Sep 17, 2015 3 min read

The record-setting season of California High School’s girls basketball team ended last March with a 36-26 loss to North Catholic in the second round of the PIAA playoffs. Though the Trojans struggled on offense, the bright spot was forward Kylie Huffman. She scored just five points, but grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two shots.

If California is going to return to the state playoffs and defend its section title, it will do so without Huffman after the 6-2 junior officially transferred to North Catholic last week. She joins a team that reached the PIAA quarterfinals and returns junior 6-2 forward Samantha Breen, a Division I recruit.

Huffman, who is receiving interest from Division I schools, averaged 11 points and five rebounds in 25 games for the Trojans last season. She missed eight games while recovering from knee surgery.

Huffman’s father, Ray, who works as the California Middle School principal, declined comment.

North Catholic athletic director Mike Burrell confirmed that Huffman is enrolled at the school in Cranberry Township.

“Obviously, with every transfer student who participates in athletics, each student comes in to meet with our principal and myself,” Burrell explained. “We interview them to get a feel for the reason behind the transfer and if we feel there is no athletic intent, we sign the form and send it to their old school. It’s always the same procedure and we didn’t find any athletic intent.”

Huffman made first team on the Observer-Reporter All-District Basketball Team as a freshman after averaging 15.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game. She was third team last year.

Doctors reconstructed the medial patellofemoral ligament in her left leg after the season, a surgery made necessary because of a genetic abnormality in her patella tendon.

Despite missing time last season following the surgery, Huffman continued to be a force in the lane for the Trojans, who went on a 25-game winning streak, won a second consecutive section title and captured the program’s first state playoff game.

Now, California head coach Chris Minerd is faced with the task of replacing one of the top players in WPIAL Class A.

Minerd, who also is the athletic director at California, only said he is unsure if the school will contest the transfer.

PIAA rules state that if a student’s transfer from one school to another is materially motivated in some way by athletic purpose, the student will lose their eligibility in each sport in which they participate for one year following the date in which they transferred.

Huffman enrolled at North Catholic last week, but cannot participate in any practices with the basketball team until California and the WPIAL sign off on the transfer.

“I don’t understand why (California) would feel it’s athletic intent,” Burrell said. “The family moved to Zelienople, so I don’t know what can be said.”