Steinberg has been visiting colleges that want her to join their basketball programs. With eight offers covering six conferences and four states it gave her the opportunity to take something from each visit, but at the end there was only one where she felt at home.

In the end, Steinberg chose Division II California University of Pennsylvania.

“Everything about being there felt like home,” Steinberg stated. “They have a great coaching staff, the energy around the program was contagious. The entire atmosphere had a sense of family and purpose. I can honestly say that I left my visit there knowing deep down that Cal U was the place I wanted to be a part of.”

Family is important to Steinberg, the Lady Knights basketball program is headed by her father DJ who has had a front row seat to his daughter’s basketball career and is happy with Clara’s college choice, but is glad the recruiting process is over.

“It’s a huge relief,” DJ stated. “It’s been a lot of fun and exciting, but incredibly stressful also.”

He is very excited about the program Clara has chosen.

“Both her mom and I are super excited,” DJ added. “It’s a great program, they are former DII National Champions. They have state of the art facilities and a top notch coaching staff.”

Playing basketball in college has been a dream of Clara’s since she was a young basketball player.

“Her greatest attribute is her work ethic,” DJ said about his daughter. “She has never missed an open gym in four years. She trains before school, when she can’t find a gym to shoot in she shoots outside, rain or shine, hot or cold. She has actually had to chip ice off the basketball net at our house so the ball drops through.”

Clara’s relentless work ethic has made her one of the top basketball players in the state of Pennsylvania, she averaged 23.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2 blocks per game as a junior last season. Her 3-point shooting skill (39%, 75 made shots) made her the top shooter in the state, and was voted to the all-region, all-district and all-state teams.

For Steinberg, the opportunity to play in college is exciting, but she and her Eisenhower teammates have some goals of their own this season.

“We’d like to win our region and win a District 10 championship,” Clara said about this year. “But it won’t be easy as we are moving up a class. But we are ready to show everyone what Eisenhower girls basketball is all about.”

Steinberg is currently eighth in total points scored for girls in Warren County and the top spot is within reach. She sits at 1,358 points and needs 465 points to break the all-time mark of 1,822 held by Eisenhower alum Elisha Jones.

Four years ago, when Clara and some of her teammates began their high school career, there were only eight players on the team for junior varsity and varsity. The program has good numbers now and there are enough players in the elementary program to put four teams on the court.

Clara Steinberg embraces her role as a role model to the younger players and hopes to be an inspiration to them in the same way that she looked up to the Ruhlman sisters, Riley Childress and DJ Hahn from the Warren basketball program.

“From an early age when Clara saw how they played, she wanted to be just like them,” added DJ.

For all of long hours in the gym, Clara appreciates the time that Eisenhower boys basketball head coach Ryan Mangini has put into her development.

“He lets me play against the boys whenever I have the opportunity and that has helped me get stronger, faster and smarter on the court,” Clara added.

Clara also gave thanks to her trainer Bernard Edwards.

“I absolutely wouldn’t be the player I am without his help,” Clara said.

Her dad has been her biggest supporter and although it’s a unique relationship with him as her head coach, Clara was quick to recognize the role he has played in her development.

“It’s hard to put into words the gratitude I have for him and everything that he has done for me,” Clara said about her dad. “He has been my biggest fan and my harshest critic. He has sacrificed so much for me, I don’t ever take it for granted.”

Taking things for granted is not in Clara Steinberg’s DNA, all she knows is that hard work produces results.