Kendall Braden was in class at Toledo Christian when she learned the news: Tricia Cullop was leaving Toledo for the University of Miami.
Destiny Robinson was 41 miles away at Fremont Ross.
Both girls had a similar shocked reaction. They had been around the UT women’s basketball program long before committing to the Rockets, growing close to the coaching staff. Suddenly, they didn’t know if they were homeless or wanted to go elsewhere.
“It was definitely hard for me because I just love coach Cullop and the whole staff,” Braden said. “I’ve known them since the eighth grade.”
Said Robinson: “I was a little concerned since the staff who recruited me was gone.”
But Toledo was home, almost in a literal sense. After several weeks of debating and being re-recruited by a handful of schools, Braden and Robinson kept their commitment, giving Ginny Boggess an early (and much-needed) victory.
“I often get asked what I did first when I got hired,” Boggess said. “My No. 1 priority was to secure the roster. Our fan base creates an elite environment at Savage, which, in turn, helps us recruit very high-level talent. Knowing Kendall and Destiny fit our style of play, the main thing was sharing my vision for them in the program moving forward.
“I’m so happy they chose to stay. We want to put a fence around our region and continue to recruit the best local talent to continue to grow the game and our fan base. They saw a tiny glimpse of their potential celebrity status while working camp this summer. It was so fun to see the campers look up to them and want to be like them.”
The 5-foot-8 Braden has been a local sensation since she was in middle school. The rest of the state learned about her in high school. She was a first-team All-Ohio selection the past two seasons and a second-team all-state honoree as a sophomore.
The three-time Division IV Northwest District player of the year finished her career with 1,884 points and 212 3-pointers. Braden averaged 29.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 6.6 steals per game during the 2023-24 regular season for the 16-4 Eagles.
“I love Toledo,” Braden said. “I love being close to home. I love my family, and the fans are amazing. The arena is amazing. There are just so many pluses to Toledo, and I just figured I’d stay. And I’m very glad that I did because I’ve been getting to know coach Ginny and the whole staff a lot over summer training, and I love them. They’re genuine people.”
The 5-foot-7 Robinson was a second-team all-state selection her final two seasons, capping off a decorated career with nearly 1,400 points. As a senior, she averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, shooting better than 50 percent on 2-point field goals and 32.1 percent from 3.
Bradley University was the runner-up in the Robinson sweepstakes, with UT winning out because of the actual university, not athletics, and Robinson’s first impression of Boggess.
“I knew Toledo felt like home,” Robinson said. “There was definitely a little uncertainty, but I think patience and my faith helped me. I wouldn’t say I was all-in because she didn’t recruit me. But after meeting her in person, I was definitely like, ‘Yeah, this is where I want to be.’”
Toledo is better for it.
Sophia Wiard and Quinesha Lockett — the past two Mid-American Conference players of the year — are gone. Sammi Mikonowicz, Khera Goss, Nan Garcia, Hannah Noveroske, Jessica Cook, and Emmi Rinat return, as well as Ella Weaver and Cadence Dykstra.
Former Springfield standout Kendall Carruthers transferred from St. Francis (Pa.). Joining Braden and Robinson as true freshmen are Faith Fedd-Robinson, Evalyse Cole, and twins Courtney and Heidi Smith.
“The coaches love for the game, you can see it every single day,” Robinson said. “They love to compete. They love to push us. They’re great coaches to have. I’m definitely excited. That first home game in Savage, I think that’s what I’m most looking forward to.”
Braden and Robinson are rooming together. They’ve helped each other this summer get acclimated to college life — classes, basketball sleep schedules, living away from home for the first time. Summer workouts and practices allowed all the newcomers to become familiar with teammates and coaches.
In some respects, even veterans are back to the beginning. Clearly, they have an upper hand in experience. But they’re acquainting themselves with the coaches and a new system just like freshmen and transfers.
“It’s definitely an adjustment, which I think for any freshman it would be,” Robinson said. “But it’s been fun with the teammates, even the coaching staff. Everyone has made sure they feel at home.”
It’s easy to feel at home when Toledo is home.
“UT fans came to some of my high school games and came up to me and my family and introduced who they were, and I just thought it was really amazing,” Braden said. “I get to talk to Sammi and her fan base, and it just looks really awesome. I’m so happy that I get to experience something similar.”
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