LYNN — Bella Owumi of Lynn, an eighth-grade winger on the St. Mary’s girls basketball team, was in her room Monday night when she got a text from her AAU basketball coach.
The text message told her to call Boston College, and Owumi did just that. As she was on the phone, her mother, Rebecca, was recording – that’s when she knew something was up.
“I was kind of confused,” Owumi said.
Then, it happened. Owumi received an offer to play basketball for the Boston College women’s basketball team at just 14 years old.
“I don’t think I really saw it coming,” Owumi, who received an offer from the University of Rhode Island as a seventh-grader, said. “I didn’t think they were going to offer something this early.”
Well, they did – an Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse that won 16 games this past season.
“To receive an offer from an ACC school as an eighth-grader, I think, speaks volumes about where she stands in the country as a girls basketball player,” St. Mary’s coach Jeff Newhall said. “[It’s] something I have never seen in this area ever.”
Owumi called a potential decision “way too early,” but is grateful nonetheless.
“I worked so hard… It was just a dream when I was younger,” Owumi said. “I got the news that I got an offer and I was really emotional.”
Speaking of when she was younger, Owumi began playing basketball in kindergarten. She struggled at first because the boys “wouldn’t pass me the ball.”
“Every week, I would tell my mom I don’t want to play anymore,” Owumi said. “But I kept playing.”
It’s a good thing she did. Owumi has played for St. Mary’s since sixth grade, and Newhall – quite literally – saw her talent on day one.
“You could see when she came to tryouts as an 11-year-old,” Newhall said. “Something was just different with her as a player, something you just don’t see.”
As a Spartan, Owumi has started 52 games (48-4 record), won two state titles, and scored more than 400 points – yes, all before reaching high school.
“I’ve been enjoying it,” Owumi said. “I really like playing for Jeff [Newhall]. He lets me play my game and doesn’t put too much pressure on me. Obviously, he has high expectations, but he’s not forcing me to do anything I’m not comfortable doing.”
“Our bond is pretty strong on and off the court,” Owumi said. “I’m pretty grateful for that, too.”
The compliments go both ways between Owumi and Newhall.
“[She’s] a super kid from a great family. The future’s so bright for her,” Newhall said. “She has to continue to be humble and hungry as I know what she wants to do and where she wants to go.”
As for what she wants to do, Owumi is just getting started.
“This is something I want to do for a living,” Owumi said.
Well, she’s off to a good start. Owumi said the plan is to keep practicing every day, and that she’ll (most likely) be listed as a forward for the defending champs next season.
