Haley Huard commits to University of Montana

Haley Huard Haley Huard 6'1" | SG Valor Christian | 2021 State CO is moving to Colorado in two days to begin a new chapter of her life but before she does, the soon-to-be high school senior felt she had to first make a different life-changing decision.

She had to pick a college.

Huard, who is transferring from Eastlake in Sammamish, Wash., to Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch, Colo., announced via Twitter on Thursday that she will continue her athletic and academic career at the University of Montana.

“I think I realized it about a couple weeks ago,” Huard said. “I just sat down with my parents and weighed the pros and cons between all the schools. What really stood out to me is the sports culture there. It’s a rare thing for women’s basketball to be a big thing at a school and it is at Montana. I really like the coaching staff and the team, and I really feel like they’ll support me and I can reach my potential there.”

Huard said she was also considering a bunch of other schools in the Big Sky and several in the Pac-12. Apart from being impressed by the basketball program at Montana, Huard said she is looking to study either business or elementary school education and liked the programs the school offers for those academic pursuits.

A 6-foot-1 guard with excellent shooting ability and defense, Huard is currently No. 4 in the Prep Girls Hoops Washington player rankings for the Class of 2021. Her father got a job at Compassion International in Colorado Springs, prompting the family’s move to the Centennial State.

Huard’s younger sister, Macey Huard, is also a Division-I prospect and is currently PGH Washington’s fifth-ranked player in the Class of 2023. Both players will play for Valor Christian and will join Colorado Premier Basketball Club to play their grassroots hoops.

Huard won a state championship in Class 4A, the largest classification in Washington, two years ago as a sophomore at Eastlake High School. As a junior this past season, she averaged 13.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game. She’ll now join a Valor Christian squad that is already a powerhouse and will have a chance to add a Colorado state title to her resume in 2020-21.

“I’m super excited,” Huard said. “We’ve met a lot of the girls already. They’ve been so welcoming and they’re so good. I can’t wait to play with them. Christianity is really important to me so I’m also really excited for the faith component as well as the athletics. And coach Jess (Caldwell) is an amazing coach and I really think she’s going to push me and Macey to become the best players we can be.”