Former two-sport standout Arielle Collins to be inducted into the Steinert Athletic Hall of Fame
By Mary Ann Tarr
She hopes to someday return the favor.
“It’s still hard to believe that I am the school record-holder,” said Arielle Collins, who is the all-time top point-producer in basketball history at Steinert High School. “I remember when I broke Dahntay Jones’ school record and he reached out to congratulate me. I look forward to the day that someone surpasses my record so I can do the same.”
Collins, who finished with 1,732 career points, soon will join Jones in the SHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Collins, a two-sport star who earned eight varsity letters, is slated for induction into the Hall of Fame during ceremonies April 1. Jones, who went on to an NBA career, scored 1,675 points before graduating from Steinert in 1998 and was a member of the Hall of Fame’s inaugural induction class in 2006.
Arielle Collins is in the record books at Fordham, ranking among the leaders for steals, assists and foul-shooting percentage. She has said that she is proud to be part of a team that was the foundation for such a successful program.
If you press hard, Collins, who earned all-state recognition in both sports, will admit that if she had to pick, she would select basketball over soccer. “I liked them equally, but if I had to, I would choose the one that came more natural to me which was basketball.
(“Former SHS girls’ soccer coach) Aimee Turnbull was very sad when I announced I was going to play (just) basketball in college. ‘You can do both’ she said.
“One of main reasons I picked Fordham is because they were so well known for academics and business. I had academics and the future on my mind.”
While at Fordham, Collins captained the squad for two seasons. She had 79 steals (the third-highest single-season total in school history) and ranked 12th all-time with 243 career assists. She also ranks among the all-time leaders in free-throw percentage.
Who helped Collins become an all-star in high school soccer and basketball and college hoops? She says “the list is endless … but a few people stand out in my mind.”
First on the list is her family. She is the youngest of five children. “I have four older brothers who never stopped pushing me to reach my full potential,” Collins said. When she was named Female Athlete of the Year by The Times of Trenton in 2008 she told the sports writer about pickup basketball games in her driveway. “They did not treat me like a girl once. They pushed me around.”
A constant throughout her life is the support system that she had at home.
“My parents are my biggest fans and the reason I was able to accomplish so much in my career and my life,” she said.
She also noted the bond she has with her many teammates. “It is hard to name all of the teammates who played a major role in my life but I will never forget my teammates who I am still very close with to this day, specifically from Steinert Jenn Melker and (fellow HOF inductee) Kristi Cady.”
She knows she is fortunate to have had a long list of excellent coaches.
“My childhood and lifelong coach Terrance Bailey taught me not only the fundamentals of basketball but the mental aspect of the game,” Collins said. “T.B. was always there for me, teaching me, supporting me and cheering me on – I could always hear him from the sideline.
“My high school coaches Aimee Turnbull and Bryan Rogers. Coach Turnbull taught me about confidence. Soccer never came easy for me so she challenged me to work hard and to have confidence
Arielle Collins was an all-star player in soccer and basketball at SHS. She was a three-time team MVP and two-time captain in basketball. She averaged 21.6 points and 4.6 assists in her senior campaign and became the school’s all-time leading scorer.
in myself and my teammates. Coach Rogers always believed in me and taught me to believe in myself. If I was having an off-game he taught me how to set up my teammates and utilize my leadership skills. Rogers also taught me to “play hard, play smart and have some fun.
“My college coach Stephanie Gaitley. It’s hard to put into words how much she has taught me on and off the court. She demanded the most from me and never let me settle. Although I was only able to play for her for (my junior and senior seasons), I accomplished more than I could dream in that short time. She helped me take my game to the next level. From the minute she walked in the door she was on a mission — she wanted to win championships. A lot of the things she taught me I can bring into my career now. She taught me a lot of principles on and off the court. There are moments and advice I remember she gave me that have stuck with me and I still use in my professional career.”
Collins works in the fashion industry in NYC and says she loves it. She has been with Burlington Stores for four years and currently works in the women’s fashion department as a buyer.
She loves the Jersey Shore and likes to travel. And she still finds time for sports and fitness. “I try to work out to stay in shape and depending upon the season, I’ll join an adult (basketball or soccer) league. Currently I am in a women’s soccer league on Wednesday nights in Ewing.”
And, she’s still rooting for someone to break her school record for career points in basketball at SHS.
The deadline for reservations for the Hall of Fame dinner is rapidly approaching. Visit steinertathletichof.com or the organization’s Facebook page for info.
