How Arizona native, BYU transfer Amanda Barcello found home in Utah Valley

OREM — Amanda Barcello felt plenty of conflicting emotions when she sent a notification to BYU's compliance department and entered the transfer portal.

A native of Chandler, Arizona, the former Seton Catholic Prep star had found a home at BYU, where her older brother, Alex, starred for the Cougars and she earned West Coast Conference All-Freshman honors after averaging 2.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, including a career-best 12 points, three rebounds and two assists against No. 16 Oklahoma.

But the 5-foot-11 wing found that same family that had embraced her within a few hours — and they were right up the road from her former home, ready with a scholarship offer when Utah Valley assistant coach Xojian Harry first reached out.

Immediately, it felt like a phone call from a family member that felt further away even if the Cougars and Wolverines regularly scrimmage and host summer "runs" due to proximity.

"It brought a smile to my face," a beaming Barcello said.

Within moments, Barcello had reconnected with Harry — her former director of basketball operations at BYU — and Utah Valley head coach Dan Nielson, who recruited her in high school.

Barcello already fits the scheme, a veritable offense with taller guards led by former Skyridge star Ally (Blackham) Criddle and Kaylee Byon. The former BYU associate head coach doesn't dive into the transfer portal for much every year out of personal philosophy.

But he already knew that Barcello would fit in Orem, not only on the court but in his culture, as well.

"I'm a lazy coach, and I want to be surrounded by good people," Nielsen said, tongue firmly in cheek. "Her and her brother I knew, and were good people and we wanted that in our program. It's been a seamless fit. We love having her around."

The fit made it easy to welcome in Barcello, one of three first-year transfers to the program alongside former East High standout Liana Kaitu'u (from Portland) and Canadian guard Jenna Dick (from Tarleton State).

Barcello is hardly the only member of the UVU women's basketball family with strong ties to BYU, the Wolverines' opponent Tuesday night in the Marriott Center (7 p.m. MST, ESPN+). Besides Nielson, a former BYU practice-squad player who graduated in 2006, and Harry, a 2015 graduate, the ties between the two schools run deep.

Fellow UVU assistant Michael Shreeve graduated from BYU in 2018, and former Mountain View star Tahlia White is also a BYU transfer who missed the 2022-23 season with an injury. Associate head coach Adam Wardenburg's father John is in his first year on Amber Whiting's staff in Provo, and former UVU assistant Morgan Bailey returned to her alma mater two years ago as another assistant coach.

The Cougars have won each of the 10 prior meetings, including a 6-0 mark at home that includes the last meeting 71-57 on Dec. 14, 2019, in Provo.

There are plenty of ties that bind the two programs separated by less than five miles on University Parkway, which has helped Barcello make an easy transition from a blue jersey to a green one.

"There were a lot of connections," said Barcello, who had 2 points, an assist and a steal in UVU's season opening 56-55 win over Weber State last week. "It really did feel like family every time I talked to them, and I was looking forward to those calls. It was always positive and uplifting."

During her two seasons at BYU, including a redshirt year in 2021-22, Barcello developed a reputation as a spot-up three-and-D shooter. AB — a nickname she inherited from her brother — wants to be more than that, but she's also happy to fill that role, if needed.

"Her game just fits us," Nielson said. "She's a team player who can drive and shoot the ball, but she's also selfless. She's not out there for her — she's out there to win."

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