Since landing standout recruit Noelle Quinn from nearby Torrance
two years ago, UCLA women’s basketball coach Kathy Olivier
has made it a point to keep local talent in Southern
California.
With the announcement of two local players having signed their
national letters-of-intent to UCLA this past weekend, it appears
Olivier is making good on her promise.
Chinyere Ibekwe of Carson High School and Tierra Henderson of
Muir High School in Pasadena join Ashlee Trebilcock from Newhall
Hart High School in Newhart to comprise the recruiting class of
2004-2005 that will enter UCLA in the fall.
“With the signing of Ashlee, Chinyere and Tierra, we have
continued to be successful in our quest to keep the best players in
Southern California here at home, and added significantly to our
team depth,” Olivier said.
In Ibekwe, the Bruins hope to add a post presence that has been
lacking in recent years. With 6-foot-7 senior Sissy Pickett
graduating, the 6-foot-4 Ibekwe would be the tallest member of the
team along with junior Consuelo Lezcano.
Sister of Maryland men’s basketball player Ekene Ibekwe,
the local standout averaged 23.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 3.7
blocked shots per game in her senior season. Her inclusion on the
Bruin roster, along with the expected return of Julia Pitts, will
bolster a thin frontline currently consisting of 6-foot-3 Lindsey
Pluimer (10.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and 6-foot-1 Amanda Livingston (7.9
ppg, 4.4 rpg).
While there will be an immediate role for Ibekwe to fill, it
appears that Henderson, 5 feet 10 inches, will be competing for
time with a host of guards. Starting in 2005, Henderson will most
likely be playing behind Quinn, Nikki Blue, Lisa Willis and
Trebilcock, who all stand between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet
tall.
It won’t be Henderson’s offense, however, that
distinguishes her play on the court. The high school senior is
widely regarded as one of the best defensive players in Southern
California. In her senior season at Muir, Henderson averaged 16.6
points, 6.5 rebounds and an astounding 5.0 steals per game.
The duo will join Trebilcock, who was recently named second-team
Parade Magazine High School America. The trio is expected to
provide much-needed depth to the Bruin roster, one of the
team’s glaring weaknesses last season.
Trebilcock, who signed during the early period back in November
of 2004, averaged 22.1 points, 3.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds during
her senior season.
The new recruits will look to help UCLA improve upon its 2004
finish. The Bruins were sixth in the Pac-10 with a conference
record of 10-8 and an overall record of 16-11.