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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Clarkston basketball star fell in love with Oregon State on first visit

It’s a question Jamie Weisner says she’s been asked often since she gave Oregon State University an oral commitment last month.

The Clarkston basketball standout chose OSU over Gonzaga, which advanced to the Elite Eight last year. Why would she pick a school that was winless in conference over a school that has an established winning tradition?

It comes down to location and location, she said.

She fell in love with the Corvallis campus and wants to play in the Pacific-12.

She gave her oral commitment Aug. 1. She was offered scholarships by Gonzaga, Washington, Washington State and Arizona State. She took unofficial visits to each school.

“I visited OSU during spring break and went back at the beginning of the summer,” the 6-foot Weisner said. “It’s just a feeling. When I first visited there I loved it and didn’t think I needed to visit the other schools. It was a feeling I had. I loved the coaches.”

She believes OSU won’t be at the bottom of the Pac-12 for long.

“I like the vision they have,” Weisner said. “They’re going to turn it around.”

Weisner had a busy summer playing for the Spokane Blazers.

“I think I improved a lot over last summer,” she said.

She was named the most valuable player of the Great Northern League last winter as Clarkston captured league and district championships. But the Bantams didn’t make it out of regionals.

“I want to get to state this year,” she said.

Tiger to be a Ute

Lewis and Clark basketball standout Nakia Arquette has given an oral commitment to Utah.

The 6-1 Arquette, who suffered a fracture in a foot and missed most of the basketball season last year, returned in time to help LC win a state championship. In the process, though, she refractured her foot and couldn’t play until late June.

She chose Utah over New Mexico and Saint Mary’s. Each school offered a scholarship.

“What I like about their program is I think I will fit into their team well,” Arquette said. “Utah has been a really successful program in the Mountain West Conference. I’m interested to see how the season goes for them this year in the Pac-12. I think they’ll have good success.”

Arquette is glad to finally be healthy.

“I started getting back to where I was before the injury in July,” she said.