Clarksdale High School senior point guard Patrice Broomfield officially announced last week she will be signing to play college basketball at Delta State University next season.
Broomfield, 5 feet, 6 inches, was a four-year starter for the Lady Wildcats, the Region 3-4A MVP, led her team to getting one game from the state tournament, was ranked No. 32 for senior girls in Mississippi Play Sports and finished 2019-20 with 13.8 points, 2.1 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals per game. She was also an All-Region selection her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons and added a district championship in 5A in 2016-17 as a sophomore campaign. She earned team Lady Wildcats team MVP honors as a sophomore and junior.
“I chose Delta State because they made me feel welcome,” Broomfield said. “They used to always invite me to the games. I used to go to the games. Obviously, they were interested in me going there, but I prayed about it. God led the way. I liked the coaching and environment a lot.”
Coahoma Community College, Mississippi Delta Community College and Hinds Community College also offered Broomfield basketball scholarship, but she welcomed the opportunity to play for a four-year school from the start and being close to her family.
Lady Statesmen coach Craig Roden spoke highly of Broomfield in a press release.
"We are very excited to add Patrice to this class," he said. "She is a great scorer and floor leader, and she is a guard that has the chance to come in and develop into a good scorer in our league."
Broomfield said the Lady Wildcats mostly played a zone defense, but it would be more man-to-man in college.
“It’s going to be different, more fast paced, more intense,” Broomfield said.
Broomfield said when she played AAU basketball for the Mississippi Delta Elite, the team ran a man-to-man defense.
While playing for the Mississippi Delta Elite, Broomfield scored 40 points against a team from Arkansas.
“I thought I was going to have a bad game,” Broomfield said. “Before I even got there, I was feeling like I wasn’t going to be able to play because I was feeling so bad, but when I got there, I got in my zone.”
As well as Broomfield has played, she knows she needs to continue improving to be prepared for college basketball.
“I would like to gain a little weight, get stronger and work on anything I’m weak at,” Broomfield said. “Every player has a weakness.”
School has gone to distance learning for the remainder of the semester due to the coronavirus, but Broomfield said she is staying in shape by running on the track, working out with equipment at home and shooting baskets at home. She has a hoop at her house and she is also working out with the program Delta State sent her.
Broomfield has not played basketball with any of her new teammates at Delta State.
“For me, it’s going to be hard for me (to get to know my new teammates) because I don’t really talk a lot,” Broomfield said. “I’m like sort of an introvert. I like to stay to myself a lot, but I know that it’s college. I can’t be like that. We’ve got to be more vocal.”
She was happy with the way everything turned out.
“I just say thank you to all of my coaches from elementary to high school, my best friends, Tameria (senior guard and forward Tameria Daniels) and A’myiah (senior forward A’myiah Fizer),” Broomfield said.”I want to wish them great success as well.”
Broomfield plans to major in biology pre-physical therapy to become a physical therapist.
