Every once in a while, a totally unexpected opportunity comes
along with a reward so great, it simply cannot be ignored. Such an
opportunity may currently be knocking on UCLA women’s
basketball coach Kathy Olivier’s door.
Jacki Gemelos, who verbally committed to women’s
basketball powerhouse University of Connecticut at just 15 years
old, recently backed out of her commitment. The recent graduate of
St. Mary’s High School in Stockton wants to be closer to home
and has narrowed down her list to three schools: USC, California
and UCLA.
“My goals and dreams haven’t changed,” Gemelos
told the All Star Girls Report. “I still want to win a
national championship. I just want to do it at a school that is
closer to home.”
Gemelos, who was touted by many as the next Diana Taurasi after
she committed to UConn, was a recipient of various All-America
honors in high school and was recently named to the Scout.com/Full
Court Press “Super Six” as one of the top six prospects
in the nation. The 5-foot-11-inch guard is known for her toughness,
quickness and uncanny ability to put the ball in the basket.
“My phone’s been ringing off the hook from different
schools,” Gemelos’ high school coach Tom Gonsalves told
the Tracy Press. “I think she’s going take her time on
this and make sure she makes the right decision this
time.”
For UCLA’s Olivier, the addition of Gemelos could prove
invaluable. With the “triple threat” of Lisa Willis,
Noelle Quinn and Nikki Blue already in place along with rising star
Lindsey Pluimer and freshman Ashlee Trebilcock, Gemelos could be a
player to elevate the program to heights it hasn’t reached in
a long time.
While Olivier cannot comment on the recruitment of Gemelos
because of NCAA policy, she admitted that the complexion of a
program can easily change with one or two additions.
“There are some players who will take your program to the
next level, and that is really what separates our recruiting in
some years,” Olivier said. “We’re always looking
to add that championship caliber player, no matter how she fits
into the system.”
Recruiting has been a see-saw battle for Olivier the last couple
of years. While UCLA has landed top recruits (Pluimer, Trebilcock)
who have the program in position to make a run to the postseason
this year, there have been a number of in-state recruits who have
passed over UCLA as well. Ashley and Courtney Paris, Charde
Houston, Candice Wiggins, Jessika Bradley and Monique Alexander
were all top prospects from California in the last couple of years
rumored to be seriously considering coming to UCLA, but for one
reason or the other, decided to go to other schools.
“Every year we go after the best recruits in the country,
and some class you get two or three of the best and others classes
you’ll get none of the best,” Olivier said. “I
don’t look at it like our recruiting has gotten better or
worse over the last few years, because we bring in All-Americans.
Some years will inevitably be better than others.”
The sense of urgency for Olivier could come from the fact that
there is a rarely a year in which so many top recruits in the
nation are from California. Along with Gemelos are Abi Olajuwon,
Morghan Medlock and UCLA point guard Blue’s highly touted
cousin, Latara Darrett. All are top national recruits and list UCLA
as one of their final favorites.
This current situation, along with Gemelos’ de-commitment
from Connecticut, has presented Olivier with a new opportunity to
land what unquestionably is a top recruiting class. With the Nov.
15 signing date approaching fast, it won’t be long before
Gemelos and the other recruits make their final decisions.
With reports by Adam de Jong, Bruin Sport senior
staff.