Lauren ‘Boogie’ Brozoski transfers to Hofstra from Michigan

Lauren “Boogie” Brozoski, a former standout at Long Island Lutheran High School, has transferred from Michigan to Hofstra, the university announced Monday. The sophomore will be eligible to play after fall 2017.

“I just wasn’t happy there. It had nothing to do with playing time,” said Brozoski, who averaged 17.1 minutes in 34 games as a freshman and 14.1 minutes in nine games this season. “I just felt like I wasn’t given a fair opportunity and I didn’t really fit in with the program there after a while.”

There were other factors involved in her decision.

“I just felt that it’d be best for me to come closer to home and be closer to my family,” said Brozoski, who is from Cambria Heights in Queens. “Michigan definitely taught me a lot on and off the court. I had to be very physical and make decisions a lot quicker. I don’t regret going there.”

Several other schools had interest in the 5-6 point guard, including Delaware, Ole Miss, Seton Hall and Fordham.

Losing the rest of her sophomore season because of transfer rules made the decision difficult, but Brozoski said that “mentally, I just wasn’t OK there.”

Brozoski led the Crusaders to four New York State Federation championships. She’s a five-time Newsday All-Long Island selection and won three straight player of the year awards from 2013 to 2015. She was state player of the year in 2014 and 2015, a McDonald’s All-American in 2015 and Miss New York Basketball in 2015.

“High school is high school,” she said. “You always have the chip on your shoulder like, ‘Hey, I was Gatorade Player of the Year.’ Now, especially coming back home, you have to represent your home state.”

Recruited heavily out of high school by Hofstra coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey, Brozoski said she felt comfortable with her and knew she could thrive if an opportunity arose there.

“Coach K has been recruiting me since eighth grade,” Brozoski said. “She was my first offer. I had that connection with her, and I knew that if I gave her a call, she’d open a spot and give me a chance.”

Superior ballhandling skills, outside shooting and playmaking ability make Brozoski a key addition for Hofstra (8-9), which has lost six of its last seven games.

“She is an Energizer bunny. She is a positive spirit. She’s just scratched the surface with her ability as a point guard,” Kilburn-Steveskey said in a statement. “Every coach loves to have someone with that type of intensity, that type of work ethic and that type of positive spirit. I’m excited to have her back.”

And Brozoski is excited to be back.

With Casey Musarra