Former Bellport standout Arella Guirantes is now representing Puerto Rico in the Olympics. The 26-year old is playing for the 2024 Puerto Rican National Olympic Women’s Basketball Team.
As a star for Bellport she had 2,251 total points, a record for the Bellport program, which includes the boys and girls teams. She was such a prolific scorer she once scored 58 points in a game against Kings Park and won Suffolk’s player of the year for girls basketball. As a senior she averaged 35 points per game, 17 rebounds per game and scored 40 points or more five different times, she also did that five times as a junior.
After graduating from Bellport in 2018 she went on to play for Texas Tech and Rutgers where she was once again a star. Guirantes led Rutgers to a 58-24 record and they dominated the Big 10 slate of games as well. She was named First Team All-Big Ten twice, and was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team.
Her career continued at the pro level when Guirantes became the 22nd pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, selected by the LA Sparks in the second round. In her rookie season, Guirantes played in 25 of LA’s 32 games, before moving on to the Seattle Storm for the 2023 season where she appeared in nine games.
Guirantes then played overseas in the EuroLeague Italy for Beretta Famila Schio. She led the team with 15 points per game and ranked top three in rebounds and assists.
Guirantes is eligible for the national team under FIBA guidelines because her grandfather was born in Puerto Rico. In the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in February, Guirantes led Team Puerto Rico in points, rebounds and assists over the three games.
“Being on the Puerto Rican National Team has been such a blessing,” Guirantes said. “To be put in touch with where my grandfather was born and raised is really special to me. That I get to represent such a beautiful island, and represent my grandfather, and all of the sacrifices he made to give us a better life, is incredible. Being on this team is so special. To represent what is home away from home for me and feel the pride that comes with putting on my Olympic jersey means so much more than playing a game.”
Guirantes mother, Demetria, played at Stony Brook and Her father, Robert, used to help coach the varsity and junior varsity boys teams at Bellport before taking over his daughter’s training.