Belen sharpshooter Danilynn Bob commits to Hartnell College basketball

Danilynn Bob turned a five-year climb on Belen High School’s varsity into a college opportunity, committing to Hartnell College to keep playing basketball and continue her education. The Navajo guard from Valencia County leaves Belen as one of the Eagles’ most productive players and one of the most familiar names in local girls basketball.

Belen coach Sam Gavaldon has seen the route up close. He called Bob a “sharpshooter” and said she earned the team’s trust after being on varsity since eighth grade, a rare level of responsibility for a player who spent nearly her entire high school career against older competition. Bob’s bio lists her as a Class of 2026 athlete, and it also shows the range that helped shape her game at Belen: basketball, soccer, track and field, and cross country.

The numbers back up the reputation. MaxPreps listed Bob as Belen’s 2025-26 team leader with 278 points, a 34% mark from 3-point range and 36 blocks, a blend of scoring and length that made her one of the Eagles’ most dependable two-way players. The profile was last updated April 1, 2026. For younger players in Valencia County and on the Navajo Nation, that mix of early varsity experience, steady development and multi-sport work offers a clear blueprint: show up early, keep playing, and earn the trust that leads to bigger opportunities.

Bob’s rise has also been tied to Belen’s broader push under Gavaldon. In December 2023, she was named Most Valuable Player at the Red vs. Green Tournament in Hatch after Belen opened the season 3-0 and beat Santa Teresa in the championship game. Local coverage also pointed to Bob and her sister, Jaelynn Bob, as part of the core that helped drive the Eagles’ climb, alongside Leigha and Jadarose Wright.

Hartnell, in Salinas, California, gives Bob a program with serious history and recent success. The college competes in the California Community College Athletic Association, its women’s sports history dates back to the 1940s, and women’s basketball is led by head coach Steven Terry, who was appointed in July 2023. Hartnell finished the 2025-26 regular season 18-11 overall and 7-1 in conference play, a strong level for Bob to step into as she moves from a Belen centerpiece to the next stage of her career.