Gonzaga women’s basketball gets oral commitment from Jessie Loera

The Gonzaga women’s basketball team is going from guard starved to guards aplenty.

Jessie Loera, who will be a senior next year at Moses Lake High and is regarded as one of the best guards in the nation in her class, has given the Bulldogs an oral commitment. “I really like the environment, the coaches and the players,” Loera said. “It’s like a family environment. I like the academics, too. They have a great human physiology program. It’s good for my education in physical therapy.”

The 5-foot-7 Loera averaged 20 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and eight steals while leading Moses Lake to fifth at state for a second straight year.

“She’ll be one of the most exciting players Gonzaga has ever had,” said Spokane Stars club coach Ron Adams, who has coached Loera since she was in seventh grade. “The reason I say that is she’s like the Energizer bunny. She just keeps going, going and going. She’s a blur out there. She doesn’t have a weakness as a high school player.”

Loera will move into a backcourt that will include Gonzaga Prep’s Laura Stockton, who will be a freshman at GU this fall.

“The program is moving forward and I want to be part of it,” Loera said. “I’m really looking forward to playing with Laura and being her teammate. We’ve played against each other the past years and it’s been fun, but I can’t wait to be her teammate.”

Loera chose Gonzaga over Washington State, Vanderbilt, Washington and Army West Point.

Adams is looking forward to watching Loera and Stockton play together.

“In my opinion, they’ll have the best guard combination on the West Coast,” Adams said.