As a four-year varsity starter, Mother McAuley point guard Quinn Arundel’s resume certainly qualifies her to play college basketball.
But the 5-foot-4 senior doesn’t want the job.
“She decided that within the last year or so and that’s the most common question I get, is where she’s going to college,” McAuley coach Curtis Lewis said. “But that’s her decision.
“She’s played basketball her whole life, so I think kids are entitled to do what they want to do with their life.”
Arundel still enjoys playing basketball as much as ever, but she has other priorities for college.
“I want to be a military nurse,” Arundel said. “I applied for the national ROTC scholarship. My top choices are Marquette and Dayton.”
After graduating from nursing school, Arundel will be required to serve four years of active duty in the Army. While she has no history of military service in her family, her grandmother, Sheila Moore, is a nurse.
“I love my grandma,” Arundel said. “She’s always there when we’re sick and she always knows what to do.”
Arundel is always there for the Mighty Macs, who know they can rely on her all-around skills, especially her shooting. They did it again on Jan. 17, when Arundel poured in a team-high 19 points to go with a team-best eight rebounds in a 58-49 win over St. Charles East at Coach Kipp’s Hoopsfest at Maine West.
Arundel sank five 3-pointers, including three from NBA range. One was a 26-footer off an inbounds pass that gave the Mighty Macs (17-4) a 48-32 lead after three quarters.
“She’s always had that as a young kid where she can shoot it,” Lewis said. “What’s equally impressive is she’s so fast so it just extends the defense out at her. It creates opportunities for her, obviously, but also for her teammates, too.”
Arundel tallied 11 points in the first quarter as McAuley took a 23-12 lead. St. Charles East (13-7) pulled within 23-16 on two free throws from Brooklyn Schilb.
But Arundel answered with a 3-pointer from the right corner. That started a 7-0 run and the Mighty Macs led by double-digits until the final seconds.
Sophomore forward Ava Little had 12 points and seven boards for McAuley, while senior guard Delia Sullivan added 10 points.
“It was a good team win,” Arundel said. “Everyone had their role and we all have confidence in each other and everyone contributed to the win. It wasn’t just like one person.”
Arundel has scored over 1,400 career points. She doesn’t pay attention to her stats, preferring to serve others, which is why she has chosen nursing.
“It’s a good job to have and I like helping people,” Arundel said. “Basketball has been a huge part of my life, and I just wanted to change it up.
“I like the commitment and being disciplined and I think doing the ROTC thing in college will keep me with the discipline and just being a part of something big.”
Arundel said she’s been part of something big with her McAuley teammates, who have played together since fourth grade, and Lewis, who has coached her she was 6.
“It’s special to be a four-year starter, especially with Coach Lewis because he’s been coaching me since I was 6,” Arundel said. “I get to end my career with them and I think it’s the best team to end it with.”