NEWARK, NJ--The NJIT women's basketball team will add a trio of high school standouts who will join the Highlanders in the Fall of 2022 fourth-year head coach Mike Lane announced.

"Our staff is thrilled to bring this group to Newark," said Lane. "They fit in nicely with our 2021 class and will continue to move this program forward. This group is hard-working, humble, talented and excited about their futures as Highlanders. To recruit during a pandemic was certainly a different challenge, so I salute LaTonya, Aaron, Sara and Anyssa for facing that adversity and securing such an impressive trio of young women."

Here is a closer look at the 2022 newcomers:

Avery O'Roke, Guard, Winchester, VA/Millbrook High
O'Roke, a 5-foot-7 guard, will join the Highlanders in Fall 2022 after finishing her high school career at Millbrook High.

A 1,000 point scorer during her junior campaign, O'Roke scored 38 points to lead the Millbrook girls' basketball team to a 75-58 win over Martinsburg (W.Va.) on March 7, 2021.

O'Roke was named All-District second-team (2019), All-Region and All-District first-team (2020), All-State second-team (2020) and Millbrook High School Pioneer Award, Northwestern District Virginia (2020 & 2021).

O'Roke scored 318 points as a freshman (12.2ppg), 634 points as a sophomore (21.1ppg) and averaged 27.6ppg during the Spring 2021.

She played AAU for Elevate Elite Gold.

A recipient of the Millbrook High School All-Academic Award (2018-2021), O'Roke intends to major in business management at NJIT in Fall 2022.

Coach Lane Quote on O'Roke: "Avery is a versatile guard who will be asked to play all 3 of our guard positions. She is a gritty player that is intent on out-working everyone. Her attacking style of play on both ends is fun to watch!"
 

Kyleigh Welsh, Forward, Clearwater, FL/Clearwater HS
Welsh will join the Highlanders in Fall 2022 after concluding her high school career at Clearwater High School.  

In 2021, Clearwater went 21-4 during the regular season, won the Class 5A, District 10 title and advanced to the 5A state semifinals.

The 6-foot-2 forward ranks in the top five shot blockers in the state of Florida.

A member of the National Honors Society, Welsh intends to major in business at NJIT in the Fall 2022.

Coach Lane Quote on Welsh: "Kyleigh is just the type of bouncy post player that fits our system of play. Her defensive presence is where her game starts, but we really like how she has grown her skill set on the offensive side."
 

Alejandra Zuniga, Guard, Madrid, Spain/IES Jose Garcia Nieto
Zuniga, who hails from Madrid, Spain, will join the Highlanders in Fall 2022 after attending high school at IES Jose Garcia Nieto in Madrid.

The 5-foot-6 point guard guided Federación de Madrid de Baloncesto to the Madrid Basketball League of Champions in 2020 and 2021 and plays for the Baloncesto Torrelodones club.

Zuniga intends to major in Communication and Media at NJIT in the Fall 2022.

Coach Lane Quote on Zuniga: "Alejandra is a creative point guard with excellent court vision and a wonderful feel for when she has to go get her own offense. She is crafty with the rock in her hands and dangerous as a shooter/scorer without the ball."
 

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