It’s starting. In less than 18 months on the job as head coach of the University of Arizona women’s basketball team, Adia Barnes is already drawing top players to her program.
The latest verbal commitment for the 2018 class isn’t just any top player. Five-star Cate Reese, from Cypress Woods, Texas, is the No. 12 recruit in the country, the No. 3 forward in her class, and one of, if not the highest-ranked player to ever commit to UA.
The 6-foot-2-inch forward can pull down rebounds (13.2 per game last season), and can score (22.3 points per contest). She’s also tough and gets to the 50-50 balls.
How does Reese evaluate herself?
“I am incredibly hard-working,” said Reese who spoke to the Star from a plane heading to London on Monday afternoon. “I love to win, hate to lose. I am super competitive and do a lot of things on the court.
“I’m tall, not super tall, but everyone thinks I can just post up. But, I can do a lot more. I think it’s hard to guard me.”
Reese was offered scholarships by many schools including Colorado, Washington, Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State, Rice, South Carolina, and Texas A&M before selecting Arizona.
“I love coach Adia, I love the program the school,” Reece said. “My sister, Ali, is going there (in the fall) and I am super close to her. Relationships are a big deal to me. I know Bryce (Nixon, another Class of 2018 recruit from Phoenix Arcadia) and we’re really close and we could turn the program around.
“I think coach’s development of players is good — one of the reasons I am going to Arizona. And I trust her.”
Reese sees helping build a program as something she wants to be part of.
“To me it’s more challenging,” she said. “It helps you grow and you have trust in the program. I hope to bring success to the program. I know anyone can say that, but we have the players. And I intend to help Arizona develop into one of the top teams in the nation.”
