A few months ago, Anjali (Little Bit) Moncrieffe wasn’t sure where she would continue her career when her time at Bishop Ford came to an end.
Saturday was Graduation Day for the Park Slope school and the pint-sized guard walking into the Rose Classic tournament for her quarterfinal game still dressed in her cap and gown, knowing where she was going to spend her next four years.
“It’s a relief,” she said.
Moncrieffe committed to play basketball at Concordia College on a full athletic scholarship in April. The Division II school showed interest in her since the beginning of her senior season and, with a void at point guard, it offered her after an official visit in March. Moncrieffe, who wants to study sports management and business, chose it over Wesleyan and Rochester.
“It’s a very small school,” she said. “It made be me feel like I was at home, but away from home. I felt real comfortable, especially with the team.”
Finding that perfect place wasn’t an easy task for the 5-foot-5 Moncrieffe, who helped the Falcons to a 33-21 record over the last two seasons, upsets of Christ the King and St. Michael Academy and a spot amongst the city’s elite teams.
The fact that Concordia was on her from the beginning and staying in regular contact made her feel wanted. Falcons coach Mike Toro said they came to a bunch of games during the season to watch her play and he could see some of the pressure to find a school mounting as the year went on.
“It was stressful because I didn’t know until the season ended,” Moncrieffe said.
The Clippers finished 6-20 overall and 4-14 in the CACC under head coach John DeSio. Concordia was in need of a true point guard and will also have St. Peter’s sharp-shooting guard Megan Burns coming in next Fall. The floor general role is one Moncrieffe can excel in.
“It’s a small, quiet place where there won’t be that much pressure for her,” Toro said. “She can just shine in front of people that actually needed her. She should fit perfectly for them.”