Have Faith: Seton Hall women's basketball adds former Shore star as graduate transfer

Former Manasquan High School star Faith Masonius is coming home to finish her women's college basketball playing career - after boosting Maryland to two Big Ten championships.

Masonius will use her final year of eligibility to play at Seton Hall University for head coach Anthony Bozzella.

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“It definitely is an exciting thing,” Masonius said Wednesday. "I lived in Jersey my whole life and played high school basketball, grammar school basketball so its very exciting to make a full circle moment to come back and represent the state of New Jersey.”

She entered the transfer portal after spending her fifth season at the University of Maryland. After having an "adult conversation" with UMD head coach Brenda Frese, Masonius said she and Frese agreed that learning a new system will help achieve her goal of becoming a head coach one day.

“I think being in a new place, new people, new system, new program will just elevate my game and allow me to continue to earn,” said Masonius. “I was at Maryland for so long, my coach, Brenda, used to tell me, ‘Faith, you can give my pregame speeches.’ "

Prior to attending Maryland, Masonius was a four-star recruit and ranked No. 25 overall by Blue Star. She was the No. 10 overall wing by ESPN. She scored over 2,000 career points at Manasquan and led her team to three straight NJSIAA Group 2 titles.

Masonius is no stranger to Seton Hall and its staff

Masonius said the first person to call her with a portal inquiry was none other than Bozzella himself. The 11-year head coach recruited Faith out of high school - Masonius said during that time she'd hang out on campus and go to games.

She's also familiar with the Seton Hall staff, including former Neptune High star Shakena Richardson. Now the Director of Basketball Operations, Richardson had a similar homecoming season when she finished her college career at Seton Hall after playing at Rutgers and then Florida State.

“We are so happy to be able to add a player with Faith's ability and tremendous leadership skills," Bozzella said. "When recruiting, we always strive to keep local talent home, and with Faith, we love that she'll be playing her final collegiate year in her back yard.”

“I love him as a person and a basketball coach,” Masonius said. “He brings so much energy and passion to the game. It definitely brings that piece of motivation of being at a new place.”

Another clear motive for her move was having her family being able to see her games. Masonius has nine other siblings. Younger sister Hope recently won a state championship with Manasquan High and will be heading to Bucknell.

“I’m really excited that instead of it being a 6 hour drive, 3 hours one way and 3 hours back, it’s only an hour there and hour back,” said Masonius. “My grandpa is 97 years old, the thought about him maybe being able to come to a game is really exciting to me and something I’ll cherish for a lifetime.”

Reason for Masonius' extended college career

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Masonius has been able to extend her collegiate career more than most players and has actually played in five different seasons.

After her sophomore year when Maryland won its second straight conference title, she caught COVID. Masonius had to miss a team trip to the Bahamas and quarantined for 10 days. Two games after being cleared, she tore her ACL, so her junior season was over after playing nine games.

Her goal changed for the following year.

“My only goal was to run up and down the court and not re-injure myself. So it was successful in my book,” said Masonius,a two-time Maryland captain.

Though she’s ready to embark on her journey and put on for New Jersey, Masonius says she has gratitude for her time spent at Maryland.

“I’m just so happy for the opportunity I was able to play at Maryland with Coach Frese,” said Faith. “I’m just happy with my whole experience, all the people I met, the memories I made, I’ll definitely cherish that for a lifetime.”

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ex-Manasquan star Faith Masonius joins Seton Hall women's basketball