East Brunswick’s Lederman Headed to Vassar

Lady Bears Senior Helped Team Reach GMCT Semifinals

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ—Since the inception of the Greater Middlesex Conference, East Brunswick has been one of the top programs in boys basketball year after year.  However, it is not the only basketball program at the school that has enjoyed tremendous success.  East Brunswick’s girls basketball team reached the GMCT Girls Semifinals, and Sam Lederman helped lead the way.

Now, Lederman will be looking to make a similar impact at the next level.  Recently, GMC Hoops learned that the East Brunswick senior guard will be attending Vassar College next fall.  A little over a month ago, Lederman competed in the 2022 GMCBCA Senior All-Star Game at Woodbridge High School and contributed to Team Black’s 82-59 victory over Team White with 9 points on three treys while handing out 2 assists, and swiping a steal.

One of three captains for the 2021-22 East Brunswick Lady Bears basketball team, Lederman helped guide the squad to a 17-9 overall record including an 11-7 mark in a very tough GMC Red Division.  Five girls basketball teams from the GMC Red reached the GMCT Elite Eight at Middlesex County College on February 19th.  Three of those five teams moved on to the GMCT Girls Final Four.  East Brunswick wound up being one of those teams.

Although the Lady Bears came up short versus top seeded St. Thomas Aquinas in the 2022 GMCT Semifinals at Monroe High School on February 22nd, they would win its opening round state playoff game.  East Brunswick’s season would come to an end though at the hands of another GMC Red Rival, Monroe in the Central Jersey Group 4 Quarterfinals.

Lederman played in all 26 games for EB this past season.  She made 28 two point field goals, 42 three pointers, and 47 from the foul line for a total of 231 points.  In addition, Lederman also collected 76 rebounds, 52 assists, 46 steals, and 3 blocked shots.  She averaged 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.  

Leading the team in three pointers, Lederman finished third on the team in scoring behind junior Tamea El (262 points) and fellow classmate Rebecca Perez (236 points).  Lederman was also second in made free throws, second in assists, second in steals, and fifth in rebounds.  During her three year varsity career at EB, Lederman made 65 two point field goals, 56 threes, and 82 free throws for a career total of 381 points.

In addition, Lederman also collected 148 rebounds, 104 assists, 88 steals, and 3 blocked shots.  She averaged 6.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest in 64 games played.  She posted a career high of 20 points on five threes and five free throws in a 71-38 victory over Union Catholic in the Brunswick Classic on December 30, 2021.  The five treys were also a career best.

Lederman collected a career high 7 rebounds on two occasions during her senior season.  The first time was in a 79-43 win versus Edison on January 11, 2022, and the second time was during a 55-48 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas on February 8, 2022.  She posted her career high of 6 assists on four occasions:  Once as a sophomore, twice as a junior, and once this past season.  

Her career high of 5 steals came in a 54-23 win over Piscataway on January 31st while swiping 4 steals eight times.  During her three seasons at EB, the Lady Bears compiled an overall record of 37-30 including a 20-20 mark in the GMC Red.  East Brunswick reached at least the GMCT Elite Eight in two of those seasons.  She will be joining a Vassar women’s hoops program that is in good shape.

This past season, Vassar compiled an overall mark of 17-8 including a 16-2 mark in the Liberty League.  Two years ago, the Brewers finished 19-8 overall including a 14-4 mark in conference play.  Vassar reached the Liberty League Final Four in both years including a berth in the 2020 Liberty League Championship Game versus Ithaca (lost 73-71).  Vassar didn’t play last year due to COVID.

Congratulations Sam on your accomplishment, and best of luck at the next level.