Giants' Reed lands offer from Fresno Pacific
By Nick Giannandrea
COS Athletics
College of the Sequoias women's basketball standout Alaysia Reed has received a scholarship offer from Fresno Pacific, an NCAA Division II program.
The 5-foot-4 sophomore point guard out of Arbor View High in Las Vegas averaged 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game last season for the Giants.
Reed helped COS go 28-4 overall, capture a share of the Central Valley Conference title with Merced, and reach the state final eight.
"To get an offer this early is great," Giants coach Ray Alvarado said. She's a heck of a player. She's earned it. We hope she stays healthy and continues to work hard."
When Reed eventually signs, she will become the fifth player off the 2018-19 COS team to move on to a four-year university.
Janelle Sumilong (Hanford High) was the first to commit after signing in February with D-II Cal State San Marcos.
Sumilong averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals during her only season at COS. The 5-8 guard was a third-team All-State North Region selection.
Also joining four-year universities have been Shae Sanchez (Coquitlam, British Columbia), Julianna Gutierrez (Redwood) and Dejanee Gill (Rialto).
Sanchez, a 5-10 guard, signed with Northeastern State, a D-II school in Tahlequah, Okla.
Sanchez averaged 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game while earning first-team All-State North Region honors.
"Shae has played for a great junior college program with coach Ray Alvarado and College of the Sequoias," Northeastern State coach Fala Bullock said in a school news release. "She has been an integral part of back-to-back state tournament quarterfinal appearances, and in two season was 56-8. She is a competitor and has great IQ. Shae shoots the long ball well and will bring experience to our wing position."
Gutierrez, who was a two time all-West Yosemite League selection while at Redwood, has joined Saint Katherine University, an NAIA college in San Marcos. The 5-6 guard averaged 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.4 assists for the Giants and was selected Academic All-State with a 3.56 grade-point average.
Gill, a 5-10 guard, has signed with University of La Verne, a D-III university in La Verne. The 5-10 guard averaged 8.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds a game last season.
"It's awesome. All four deserve to keep playing," Alvarado said. "I'm extremely proud of them. They proved hard work pays off."
COS is set to open the season at 5 p.m. Nov. 1 against Feather River at the San Joaquin Delta Tournament in Stockton.
The Giants will play at home for the first time when they host Cerritos at 4 p.m. Nov. 15 at Porter Field House.
COS will host the 43rd annual Gilcrest Tournament on Dec. 5-7, and open Central Valley Conference play Jan. 8 against visiting Taft.
In addition to Reed, the Giants' only other returning player is Elyssa Brumfield (Golden Valley High).
Freshmen newcomers include Serena Ybarra (Coalinga), Neli Diaz (McFarland), Aubrey Nunes (El Diamante), McKenna Hsiung (Bakersfield), Clarissa Chavez (Redwood), Lucy Tazio (El Diamante), Felicia Ramirez (Caruthers), Sapphire Jones (Hanford), Hailee Edwards (Ridgeview), Kuda Ceesay (Atlanta) and Savannah Surfus (Redwood).
