unlike D1 schools. Therefore, I was able to visit NYU with my parents and learn more about the school. Physically being on campus and meeting the excellent coaching staff in person made me realize how amazing of a school NYU is and that I could truly see myself there.”
The Violets had a 21-6 record in 2019-20, reaching the second round of the NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament. Katie Foos, a former Rumson-Fair Haven girls basketball standout, is currently a senior on the NYU women’s basketball team.
Teter’s senior season at Red Bank Regional is going to be a shortened 15-game regular season with just two weeks of postseason play. But she has already left her mark on a program that has become a consistent winner in one of the top girls basketball conferences in the country.
Teter saw Red Bank Regional break through with a 20-9 record in her sophomore season highlighted by a stunning upset of Red Bank Catholic in the second round of the Shore Conference Tournament. As a junior, she averaged 13.3 points per game, dropping 40 three-pointers on the way to a 21-7 record.
“Going to Red Bank Regional was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life: staying home and having faith in our basketball program was exciting and extremely rewarding,” Teter said. “Once coach John Truhan was hired to be the head coach, I knew that our program would be very successful and we would do things that no one else thought we could. Being the underdog and proving everyone wrong was so much fun, and I am truly going to miss being a part of that team.”
As juniors and even sophomores begin to navigate the turbulent waters of college recruiting, Teter’s path to her future home is a lesson for all. She thanks her parents for their guidance and support to arrive at the NYU commitment.
“I would tell recruits to relax and understand that they will end up at a place that they are meant to be at,” Teter said. “There are many moments during the recruiting process that are frustrating, especially during a pandemic. But as my parents always tell me, control what you can and even more importantly, take a breath and enjoy the journey.”
The article originally appeared in the October 22 – 28, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
