How Purdue women's basketball looked north to South Bend in bolstering of its roster

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue freshman guard Rashunda Jones began her journey to basketball stardom in middle school with lifelong friends and future South Bend Washington High School and Purdue teammates Mila and Amiyah Reynolds.

The trio started playing basketball games against each other at The Zone Sports Complex in Plymouth starting in the sixth grade after attending church together at Faith Temple Church of God in South Bend as children.

Now the Reynolds sisters and Jones are reunited in West Lafayette as the three South Bend natives attempt to bolster Purdue women's basketball after the Boilermakers made their first NCAA Tournament in five seasons in 2023.

"It was a big step for our community (South Bend)," Jones said. "Because there's not a lot of chances you get to play with your childhood friends. To go from childhood friends, to high school friends and now college is huge."

Jones, Mila and Amiyah Reynolds dominated Indiana basketball, winning 68 games and only 17 losses together on the court during three seasons together — a team coached by the Reynolds sisters' father Steve.

Mila Reynolds, the 6-foot-3 small forward averaged 21.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, Amiyah averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds per game, and 4.9 assists while Jones averaged 11.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game when South Bend Washington won the IHSAA 3A state title in 2022.

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The trio helped South Bend Washington win the 2022 IHSAA 3A title, winning each of its seven playoff games by an average of 42 points per game. The Panthers were eliminated from the 2023 4A tournament at the semistate level.

"Especially from high school we had this flow," Jones said. "We just hooped. Amiyah being the point guard she knew when I was going to cut or when Mila was going to pop. That's a really big part of it."

The reunification of South Bend Washington's dynamic trio wasn't initially part of the players' plans. Amiyah was going to join Mila who played her freshman year at Maryland.

But then Mila entered the transfer portal in March to join Purdue and Amiyah decommitted from Maryland while Jones had already committed to Purdue during her senior year — creating a South Bend basketball pipeline for the Boilermakers.

Kira Reynolds, the third of four sisters committed to Purdue on October 11. Kira, a 6-foot-3 small forward, averaged 16.3 points, 12 rebounds and 5.8 blocks per game during her sophomore campaign. Per ESPN’s recruiting rankings, Kira is the 59th best player for the Class of 2025.

"It's just hard to believe," Jones said. "When I think about it, it's like dang. Now I get to play with them for four years. We already have chemistry and we already know how each other plays. It's just amazing to watch."

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Mila, Amiyah and Jones each have a different battle ahead entering the 2023-2024 season. Amiyah Reynolds will redshirt this season as she recovers from a severe foot injury that ended her senior year in 2023 while Mila Reynolds and Jones look to earn key minutes for the Boilermakers.

Here's how the Reynolds' sisters and Jones are taking on different challenges happening both on and off the court.

Mila Reynolds "I get a chance to prove myself" after Maryland stint

Mila Reynolds endured a rough 2022-2023 season during her lone year with the Terrapins. She dealt with what was called "minor injuries" with Maryland.

Whatever ailed Reynolds caused her to fall in the depth chart during her freshman campaign. Reynolds was also homesick and desired to be closer to her family.

She played 12 minutes against George Mason in the season opener but later saw action in just 22 of Maryland's 35 games. Reynolds played nine minutes or less in her final 12 games with Maryland.

"I can't sulk and be upset about the past," Reynolds said. "I try not to really dive or think about it. I just try to move on and change what I can do now. I just got to be different."

She leaned on her father Steve's experience to help process what happened at Maryland. Steve Reynolds knows the ups and downs of Division I athletics having starred as a guard at Western Michigan from 2000-2002, averaging 15.9 points with the Broncos.

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"My dad is my coach, my pastor, my teacher and my counselor," Reynolds said. "He's always been giving nuggets here and there on my diet and what I need to do during workouts."

Joining Purdue has boosted Reynolds' confidence and she explained how influential coach Katie Gearlds has been in helping her overcome physical and mental challenges.

"Coach KG (Gearlds) engages with you not just on the court but off the court," Reynolds said. "Off the court she's having conversations with you and I didn't feel like I had that in the past. I appreciate that a lot from her."

Purdue takes on Maryland at XFINITY Center in College Park, Md., on Jan. 6. Reynolds will look to show what Maryland missed out on after registering just four baskets during her final 12 games with the Terrapins.

"I feel like I didn't have a chance to do anything when I was at Maryland," Reynolds said. "Now I'm here at Purdue and I just want to perform and play for the people who believe in me."

Jones soaking in experience from senior leadership

Jones hasn't played a regular season game yet but is soaking in the knowledge and information provided by seniors like guards Jeanae Terry, Abbey Ellis, Madison Layden and forward Caitlyn Harper.

The seniors definitely lead and that's where I want to be next year," Jones said. "We have six freshmen and two sophomores. As I grow, I want to be like them."

Jones excelled at South Bend Washington as a 5-foot-8 shooting guard. Her quick ball-handling skills, strong upper body to finish layups through contact and impressive shooting form made Jones quickly draw interest from Division I programs.

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She was named Miss Indiana Basketball runner-up in 2023 after averaging 19.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 57% from the field and 45% from 3-point range during her senior year..

While multiple schools showed interest, Jones seemed set with Purdue after being recruited by Gearlds.

"What made (Purdue) my pick was Coach KG (Gearlds)," Jones said. "Her energy reminds me so much of Coach Steve (Reynolds) so much."

Amiyah trying to contribute from bench during rehab

Amiyah Reynolds has been forced to take a different approach during her year as a college athlete at Purdue.

Reynolds will watch from the sidelines after having suffering a grade 3 ligament tear in late January during South Bend Washington's final regular season game against LaLumiere. She was forced to have surgery and screws and plates were inserted into her left foot.

"Everything has been going on as scheduled but it's been a very long process," Reynolds said. "It's a full year recovery.

Reynolds has kept busy, inserting herself in stationary dribbling drills. But the goal is to comeback fully healthy and instantly impact the team as a 6-foot-tall point guard.

"It's different being a leader on the court than being on the sidelines," Reynolds said. "I'm excited to be able to experience things on the court."

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While the Reynolds sisters and Jones won't be able to share the court together until next season, Amiyah believes the chemistry and precision seen on the court in high school will be even greater at Mackey Arena.

"Just being able to win at the next level is what we are trying to carry on to this program," Reynolds said. "It's not about individual accolades. We want to win and it's not about us three. We just want to win."

Ethan Hanson cover high school sports and Purdue women's basketball for the Journal & Courier in West Lafayette, Indiana. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson and ethan_a_hanson on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue women's basketball receives top talent from South Bend