Gabriela the Great: Jaquez may be the best girls basketball player in county history

All that, and a seeress too?

Actually, more like a young woman who knows how to identify goals and then doggedly gets there.

Gabriela Jaquez was in the third grade when she penned a note to her grandmother and family that definitively spells out a future priority.

"I wrote that I wanted to play basketball in college for UCLA," she says matter-of-factly.

There's proof in black and white, too. Jaquez and her mother found that noteworthy piece of paper a few weeks back while scouring through old files.

The rest will be history.

Indeed, the Camarillo High standout senior will be a key cog in a stellar recruiting class for the Bruins and coach Cori Close when she steps foot on campus next fall.

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Before then, there's monumental business to conclude.

In her final season with the Scorpions, Jaquez is compiling a campaign that's literally one for the record books.

Through 19 games, with Camarillo a formidable and glitzy 19-0, the 6-foot forward is posting numbers never before realized in Ventura County.

She's scored 561 points while averaging 33.0 points per contest. Nope, that's never been accomplished by any county player in a full season.

The previous top scoring average for a girls player occurred 41 years ago — or back in the 1980-81 season — when Cheri Graham of Simi Valley averaged 31.3 points.

Jaquez did post an average of 31.7 a season ago, but that came while playing nine games. Until now, Graham is recognized as the county record holder.

The ferocious rebounder is also averaging an astounding 15.6 rebounds per game and is already the program's career leader. She has 265 boards this season, including 88 offensive rebounds.

She leads her team in steals with 76.

Jaquez doesn't so much dwell on the numbers, but what it's meant to get there. Yes, the journey matters as much as the destination.

"It means a lot to me because of all the hard work it's taken to get to this point," she said. "That's a lot of time in the gym and on the practice floor. That's really what makes it so special to me. Hard work does pay off. It is rewarded. I've learned that you have to work for everything you get."

Foremost among Jaquez's deluxe performances last season was an incomparable effort in postseason. In Camarillo's taut 73-72 loss to powerhouse Bishop Montgomery in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, Jaquez poured in 52 points.

The total is the second most tallied by a county girl in a game. Graham scored 61 points in a nonleague game vs. Hueneme in the 1980-81 season.

"For me, it was all about trying to win a game and doing whatever it takes to help the team do that," said Jaquez. "(Bishop Montgomery) took the lead in the final seconds, and all I could think about what was having time for one more chance. Unfortunately, the game was over."

Jaquez's play this season has been so impressive, so dominant, so breathtaking that Camarillo head coach Mike Prewitt muses about the player's standing in history.

Is she the greatest girls player ever in Ventura County? Is she tops among a fabulous phalanx of former players that include Graham, Michelle Palmisano and Olympian Marion Jones?

"She definitely is in the conversation," said Prewitt. "I know we've had some great players in this program like the Leaupepe sisters (Geraldynn and Geralynn). There are players like Michelle Palmisano, and so many I don't want to leave out.

"But yes, I'm biased, and I know people will get mad at me, but I think (Jaquez) is the best ever."

Jaquez destiny as a basketball stalwart was preordained as the middle sibling in Camarillo's First Family of basketball.

Her parents, Jaime Sr. and Angela, met as basketball players at Concordia University in Irvine. Older brother Jaime Jr. was a star at Camarillo High and is now a key member of the UCLA men's basketball team that reached the Final Four last spring.

Younger brother Marcos blossomed this fall as a defensive end for the Camarillo High football team and is currently a physical inside presence for the boys basketball team.

Gabriela grew up competing against two rough-and-tough brothers and never, ever backed down. She still goes one on one with Jaime when he's home, and older brother refuses to give his sister any advantage.

Gabriela wouldn't have it any other way.

"I love to compete," she said. "(Jaime) has taught be so much because he knows what it takes to succeed in Division I basketball. I love when we have a chance to play. I just love playing basketball. I always have."

Gabriela's competitive zeal has become legendary in the Camarillo program, whether in games or practices. She intends to finish first in all the drills. She definitely doesn't plan on losing a game, even when she's the focus of opponents.

"I have a favorite saying about the very competitive players, and it certainly applies to her," said Prewitt. "She has a fire in her belly."

Jaquez also is blessed with ingrained motivation to succeed as a role model.

Her grandmother Gloria migrated to the United States from Mexico, earned her degree in cosmetology, and now lives in Camarillo and cheers on her grandchildren.

"I think I get much of my passion for hard work from her," said Jaquez.

In a county with a vibrant Mexican community, Jaime Jr. and Gabriela have developed into bona fide role models with their prowess on the basketball court.

"That's very important to me," Gabriela said. "There haven't been a lot of Mexicans playing basketball. If I can be a role model to little kids, that would be so special for me. They can see what is possible."

Jaquez's high school career has been tempered by fits and starts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when county high school sports were closed down last winter and into the spring, Jaquez opted to forge ahead.

Along with toiling hours upon hours at a nearby park working on her shooting and ball handling, Jaquez made the decision to join the Cal Stars, an AAU team based in Oakland that's considered the top club in California.

Twice a month she'd fly to Oakland for weekend practices. Then she'd partake in club tournaments stacked with tough opponents.

"I really think she became a different player," said Prewitt. "She was playing and practicing against the best players in the state and the country. She couldn't help but become a better player."

She concurs.

"There's nothing better than going up against the best," Jaquez said. "It definitely helped prepare me for this season and for what comes ahead."

Now Jaquez seeks a happy ending to her high school career.

The Scorpions stand 19-0 overall and 2-0 in the Coastal Canyon League and are seeking their 10th consecutive league championship. On Monday, Camarillo became just the seventh team in Ventura County history to post 50 consecutive league victories.

"That's still so important to me," Jaquez said. "Ten championships in a row is not easy to do. We take pride in that and don't want to be the team that sees it end."

Then it's on to the CIF-SS playoffs, either in Division 1 or the prestigious Open Division. Camarillo is currently ranked No. 6 in Division 1.

"There are a lot of good teams there, but I like going up against the best," she said. "I can't wait to see what we can do this year."

Loren Ledin is the Prep Editor for The Star. He can be reached at loren.ledin@vcstar.com or 805-437-0285.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Gabriela Jaquez may finish as best girls basketball player in county