Patrice Broomfield lacked size and joined a high school basketball team as a freshman that finished at the bottom of its district.
No obstacle was too big for Broomfield as she started for the Clarksdale Lady Wildcats as a freshman at just 5 feet and 5 inches and took the team from worst to first as it won the district championship. Broomfield, now 5-6 after growing one more inch, consistently kept her team competitive every year and her success was capped off by winning Region 3-4A MVP honors as a senior. The Lady Wildcats also won the 2019-20 district tournament in Greenwood and then earned a home playoff victory.
Broomfield finished her career averaging 13.8 points, 2.1 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals per game. She earned All-District honors three of her four years and said she possessed confidence at a young age.
“I was real small. I was like how am I going to be able to compete with people way bigger than me?” Broomfield said. “I told myself heart over size.”
Broomfield said her big growth spurt came while she was in eighth grade at W.A. Higgins Middle School.
Looking back at her success, Broomfield said, “It means a lot. Who knew a hundred pound girl could just go in and take over?”
Broomfield also believed she could have success as a freshman because of two other seniors – forward A’myiah Fizer and guard and forward Tameria Daniels – were there every step of the way.
“We knew we were special,” Broomfield said. “We knew we could do it. We just had chemistry with each other.”
One of Broomfield’s most memorable games came during her senior season when she scored 36 points in a 72-63 win at home against Horn Lake.
“It was our first time beating Horn Lake,” Broomfield said.
Her basketball career began at Kirkpatrick Health & Medical Science Magnet School.
“When I was fourth grade, they told us they were going to do a basketball clinic, an elementary league,” Broomfield said. “I decided to tryout. I didn’t know if I was good or not. Everything just came natural. When they wanted me to do something, I did it.”
“We were No. 1,” Broomfield continued.
At W.A. Higgins Middle School, Broomfield’s seventh grade team lost three games and her eighth grade team lost one game.
Broomfield also played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for the local tea, Mississippi Delta Elite.
“It was fun to get to play in front of a lot of college coaches because I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” Broomfield said.
Broomfield said seeing different styles of basketball helped her game.
Broomfield took an interest in basketball at a very young age.
“I used to watch it all the time,” she said. “I always watched the NBA.”
Broomfield’s favorite NBA team is the Golden State Warriors, particularly because of point guard Stephen Curry.
“I like Steph,” Broomfield said. “He’s my favorite player. He reminds me of myself. He passes the ball. He’s not selfish.”
Broomfield also enjoys watching WNBA small forward Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx.
As Broomfield prepares for the next stage of her life, she is focused on academics and athletics. She currently maintains a 3.6 GPA, is an honor student and plans to major in biology in college to become a traveling physical therapist.
“I read all the time,” Broomfield said.
Her favorite book is Becoming Michelle Obama.
“She’s a great person,” said Broomfield of the former First Lady.
Broomfield said she liked Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative to promote healthy living.
Broomfield has stayed physically fit herself not only by playing basketball, but she also ran track through her sophomore year of high school. She has many different options when it comes to playing college basketball.
“My dream school is Louisiana State, but wherever life takes me, I’ll be grateful for it,” Broomfield said.
Broomfield said Delta State University, Coahoma Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College have already offered her basketball scholarships. She was accepted to Mississippi State University for her academic performance in high school.
While Broomfield had many accomplishments as a Lady Wildcat, she did not reach her ultimate goal of winning a state championship. She is hungry to win a title wherever she continues her career and knows how she can improve her game.
“I feel I limited myself way more than I should have (in high school),” Broomfield said. “I was very passive. In college, it’s a big step, big level. In college, you have to be very talented and play on that type of level. You’re going to have to do some very challenging things when you go to college.”
