The Jewish Link would like to recognize 13-year-old Shifra Prager as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The eighth grade student at Yeshivat Noam, was a key contributor on the 10-1 Noam Knights girls basketball team that had its season cut short hours before their semifinal game at Ramaz. Prager has not let quarantine time mess with her game, getting her shots in at the Hustle & Heart Sports/Bergen Broncos foul shooting league. After the first week, Prager was leading the pack with a perfect 10/10 performance. When asked about Prager, Yeshivat Noam coach Steve Gutlove told the Jewish Link, “Every successful team needs a Shifra Prager. She is without fail the first to practice and the last to leave the gym. Shifra always gives 110%, with Steph Curry range and gravity-defying athleticism. She is a coach’s dream player—consistently looking to work on her game, extremely coachable and always has a smile on her face. Wishing Shifra much continued success, both on and off of the court.”
Shifra, congratulations on a great start to the tournament. Who is your role model and why?
My parents are my role models, because they work really hard in everything they do and encourage me to do my best.
What is your favorite sport?
My favorite sport is basketball because it is a really fun team sport that I get to play with my friends.
What is your greatest sports accomplishment?
Winning the YMSSA basketball championships in sixth and seventh grade and going undefeated in those seasons.
What is your earliest sports memory?
Going to Yankees games every year with my family since a young age.
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
Stephen Curry because he is a really great 3-point shooter and I want to be like that too.
What is your favorite sports memory?
It’s a tie between getting to the third round of a foul shooting contest at the Basketball Hall of Fame and playing during a time out at an FDU Women’s basketball game and scoring a buzzer beater 3-pointer.
What is your pregame routine?
I eat a snack, usually a California roll of sushi, warm up with my team and shoot a bunch of threes.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing sports?
When I’m not playing sports I like to hang out with friends and family.
What is your weirdest sports memory?
Passing the ball to a teammate through an opposing player’s legs during a game.
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
It proves that if you work hard enough, it will pay off.
The Jewish Link Sportstar of the Week will receive a $15 gift certificate to any Teaneck restaurant of their choice. Please contact Moshe Kinderlehrer at 201-371-3212 to receive a certificate. Please send nominees for an upcoming Jewish Link of New Jersey Sportstar of the Week to [email protected].
