Former UCLA basketball player Kisa Hughes died March 1 at the age of 33 after battling colon cancer.
Hughes played in Westwood from 1994 to 1996 after transferring from Cal State Fullerton. She earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 1995 and led the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots that season.
However, she will remembered for more than just her on-court contributions. She was known for her caring personality and kind demeanor.
“The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Kisa Hughes was her generosity,” UCLA women’s basketball coach Kathy Olivier said in a press release. She coached Hughes in her first three years as head coach.
“Kisa was always thinking about others, which made her a great teammate. She was always understanding and very kind. With her, it was always about the other person,” Olivier said.
“The amount of phone calls and e-mails we’ve received about Kisa speaks volumes about how much she was loved and will truly be missed.”
In her freshman year at Cal State Fullerton, the 6-foot-4 center was a Freshman All-American and earned Big West Conference Freshman of the Year honors.
Hughes averaged 11.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game over her career as a Bruin and remains ranked second in school history with a career field goal percentage of .564.
She also ranks in the top 10 in several single-season school records, with her 10.4 rebound average in 1995 ranking seventh and a .577 field goal percentage in 1996 ranking fifth.
In her final game as a Bruin, against Washington State in March 1996, Hughes played all 45 minutes in the overtime game. She led the team with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
After graduating with a degree in history, Hughes played international basketball for more than two years in China, Germany and Austria before returning to the states. Back in California, Hughes worked with charity groups such as the Beyond Shelter housing group and the city of Los Angeles’ Rewarding Youth Achievement Program.
Basketball was more than just a part of Hughes’ family. Her father played at Cal State Fullerton, and her younger brothers Solomon and Gabriel played at Cal, and her brother Ronald Jr. played at New Mexico Junior College.
She is survived by her parents, Ronald and Barbara, sister Kilee and her three brothers.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Los Angeles Conservation Corps.