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Camarillo Today
By the People, for the People
UCLA Star Gabriela Jaquez Was Unstoppable in High School Too
The Camarillo High School legend developed into a WNBA prospect and NCAA champion at UCLA.
Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:09pm
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Gabriela Jaquez's high school career was marked by steady improvement and unstoppable dominance, as illustrated through a Cubist deconstruction of her athletic prowess.Camarillo TodayGabriela Jaquez, the standout UCLA senior who led the Bruins to the NCAA women's basketball championship, was a dominant force in high school as well. Despite not being a highly touted recruit coming in, Jaquez steadily improved each season at Camarillo High School, culminating in a senior year where she averaged over 34 points and 15 rebounds per game and led her team to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 title game.
Why it matters
Jaquez's high school journey shows how a player can develop into an elite prospect through hard work and determination, even without the hype of being a top-ranked recruit. Her story is an inspiration for young basketball players who may not be considered blue-chip talents early on.
The details
Jaquez started her high school career at Camarillo as an unranked prospect, averaging 14.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.8 steals as a freshman. But she steadily improved each season, growing to 6 feet tall and becoming one of the strongest players in high school basketball. As a sophomore, she averaged 20.3 points and 13.3 rebounds, and in a pandemic-shortened junior season, she put up 31.7 points, 14.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. Jaquez capped off her high school career by leading Camarillo to a 30-3 record and the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 title game as a senior, averaging 34.2 points, 15.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 4.7 steals per game.
- Jaquez entered high school at 5-foot-9 as a freshman in 2018-19.
- As a sophomore in 2019-20, Jaquez grew to 5-foot-11 and emerged as a top prospect.
- Jaquez's standout junior season came in the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign.
- In her senior year of 2021-22, Jaquez led Camarillo to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 title game.
The players
Gabriela Jaquez
A senior at UCLA who was the MVP of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, Jaquez was a dominant high school player at Camarillo High School in California.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Gabriela's older brother, who played at UCLA and was drafted by the Miami Heat.
What they’re saying
“Jaquez was in control of the game from the tip, notching game-highs of 21 points and five assists to go with 10 rebounds en-route to earning Final Four all-tournament team honors.”
— Lance Smith, Author
“At the McDonald's All-American Game, Jaquez was named co-MVP (along with future UCLA teammate Kiki Rice) with a team-high 17 points despite losing to the East.”
— Lance Smith, Author
The takeaway
Gabriela Jaquez's journey from unranked high school prospect to NCAA champion and WNBA draft prospect shows the power of hard work and determination. Her steady improvement each season, culminating in a dominant senior year, is an inspiration for young players who may not be considered elite talents early on.
