Bella Burcar ’29 grew up around college basketball, watching her father, Shane Burcar, navigate the recruiting process as head coach of Northern Arizona’s men’s basketball team.  

That experience proved invaluable when it came time for Burcar to go through the recruiting process herself and join University of the Pacific’s women’s basketball program over the summer.

“Growing up around college basketball and learning from my dad, I quickly understood how important it is to handle your business,” Burcar said. “There are so many other aspects outside of just basketball that coaches have to deal with, if all the student-athletes are doing what they need to do, along with the rest of the coaching staff, it makes winning a lot easier.”

Seeing her dad build connections with recruits, whether over the phone or in person, also gave her valuable insight. 

“He taught me what coaches look for in a player: someone who is humble, family-oriented, mentally and physically tough and highly competitive,” she said.

For Burcar, the top quality she valued most was loyalty, which she found at Pacific. When Burcar underwent surgery following an ACL injury in 2024, Head Coach Bradley Davis and his staff remained committed.

“I knew that I wanted a coaching staff that had my best interests in mind and were loyal. Once Pacific continued to stay by my side when I was out for a year with ACL reconstruction, I knew these were the people I wanted to be around,” she said.

With summer practice under her belt and the season quickly approaching, she is again drawing on her experience watching her father run a college basketball program as she transitions to the collegiate level.

“Communication is definitely the skill I’ve leaned on the most,” she said. “Whether I am getting treatment, working out or just need to talk to one of the coaches, communicating beforehand and always saying thank you after is something my dad and mom have installed in me since I was younger.”

Burcar was one of three first-year students signed by the Tigers during the 2025 signing day, joining Jordyn Dyer and Payton Montgomery. Graduate students Jojo Nworie ‘28, Victoria Rivera ’28 and junior Yana Karamfilova  ’27 round out the Tigers’ six newcomers.

Their season tips off Nov. 2 at home against Simpson. See the full schedule.