Region Basketball Stars Are Shining in College

Guard Damaris Hinojosa of Pepperdine isn’t the only former girls’ basketball player from the region making a name for herself.

Jaclyn Johnson, formerly of Bell-Jeff High, has been the key player for Kansas (13-5), ranked No. 23 in one Division I poll.

The junior power forward had 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists last week in a Big 12 victory over Baylor.

She is averaging 10.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

Former Ventura County players of the year Tawnee Cooper of Simi Valley and Nicole Greathouse of Buena have played increasingly important roles for No. 15 UC Santa Barbara (15-3).

Cooper, a senior, has rallied from a slow start to shoot 53% in her last five games and increase her scoring average to 8.2.

Greathouse, a junior, was slowed by an early season stress fracture and was scheduled to start her first game for the Gauchos on Thursday night against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

She is averaging 5.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Michelle Greco of Crescenta Valley, a two-time Valley player of the year, is a key reserve for No. 10 UCLA (11-4).

The sophomore guard is averaging 9.3 points and is second on the team in assists (36) and steals (31).