Center Kelsey Wagner, the San Luis Obispo County Player of the Year as a senior at Arroyo Grande High, headlines the Sonoma State women’s basketball team’s four-person recruiting class.
Playing on a team that substitued freely, the 6-foot Wagner was a two-time Pac 7 League MVP despite posting modest numbers. As a senior, she averaged 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks a game. The versatile Wagner, who occasionally played point guard, led Arroyo Grande to a 23-4 record and into the third round of the CIF-Southern Section Division III-AA playoffs. She was a second-team All-CIF pick as a junior.
By the way, I used to work at the San Luis Obispo County Tribune and covered a lot of high school stuff. I never saw Wagner play, but I do know it’s not unsual for Arroyo Grande to use a deep bench, which, obviously, limits playing time for its starters. Wagner might be pretty good, even if she did only average 6.6 points as a senior.
The Seawolves also signed 6-1 forward Elizabeth Day of Don Lugo High in Chino, 6-0 forward Nadia Williams of Wilcox High in Santa Clara and 5-8 point guard Venessa Kelley of Albany High.
Day averaged 10.1 points and 8.3 rebounds a game as a senior to lead Don Lugo to a 20-8 record. Williams, who helped lead Wilcox to the Central Coast Section championship as a junior, averaged 7.3 points as a senior. Kelley was an all-league selection as a senior.
Can any of these players help next year? SSU coach Mark Rigby said he’s not sure.
SSU could use a little help. The Seawolves went 9-18 last season — their worst record in 13 years — and lost 10 of their last 11 games.