From her seat in the stands at Jenny Craig Pavilion, Danesia Williamson watched USD guard Amanda Rego lead the Toreros from West Coast Conference underdog to NCAA Tournament team.
And it made her think.
“She's from San Diego, too,” Williamson said of Rego, a Mission Bay High grad. “Why go away when I can stay close to home and make an impact?”
With signing day only weeks away, the Mount Miguel senior confirmed she will continue her basketball career at USD.
Approached by Pac-10 teams, Boston College and schools around the WCC, Williamson, a 5-foot-6 guard, said the mix of women on the team, the solid academics and the impact of coach Cindy Fisher swayed her.
“She just showed me that when I leave high school, she'll be a coach that cares,” said Williamson, who averaged 20.4 points, 6.4 assists and 4.7 steals as a junior. “I felt I fit more at USD.”
Twice the Grossmont South League Player of the Year, Williamson was an All-San Diego Section pick and honored as an all-state selection.
Leonard picks Aztecs
Kawhi Leonard, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound forward from Riverside Martin Luther King High, has given an oral commitment to San Diego State.
Rated the 13th-best small forward in the state by Rivals.com, Leonard averaged 17.3 points and 6.5 rebounds last year in leading King to the Division I Southern Section championship game against Compton Dominguez.
Leonard, whose team finished 32-3, also received an offer from USD.
Stamps gives SDSU nod
Perris High's Kiyana Stamps has selected SDSU over Boston College and Cal.
As a junior, Stamps averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. But it is on defense that Stamps, who tallied 2.6 steals per game, excels.
Cox Arena host finalist
Cox Arena is one of five finalists to host the 2011-13 Mountain West Conference men's and women's basketball championships. The future site is expected to be awarded in June 2009. Other finalists are Denver, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque, N.M.
Staff writers Brent Schrotenboer and Mick McGrane contributed to this report.
Nicole Vargas: (619) 293-1390; nicole.vargas@uniontrib.com
