W. hoops: Freshman Quinn handles transition to college ball with a grin

Noelle Quinn’s smile lit up Pauley Pavilion as the UCLA
women’s basketball team took to the court for practice
Monday. With Quinn highlighting the much-anticipated debut of
UCLA’s four new incoming freshmen, the future looks just as
bright.

Quinn headlines a consensus top-10 recruiting class that is
expected to help transform UCLA into one of the nation’s
elite teams. Undoubtedly one of the best talents out of high school
ever to don a Bruin uniform, Quinn arrives at UCLA amid very high
expectations for a program that is looking to take the next step
after a rebuilding season last year. However, she doesn’t
expect the hype and pressure surrounding her debut to squelch her
enjoyment on the basketball court.

“I always smile and I’m always having fun,
that’s me,” said Quinn, sporting a contagious grin.
“I’m just ready to get started. When we start playing,
that’s when I’ll get some butterflies. But for the most
part, I am composed right now, just concentrating on getting
better.”

Quinn has enjoyed all kinds of success on the high school level,
leading Bishop Montgomery High School (Torrance) to four CIF State
Division III championships and being named State Player of the Year
four times. As a senior, the versatile 6-foot Quinn averaged 22.9
points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.9 steals a game.

Like sophomore teammate Nikki Blue’s, Quinn’s game
has been compared to Los Angeles Lakers’ great Magic
Johnson’s ““ her idol ““ for her ability to do
anything and everything so seamlessly on the basketball
court. 

“If you know the period of Showtime, that’s how I
like to play,” said Quinn, referring to the great Lakers
teams of the 1980s. “Magic’s who I emulate. Fast
breaking, getting teammates involved, passing, everything he does I
love about him.”

But now that the high school level is in her rear view mirror,
Quinn and fellow freshmen Amanda Livingston, Conseulo Lezcano and
Shaida Zaidi know their biggest adjustment will be keeping pace in
the faster, more aggressive collegiate game. 

“Everyone is going to be bigger, stronger, and a lot more
aggressive,” Livingston said of the competition she expects
to face. “They’re not going to say “˜look
she’s a freshman, go easy on her.’ They’re going
to go hard on everybody, but I’m not going to be intimidated
by anybody.”

The first official practice for the upcoming season took place
Saturday, and the freshmen quickly realized that Pauley Pavilion is
quite different than their high school gymnasiums.

“The practices are a lot longer and more intense,”
Quinn said.  “But I love my teammates, and they make
practice so much better by encouraging everyone. It makes it so
much easier hearing positive feedback from your
teammates.”

And according to 11th-year head coach Kathy Olivier, practice is
the perfect place to build trust and rapport between teammates.

“We talk about establishing that family atmosphere,”
Olivier said.  “As much as you are a freshman,
we’re going to take care of you and help you along the way,
so come game time, you’re not a freshman anymore.”

Though Olivier has yet to assign definitive roles to the
freshmen for the upcoming season, Quinn and Livingston have a
general sense of where they’ll make their impact.

“Michelle Greco was a big part of this team, and I have to
fill that spot,” Quinn said. “I’m not saying
I’m Michelle Greco ““ those are some big shoes to fill
““ but I’m in the off-guard position, and I am just
going to do everything I can.”

While Quinn will likely assume small forward duties, the team
will look to Livingston to provide added depth in the
frontcourt.

“They needed a rebounder to clean up the boards, so
that’s going to be one of my main focuses,” Livingston
said. 

The tide slowly seems to be changing for the Bruin program, and
the years of adversity and struggles appear to be yielding to a
bright and successful future. 

Not only will Quinn’s on-court play be a decisive factor
in the Bruins’ success this season, but her decision to stay
put in the Los Angeles area could signal a positive recruiting
trend for UCLA. While past local prep stars have left for the East
Coast, Quinn’s signing may influence emerging young stars in
Los Angeles to more seriously consider local schools before making
their college decisions. 

“It was a big thing for me staying close to home so my
family and my friends could come watch,” Quinn said.
“We just got two verbals for the (2004 season) and
they’re from the Los Angeles area, so hopefully that message
is getting across to other girls that you don’t have to go to
the East Coast, to the UConns and the Tennessees, just to have fun
and play college basketball.”

The 2003-2004 season promises to be a memorable one. And though
it may be a roller coaster ride for Bruin fans, coaches and players
alike, there’s one thing you can bet on. Somewhere, Noelle
Quinn will be smiling.

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