North Catholic alum fits nicely at UMass

The stories of NCAA transfers run the gamut. There are those who find a new university and thrive. Those who regress and have regrets. And those who find that little changes at a new address.

It is a risk-reward proposition, one that North Catholic grad Sam Breen had to consider when choosing to leave Penn State four games into her sophomore season in 201819.

“I loved Penn State, but it wasn’t a good fit,” she said. “I needed to find a good fit.”

Soon after, as if the basketball stars had aligned, Breen found the University of Massachusetts. And, UMass found her.

“Not long after I stepped off the plane for my visit, I realized that I belonged here,” said Breen, who grew up in Gibsonia. “It was one of those things that you can feel in your gut. I had other visits lined up, but I didn’t need to go on them. I didn’t see myself going anywhere but UMass.”

The decision has been a boon for all involved.

Breen ranks third in the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring at 17.0 points per game, fourth in rebounding at 8.0 and 12th in field-goal percentage at .444. UMass, which was riding a fivegame winning streak before Breen joined the lineup, saw the streak balloon to 11 after her debut.

It has been quite the start in Amherst, Mass., for Breen, the 2017 Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year who was rated the nation’s No. 67 recruit by Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. She scored more than 2,500 career points at North Catholic.

“My teammates, my coaches, everyone here — they make me feel comfortable,” said Breen, who scored 44 points in 26 career games at Penn State. “I know it’s a cliche, but I feel like I’m family here.”

Forced to sit out the first semester of this season due to NCAA transfer rules, Breen made her debut at Iona on Dec. 21. She finished with a modest eight points and nine rebounds in front of a number of family (her father grew up close to the university) and friends.

Ever since, there has been nothing modest about the play of this 6-foot-1 junior forward.

In her second game, Breen amassed 28 points and 11 rebounds against Southern Connecticut State in her home debut. She finished 11 of 19 from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range.

That effort was followed by 16 points and 9 rebounds at hometown Duquesne, and 13 and 9 at St. Bonaventure. During one two-game stretch in mid-January, she had 22 points and 12 rebounds against La Salle and 26 and 9 at Rhode Island. She shot a combined 19 of 42 from the field, including 7 of 15 from 3-point range, in the UMass victories.

“It was like Christmas morning when Sam became eligible,” UMass coach Tory Verdi said. “She can score at all three levels. Teams now are doubling her in the post because she’s shooting at such a high percentage. But the thing is, she can stretch the floor and shoot the 3. We try to isolate her a lot, whether it’s at the elbow or at the basket or with an onball screen. She can score from anywhere on the floor.”

In the past four games, Breen scored 26 points against George Washington, 26 at Davidson, 21 at George Mason and 21 versus Fordham. She went 38 of 89 from the field, 9 of 23 from beyond the 3-point arc and collected 29 rebounds. She had a double-double against Davidson (her third this season), while coming up two rebounds shy versus Richmond. She was named the A10 Player of the Week on Feb. 3.

To steal Breen’s earlier phrase, she’s “fitting in.”

With authority.

“I thought it might be a struggle to get back into it, but I worked out and practiced with my teammates, so it just feels natural to be out there again,” she said.

As good as things are going, Breen admitted to losing morale after her time at Penn State. It didn’t help that she had to sit out the first semester of this season — something UMass challenged, and lost.

“A struggle,” she said. “I wasn’t feeling the same way about basketball for a while, and it affected my confidence.”

This is where Verdi stepped in. The UMass coach was certain that he could assuage Breen’s concerns, while rebuilding the confidence that made her one of the top prep players in America.

“I told her, point-blank, ‘Give me a shot. I will be here for you,’” said Verdi, the fourth-year coach who led UMass to records of 9-21, 14-16 and 1616 in his first three seasons. “Our relationship as a player and coach moved very quickly. She had support from us right away.”

While practicing with the Minutewomen during her year off, Breen showed signs of returning to her old self. Teammates were awed by her competitiveness and multi-faceted skills. Verdi, meanwhile, was counting the days until she was eligible.

“I’ll be honest, Sam was a pain while she was on the scout team, because she was kicking our butts,” he said, laughing. “Several times, I turned to my assistants and said, ‘She is very, very good.’”