To understand the importance of relationship-building in a college decision, look no further than Natalia Hall-Rosa.
Hall-Rosa, one of the top players in New England, took her name off the uncommitted board Saturday, announcing her commitment to Seton Hall in a ceremony at ATF Athletix in Easton, Mass. The Rivers guard and Randolph, Mass. native had more than 20 offers to choose from. Her relationship with Seton Hall assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Cassandra Callaway made all the difference.
"I've known her for about two and a half to three years now, so knowing that I have a coach at such a big school that's always been supporting me — and she's seen me through injuries and my down games and all that — so just knowing that they really support me through even the bad, it feels amazing," Hall-Rosa said.
Hall-Rosa's standout high school career included three seasons at Bridgewater-Raynham before she transferred and reclassified to Rivers. Her versatility as a 6-foot wing who has the size, strength and ball-handling skills to create her own shot just about anywhere on the floor immediately pops. It also made her a fit with a Pirates program that likes more positionless players.
"They love that part about me, and when I talked to the head coach (Anthony Bozzella), he said he could see me anywhere where he needs me," Hall-Rosa said. "I thought it was good hearing that, because usually when you're going in as a freshman, you don't think you're gonna get that big role. It kind of feels good hearing that he sees what I can do on both sides of the court."
Hall-Rosa had narrowed down her choices to Seton Hall and Columbia. Columbia, due to its academic processes with transcripts and senior year midterms as an Ivy League school, wouldn't have been able to guarantee her acceptance until late October. When she visited Seton Hall from Sept. 4-6, she felt that connection and felt ready to make her choice. It also validated the longstanding relationship she had built with Callaway.
"I feel comfortable enough to talk to her about anything, especially now that I committed," Hall-Rosa said. "I look at her not only as a coach, but as a big sister to me, because we built such a strong relationship."
Hall-Rosa is one of the most recognizable faces of this New England 2025 class. That's in large part due to her talent, but also due to her longstanding participation in local community basketball. She's one of the most frequent players at SISRun, the Boston-area summer women's basketball league. Al McClain, who hosts his Battle New England and Medina Dixon Tournaments during the spring and summer, named Hall-Rosa the 2024 Medina Dixon Player of the Year. Hall-Rosa has felt supported in turn throughout her basketball rise.
"I feel like it's good to be around the community you live in," she said. "You have the AAU (season) where you're traveling a lot, so I feel like it's very like, separated from kind of the real world. So just being able to be in those moments and experience it with the closest of your friends, and having your community and people outside of basketball being able to see it, I feel like it makes a huge impact."
Hall-Rosa is among a handful of big-time September commits. Here are some other notable names who made their college decision:
- Alicia Mitchell (Springfield, Mass.) announced her commitment to Columbia on Sept. 4. Mitchell, a 6-foot-3 center, also appeared with Hall-Rosa on our inaugural 2025 class watch list. She earned All-NEPSAC honors in her first season with Loomis Chaffee while helping win a Class A title and should be in store for a superb senior year.
- Greens Farms Academy wing Cheyenne Brand (West Haven, Conn.) committed to High Point on Sept. 8. Brand posted 12 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2 assists per game last season en route to Class B All-Star recognition.
- Top recent Division 3 commits include: Stella Criniti (Lexington/Lexington, Mass.), Devon Burke (Newton North/Newton, Mass.) and Meghan Husson (Windham/Windham, N.H.).
