Brianna Zaragoza-Jones '16 Recruiting Profile

The two most important things to me are family and basketball.  My siblings and I have always been raised by just our mom.  Watching my mom raise us by herself, while she worked multiple jobs, made me really appreciate everything she does and the concept of hard work.  Despite being busy with her work, my mom never misses a basketball game of mine.  She knows how much basketball means to me, and wants to be there for me.  That has made it so I always want to be there for her.  Helping out with my younger siblings, my mom's work, or just around the house has always been a way for me to pay my mom back.  My mom and siblings mean the world to me.

Outside of family, basketball is my life.  I've been playing since 5th grade, and have loved it every day since.  I am a gym rat that wants to work on my game as much as I can.  Whether it's lifting weights, watching film, ball handling, or shooting on my own, if I can work on basketball, I do.  I'm pretty sure I've annoyed my coaches over the years asking to get into the gym!  While I love playing basketball any chance I get, I also just love what comes along with being part of a team.  My best friends have always been my teammates.  I honestly am not sure what I would be doing without basketball right now, but it has brought me closer with my friends, my family, and definitely kept my head on straight.  I don't drink, smoke, party, or do anything that would jeopardize the work I've put into basketball.

On the court, I feel like I'm a good leader and player that keeps working to get better.  My sophomore year, I was the sixth man on a team that won our league and advanced to state.  At one point in the season, the coach talked to me about starting.  We decided it was best for the team that I keep coming of the bench, because we needed a ballhandler/scoring threat from the bench.  I was more than happy to fill that role.  That year I made the all-star team at a holiday tournament in San Diego, and also made honorable mention for our league.  After that year, we graduated nine seniors.  I had a lot more responsibility on and off the court and had to become more of a leader.  We didn't finish the year as strong as the year before, but we grew as a team and am ready to have a great season coming up!  I led the team in points, assists, steals, and was second in rebounding.  At the end of the year, I was named to first-team all-league, an honor I hope to improve on next year!

I consider myself a very good ball handler, defender, rebounder (especially for my position), and floor general.  My jump shot has gotten better each year, and I am ready to step my range out to the three-point line my senior year.  I cannot wait for the season to start, as I know I'm a better player than last year, and the team is ready to make a deep postseason run.  

I really hope to continue my playing career in college, and feel like I will be a strong addition to a team.  My hard work, love for the game, and ability to be a great teammate is what makes me a good candidate for any team, I feel.  For everything my mom has done for me, nothing would make me happier than letting her continue to watch me play basketball at the next level!