Sports

Goldstein’s McDonough commits to D-II Chestnut Hill

Brittany McDonough wanted no part of playing basketball. She didn’t want to have to do anything where people would be watching her. The Brooklyn native started out as a baton twirler when she was 6, but even then she refused to go to competitions because of her social anxiety. She tried out for swimming and then quit when she realized spectators were able to come to meets.

“I used to hide behind my mom,” McDonough said with a laugh. “I didn’t talk to anyone.”

Ironically, basketball – the thing she so feared – is what has helped her get over most of that shyness. And basketball is also going to be her ticket to a free college education. McDonough, a senior at Leon Goldstein, committed to play at Division II Chestnut Hill on Thursday.

“When I play, I’m not shy at all,” McDonough said. “I feel like it helps me. People are looking at me when I play, but I don’t act like it. I’m just focused. But when I’m in class, I can’t get up and like give a presentation. I’m too nervous.”

The 5-foot-7 point guard has had an illustrious high school career. She led Goldstein to a PSAL Class B championship as a sophomore and the Dolphins went to the ‘A’ quarterfinals last year. Known for her ball handling and superb passing, McDonough also hit seven 3-pointers in the ‘B’ semifinals against Brooklyn Collegiate as a 10th grader.

“She’s gotten more comfortable in front of the crowd as she got older and she’s taken that leadership role as she got older,” said Goldstein coach Adrian Buchhalter, who began coaching McDonough in sixth grade at Bay Academy. … “I think this year she’s the best point guard in the ‘A’ and she can shoot. That’s what I love about her. She’ll take that shot when they stop guarding her.”

McDonough, who was also considering Goldey-Beacom and Queens College, said she fell in love with Chestnut Hill when she visited there last weekend and didn’t think she had to see any other school. The small size was perfect, yet it’s still in Philadelphia, a big city that is nearby. Head coach Laura Pruitt is entering her first year at Chestnut Hill after being the top assistant at Dowling, where she’s one of the program’s all-time best players.

“I liked coach [Laura] Pruitt,” McDonough said. “I just really loved the school.”

One assistant coach who has seen her play multiple times thinks the feeling will be mutual.

“She has very good size at the guard position at the Division II level and her range and length will make her a tough matchup in that league,” the assistant said.

Added Nick Crimeni, her travel coach with Coaches Choice USA: “Her ability to pass is just incredible. She sees the court. She can do things that nobody can teach you.”

Perhaps that passing ability games from her introversion, a byproduct of all those times she hid behind the legs of her mother, Denise. She doesn’t want to be the one in the spotlight, scoring. She wants her teammates to have the glory.

Of course, Buchhalter warns that McDonough will have to do more scoring than ever for him this coming season with the graduation of Chrissy McKeever. She’s not worried about that, though. Her nerves are still present – just never on the basketball court.

“She was this quiet, shy little kid and now she’s going off to college before we knew it,” said Crimeni, who has know McDonough since she was 4 years old. “To see her grow and mature as a person, it’s incredible. She worked very hard. It’s amazing to see everything pay off.”

mraimondi@nypost.com