SC's Essex Player Of The Year
Commits To Hampton University

Sideline Chatter’s 2025-2026 Essex County Player of the Year Nilah Rivera had said she was open to whatever opportunities might arise during the college process after she led Arts High School to a Group 1 state championship this past March, and the chance to play Division I women’s basketball in a solid academic and athletic setting, plus in a strong and wide-ranging conference, has now come her way as she has committed to Hampton University in Virginia which is a member of the Coastal Athletic Association.

“I am excited and feel blessed to have the opportunity to attend Hampton University which has a strong mix of academics and athletics” said the Jaguars all-state backcourt ace. “It’s also very appealing to me that it is a historically-black university and is a member of a very competitive conference with a wide variety of different schools.”

The CAA is comprised of 13 schools ranging from The College of Charleston to Elon University to William & Mary all the way up north to Hofstra and Stony Brook in New York and Monmouth University in New Jersey.

Rivera, one of the top point guards in the state last winter, won’t turn 18 until Aug. 20 so is a young high school senior with a very bright future both on and off the court.

An outstanding student, who also has a strong musical talent, the Jaguars star backcourt ace plans to major in political science in college with the possibility of pursuing a future in law.

In terms of basketball, she looks to be an integral part of the present and future for third-year head coach Tanisha Augustine and her new-look staff.

The Pirates finished just 10-21 last season (4-14 in the CAA), but made progress after an 8-23 mark (3-15 in the CAA) the season before.

Augustine was formerly the associate head coach at the University of Florida.

“I like the fact that she is a very straight forward coach who I am excited to play for and for who I am going to wat to play for,” continued Rivera. “I always want to play for someone who cares for you as much as you care for the game because it’s all about having a lot of drive to succeed.”

One of the players for Hampton is University of Pittsburgh transfer Aaryn Battle, a junior guard who is from Sewel, N.J., and played her high school basketball at Camden Catholic.

“I actually went up against Aaryn and her team when I was at Saddle River Day (as a freshman) and we played Camden Catholic,” said Rivera. “I feel like I’ve gone full circle now and it will be great to now be teammates at Hampton.

“Also, I’ll see a number of different schools in our conference from all up and down the East Coast, including in New Jersey, which will be fun as well.”

Another Essex County product at a CAA school is former West Orange standout forward Ayana Karriem who is completing her freshman year at North Carolina A&T.

“It will also be great to hopefully see other former New Jersey high school stars like Ayana along the way,” continued Rivera.

Rivera had quite the unique and varied high school experience of attending three different schools, starting with Saddle River Day before two years at Immaculate Conception in Montclair and then for her senior year at Arts, which is a top-rated magnet high school in Newark.

She transferred there after IC had its doors closed for good in June of 2025 by the Newark Archdiocese due to financial constraints.

She kept adjusting well to different teams while leading both IC and Arts to state championships.  

“I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve been with two different teams that won state championships, and to do it back-to-back years is just amazing,” she said. “The first person I hugged after our state final win vs. New Providence was (former Immaculate teammate) Niaja (Troutman) because she’s been such a huge part of this incredible journey we’ve made together at both Immaculate and Arts, and I know we’ll both look back on this all someday and just appreciate all the great moments we’ve had with two tremendous teams we were part of together.”

While Troutman had joined Rivera at Arts, two other senior basketball stars from this past season who had to transfer when Immaculate closed were London Caldwell who went to West Orange where she helped lead the Mountaineers to a second straight Essex County Tournament title, and Jayah Curtis, who became a major contributor this past winter at Morris County Tournament champion Morris Catholic.   

Rivera produced one of her typical virtuoso performances in the March 15th Group 1 state final to boost a 15th-ranked Arts team (27-4) that had a superb all-around showing from a number of players in defeating the defending state champions and then No. 8 ranked New Providence Pioneers, 57-45, to give the Newark magnet high school its first-ever state title.

The Arts senior point guard finished with a team-high 19 points to go along with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 steals, the ever-present Rivera
For Rivera it’s been quite the senior year at Arts, a school where curriculums such as music and acting are among the key areas of study, and with success for many alums; and she has taken full note of that, including learning to play the piano, while also enjoying her other classes such as Spanish.

Former Arts High basketball and track and field standout Michael B. Jordan (Class of 2005) won the Oscar this year for Best Actor for his work in the film, ‘Sinners.’

“I loved my time at Immaculate, which was a nice family and a very small school,” said Rivera. “Arts is a little bigger and I’ve tried to really take hold of the opportunities in music, including learning the piano since I’ve come here, and with great teachers.

“It’s a school community where everyone loves to be here, and it feels like family, including on our basketball team this season.”   

Rivera had considered a variety of different colleges, including Brown University from the Ivy League along with Wagner, Indiana State and Merrimack before Hampton emerged in the picture.

“I am looking forward to all that is ahead when I get to Hampton,” she said. “I am ready to get to work while hoping to make my own impact at a great university and with its women’s basketball program!”