Women's Basketball | April 21, 2015

SEASIDE, Calif. — It looks like another strong recruiting class for Kerri Nakamoto and the Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team, which welcomes four new student–athletes to the raft. Guards Brianna Tucker (Clovis North HS) and Jordana Price (Seattle/Inglemoor HS) will join forwards Kylie Fujioka (Mark Keppel HS) and Kaitlyn Rodriguez (Huntington Beach/Edison HS on the 2015–16 Otter roster.

The quartet, Nakamoto's second recruting class as CSUMB head coach, will join 12 returning Otters for her third season on the Otter bench. Heading into the summer, 14 of the 16 players on the roster were recruited by Nakamoto, with only junior guard Victoria Dorn (Seaside HS) and senior post Mykayla Harris (Orange/Villa Park HS) remaining from the previous era.

 

 

	KYLIE FUJIOKA: Kylie Fujioka was a highly decorated player for CIF Southern Section powerhouse Mark Keppel High School in Alhambra…led the Aztecs to the 2015 CIF Open Division Tournament and the Division II State Championship game…was a 4–time a–league (Bay 3, Almont 1) and a 3–time all–area selection…also lettered in volleyball and softball as a prep athlete…played travel ball with the Salesian Force…plans to major in human communication (English) at CSUMB. COACH NAKAMOTO SAYS: "Kylie is a strong inside post player. She has great footwork and the strength to push people around inside. Kylie is a very effective post passer and will give teams trouble with her ability to hurt them in the post with her passes or with her ability to step out and knock down perimeter shots. Her versatility will be a major strength in the Otter post game."
	JORDANA PRICE: Jordana Price becomes the second Otter recruit in as many seasons to hail from Washington state…prepped at Inglemoor High School in the Seattle suburb of Kenmore…was the third–leading scorer on the IHS roster in 2014–15 (8.8 ppg) and was the Vikings' top 3–point shooter with 38 made…led the all King County 4A players by shooting 43 percent (36-of-84) from beyond the arc…was a 3–time all–district selection and a 3–time winner of the State Sportsmanship Award…led IHS to consecutive Washington 4A Final Four appearances, including a berth in the 2015 championship game…also played volleyball and soccer and ran track as a prep athlete…played travel ball with ECBA and the Columbia Cascades…plans to major in business administration at CSUMB…is a native of Portland, Ore. COACH NAKAMOTO SAYS: "Jordana is a combo guard who possesses a high basketball IQ. She is a leader by example and has a great work ethic and attitude. She is an extremely effective outside shooter and also a great passer. She will bring her scoring ability as well as her leadership and knowledge of the game to The Kelp Bed next season."
	KAITLYN RODRIGUEZ: Kaitlyn Rodriguez will trade beach communities when she makes the trek from Huntington Beach and Edison High School to play at CSUMB…played big guard and small forward for the Chargers…averaged 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as a senior…named to the Sunset League All–Academic Team for 2015…a Scholar–Athlete Award winner each year at EHS…lettered three times in basketball and once in tennis…played travel ball with the OC Rhythm Black National team…with major in mathematics at CSUMB…is a native of San Diego. COACH NAKAMOTO SAYS: "Kaitlyn is a strong, fearless player. She has a very efficient change of speed which makes her difficult to guard. Kaitlyn is strong and can get to the basket and finish with contact. She can knock down the three on offense if needed. She will also be able to guard the opposing teams' bigger guards and be able to out muscle them on both ends of the court."
	BRIANNA TUCKER: Brianna Tucker joined the Otters in the early signing period…prepped CIF Central Section power at Clovis North High School…named MVP of the 2015 Fresno North/South Senior All–Star game…was a 2–time All–Tri–Rivers Athletic Conference pick…MVP of the 2013 Hoover tournament…also played volleyball for the Broncos…played travel ball with Organized Chaos…is an honor roll student at CNHS who will major in kinesiology at CSUMB…is a native of San Jose. COACH NAKAMOTO SAYS: "Brianna will be a great shooter and a lock–down defender on the perimeter. We will use Bri to defend the opponents' top guards and stretch the D on offense. Her work ethic is tireless and she is extremely competitive and continues to get better on a daily basis."