Bra’Shey Ali is happy to be coming home to Seton Hall.
“My family can watch me play,” the New Jersey product and former Nazareth and St. Michael Academy star said. “I felt like I was a long distance away from my family.”
Ali transferred from Kentucky to be closer to friends and family in her hometown of Plainsboro, N.J., she said. The sophomore will have to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules and will join former St. Mike’s and Exodus travel ball teammate Brittany Webb as an incoming player for the Pirates.
“I felt a connection with them,” the 6-foot Ali said. “I liked their program. I felt like I could help them.”
She said she didn’t regret going to Kentucky and enjoyed her overall experience despite being dismissed in early August after various violations of team rules. Those reportedly included arriving late from holiday break. Ali saw limited playing time as a freshman last season, appearing in 11 games, averaging just 7.5 minutes and scoring 2.1 points a contest. Former St, Mike’s and Kentucky teammate Jennifer O’Neill felt Ali didn’t fit the system and maybe didn’t feel comfortable.
“This was a lesson learned for me in many different ways,” Ali said. “I’m not sure if it was because this was my freshman year and it was a new experience for me, but this most definitely has taught me to stay focused.”
She will join a Seton Hall team that is trying to rebuild and compete in the loaded Big East. She will get to face Exodus alums Shenneika Smith and Jennifer [Big Love] Blanding of St John’s and Bria Hartley of UConn. Ali won two New York State Class AA Federation titles – one each at St. Mike’s and Nazareth – during her high school career.
“I’m glad that she is part of our Seton Hall family,” Webb said.
Added Nazareth coach Lauren Best: “A lot of our kids are very connected to us. Whenever they can get close to home, they will.”
Ali got to see a different family Thursday as she and fellow Exodus members took to Rivington Court on the Lower East Side in a game to remember former coach Apache Paschall, who tragically died of a heart attack in January. She is also happy to be closer to her immediate family as well, and get a new start at Seton Hall.
“It means a lot to me,” Ali said. “I am going to be able to see my family a lot, be around them and go home when I want to go home.”