EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern head women's basketball coach Joe McKeown announced Thursday that Jess Sancataldo (Sydney, Australia/Turamurra) has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Wildcats in 2018.
Sancataldo joins Sydney Wood, Veronica Burton, and Courtney Shaw to complete the four-person class of 2022.
"We are really excited to have Jess become part of the Wildcats family," McKeown said. "She is an outstanding student-athlete who will be a great fit at Northwestern on and off the court. She has a burning desire to be a great player and a great teammate, qualities that we place a high emphasis on in our program. She comes from a great family and from a country where basketball is played at a very high level."
The Sydney, Australia, native averaged 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last year as a junior. She also played for the Men's A Grade basketball team in 2017 and scored 13 points in her first game. In addition to basketball, Sancataldo is a national champion European handball player, and she competed in field hockey, track and field, and cross country.
Jess Sancataldo
6'0 * Guard
Sydney, Australia/Turamurra High School
High School: Four-year varsity team captain … Averaged 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game as a junior … two-time team MVP … AAU team (AUSA Gold) was champions of Adidas Gauntlet Finale … Scored 7 points in overtime as AAU team overcame 23-point deficit to defeat Arizona Elite in the Super 64 Tournament … Tallied 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists to lead Australian Club team to victory over top team on the ladder despite only having 6 players … Played for Men's A Grade Basketball team in 2017, scoring 13 points and registering a block in her first game … Sydney North High School Regional team … Competed in New South Wales All Schools National Championships in 2017 … NSW Under 20 team received silver medal at national championships in 2017 … European handball women's open team captain in 2016, co-coach in 2017 … Was European Handball State Championships top goal scorer in 2016, en route to winning the national championship … Competed for European Handball Australian Under-21 National Team and Beach Handball Australian National Team … Cross country champion in 2015 … Recipient of Caltex School All-Rounder of the Year for combined sport and academic excellence … Also competed in javelin, high jump, and field hockey.
Personal: Born Jessica Rose Sancataldo … Parents are Sharon Watt and Gerry Sancataldo … Anticipated major is Architectural Engineering and Design.
Sancataldo joins Sydney Wood, Veronica Burton, and Courtney Shaw to complete the four-person class of 2022.
"We are really excited to have Jess become part of the Wildcats family," McKeown said. "She is an outstanding student-athlete who will be a great fit at Northwestern on and off the court. She has a burning desire to be a great player and a great teammate, qualities that we place a high emphasis on in our program. She comes from a great family and from a country where basketball is played at a very high level."
The Sydney, Australia, native averaged 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last year as a junior. She also played for the Men's A Grade basketball team in 2017 and scored 13 points in her first game. In addition to basketball, Sancataldo is a national champion European handball player, and she competed in field hockey, track and field, and cross country.
Jess Sancataldo
6'0 * Guard
Sydney, Australia/Turamurra High School
High School: Four-year varsity team captain … Averaged 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game as a junior … two-time team MVP … AAU team (AUSA Gold) was champions of Adidas Gauntlet Finale … Scored 7 points in overtime as AAU team overcame 23-point deficit to defeat Arizona Elite in the Super 64 Tournament … Tallied 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists to lead Australian Club team to victory over top team on the ladder despite only having 6 players … Played for Men's A Grade Basketball team in 2017, scoring 13 points and registering a block in her first game … Sydney North High School Regional team … Competed in New South Wales All Schools National Championships in 2017 … NSW Under 20 team received silver medal at national championships in 2017 … European handball women's open team captain in 2016, co-coach in 2017 … Was European Handball State Championships top goal scorer in 2016, en route to winning the national championship … Competed for European Handball Australian Under-21 National Team and Beach Handball Australian National Team … Cross country champion in 2015 … Recipient of Caltex School All-Rounder of the Year for combined sport and academic excellence … Also competed in javelin, high jump, and field hockey.
Personal: Born Jessica Rose Sancataldo … Parents are Sharon Watt and Gerry Sancataldo … Anticipated major is Architectural Engineering and Design.