Starr Breedlove spent her high school career as a nomad, playing at three different schools over four seasons. The talented point guard’s journey will continue with one more trek, but this time it will be a one-stop trip.
The Bronx native committed to the University of Washington, her father Antonio (Mousey) Carela announced Sunday night. Breedlove, who played last season at DePaul Catholic (N.J.), chose the Huskies over Xavier and Memphis after taking an official to the Pacific Northwest a week ago. She also played at Patterson Catholic (N.J.) and St. Michael Academy.
“That’s where I am going to be for the next four years,” Breedlove said. “It feels good to know I’m not going anywhere.”
Breedlove didn’t head to Washington thinking she would make a decision, but left feeling a great connection to the school. Despite the distance Breedlove was comfortable there with the team and coaching staff, which she described as honest. She was worried about her parents not being able to see games, but they assured her they will be able to fly out.
The Huskies are in need of a dynamic scoring point guard after coming off a season in which they went 11-17 overall and 6-12 in the Pac-10 last season under first-year head coach Kevin McGuff. He compiled a 106-28 record in nine seasons at Xavier.
“He is going to change things,” Breedlove said.
Change is something she has grown used to. She started her high school career at Paterson Catholic, one of the best teams in New Jersey at the time. When the news broke that the school was in fiscal danger and eventually would close, Breedlove transferred to then-national powerhouse St. Michael Academy and coach Apache Paschall.
As a junior, she showed flashes of brilliance with fearless drives and momentum swinging 3-pointers in a reserve role as part of a star-studded lineup that included current Kentucky guard and McDonald’s All-American Jen O’Neill.
Again, there was more bad news.
A few weeks after the Eagles lost to Christ the King in the CHSAA Class AA final, it was announced that St. Michael Academy would also shut its doors. Breedlove chose not to follow her St. Mike’s teammates and Paschall to Nazareth, but return to her roots in New Jersey.
At DePaul Catholic, she reunited with her former Ring City travel team coach Maria Harper and assistant Dave Andre, the former Patterson Catholic head coach. Last season Breedlove scored her 1,000th career point and helped lead the Spartans to the Passaic County and NJSIAA North Jersey, Non-Public A titles.
“It felt like I never left,” Breedlove said of her return to New Jersey. “I love the atmosphere in New Jersey. … It felt good going to a school that wasn’t that good and to win those two things were a good way to end my senior year.”
A college scholarship just might be even better and more fitting way to reward her perseverance.
“I’m happy it’s over with,” Breedlove said. “I went through a lot.”
