After putting up impressive numbers and contributing in numerous
ways to the UCLA women’s basketball team for the last three
years, Lisa Willis is finally getting some national
recognition.
In what she claims to be the greatest accomplishment of her
young basketball career, Willis, a senior guard, has been selected
to represent the United States in the World University Games. The
tournament will take place in Izmir, Turkey, from August 10 to 19
and features the top collegiate players around the nation.
Willis is just the third player ever from UCLA to be selected to
the games, joining the legendary Ann Meyers (1979) and Denise Curry
(1981).
“It feels great,” Willis said of being selected.
“It doesn’t happen that often. I’m looking
forward to representing the university right.”
It may come as a surprise to some that Willis is UCLA’s
lone representative on the team. Noelle Quinn, Nikki Blue and
Willis have been the core of the Bruin team for the past two
seasons and are deemed a “Triple Threat.” While Quinn
and Blue have received the bulk of the national acclaim during
their UCLA tenure, it is Willis who was handpicked to represent her
country and not her highly touted teammates.
“Maybe the reason that Lisa doesn’t get as much
credit is because she isn’t just good at one or two
things,” said UCLA coach Kathy Olivier. “She does so
many different things well. She’s an all-around player that
can beat you in so many ways.”
All three members of the Triple Threat were invited to try out
for the World University team, but in the end it was Willis’
package of skills that fit the team’s needs.
“It’s unfair to say that I got chosen over (Quinn
and Blue) because they play different positions than me. I had the
3-point shot they were looking for.”
Willis has indeed exhibited great 3-point range in her time at
UCLA. Last year, she led the Pac-10 with 70 3-point field goals
made. But it was more than just her range from beyond the arc that
got her on the team, as she led the Pac-10 in steals last season
with a total of 102.
“Her defensive ability had to be a factor,” Olivier
said. “She’s sneaky. She lulls you to sleep and creeps
up on you when you least expect it.”
Willis has traveled an unconventional path to the World
University Games. She was considered by many to be a top-50
national prospect for her skills, but a bum knee toward the end of
her high school career limited her prospect status.
“When we got her, we thought she’d be good,”
Olivier said. “But she has really busted her tail to be one
of the best. She is in great condition and great shape. She’s
worked extremely hard to get to where she’s at right
now.”
That hard work has turned her into a cornerstone player for the
UCLA women’s basketball team and now, one of 12
representatives for her country as a player on the USA World
University Team.
“Nothing, absolutely nothing she does surprises me
anymore,” Olivier said.