Women's Basketball Signs Five to National Letters of Intent
November 12, 2020 | Women's Basketball
IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine women's basketball has signed Hunter Hernandez, Deja Lee, Amelia Scharpf, Nikki Tom and Olivia Williams to National Letters of Intent head coach Tamara Inoue announced Thursday.
Hernandez, Scharpf, Tom and Williams are all from Northern California, while Lee hails from Surrey, British Columbia.
"I am really excited about our 2021 recruiting class," said Inoue. "I couldn't be more grateful to my staff and my team, who allowed these families to see themselves here at UCI. We knew we had a big class to fill and felt we had the opportunity to capitalize in California, which we targeted early. Then, when you are given an opportunity internationally with Coach Y bringing me a high caliber player from Canada, you don't ignore it."
Hunter Hernandez (San Jose, Calif.) is a four-year varsity letterwinner at Archbishop Mitty High School. Despite suffering an ACL injury last summer, the 5-foot-9 guard made her way back to the court after only six months. She played in 10 games as a junior, helping the Monarchs make a postseason run that saw them reach the state championship game, and claim the West Catholic Athletic League, Central Coast Section and Nor Cal titles. In 2018-19, Hernandez was a first-team All-WCAL and third-team All-Nor Cal selection after averaging 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. She was named the Central Coast Section Freshman (2018) and Sophomore (2019) of the Year, and has helped Mitty win three-straight CCS and WCAL championships.
"Hunter is a winner and has already shown her perseverance with her recovery from a torn ACL," said Inoue. "When you see her play, she is fearless on the floor and a go-to scorer, which is something we will need going into next season. I always envisioned Hunter in a UC Irvine jersey, and when she announced she had the same vision, I knew I had a competitor ready to go into battle with me."
Deja Lee is a 5-foot-9 point guard from Surrey, British Columbia. She is the eighth-ranked 2021 prospect in Canada, and is sixth at her position according to CROWN Scout Girls Basketball. Lee competed with the Canadian National Team at the 2019 U16 FIBA Americas Championship. She has also been selected to the British Columbia Provincial Team in each of the last two seasons, helping Team BC to the U15 Canadian National Championship in 2018, while finishing third in the U17 division in 2019. Lee was named to the First All-Star Team both years.
Lee attends Semiahmoo Secondary School where she has led her squad to back-to-back BC Senior Girls 4A Championships. She was named the tournament MVP as a sophomore, and a First Team All-Star as a junior. Lee plays club for BC United, which as a U15 team, took home the U17 Division title at the 2018 Western Canadian Championships.
"When Coach Y organized a visit for the Lee family to come watch a game and see the campus, I knew right away that Deja was a complete fit," said Inoue. "There was no question about her basketball skill and her seamless fit to UCI academically. As a junior national team player, I feel that experience has elevated her IQ, especially at point guard where she is able to experience different styles of play and figure out how to beat it. DJ is a natural leader and can score from anywhere on the court."
Amelia Scharpf (San Jose, Calif.) is a 6-foot guard from Archbishop Mitty High School. As a junior, she was named to the All-West Catholic Athletic League First Team, All-Central Coast Section Third Team and All-Metro Bay Area Honorable Mention Team. Scharpf played in 29 games, averaging 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.7 assists per contest. She helped the Monarchs win the 2020 Nor Cal Open Division, Central Coast Section Open Division and WCAL titles. In addition, they advanced to the state championship game, which was not played due to the pandemic. Scharpf has earned both the team Defensive Player of the Year and Coaches Award in her time at Mitty.
"I have had the opportunity to watch Amelia grow through her high school years at Archbishop Mitty," said Inoue. "Every time I would come watch her practice or play, her growth and intangibles that helped make her team successful could not be ignored. She is the ultimate teammate and I believe she is just scratching the surface of her ability as an athlete, and will be a very good college player."
Nikki Tom (Clovis, Calif.) is a 5-foot-9 point guard from Clovis West High School. Tom has led the Golden Eagles to three-straight CIF Central Section titles, including the inaugural Central Section Open Division Championship in 2019-20. She was named the tournament MVP as both a sophomore and junior. Clovis West also advanced to the Open Division CIF State Championships each year, making the regional finals in 2018 and 2019, and the regional semifinals in 2020. As a junior, Tom was selected as the Central Section Offensive Player of the Year after averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 3.1 assists per game. In addition, she earned first-team All-CIF honors, while being tabbed the Clovis Sports Report Girls' Player of the Year and the Tri-River Athletic Conference MVP. Tom is a three-time all-state and all-league selection.
"I am so excited to coach Nikki," said Inoue. "I was first able to see her when she came to our elite camp her sophomore year, and a call from a great friend and mentor let me know that I needed to take a look. It didn't take long for me and my staff to be 100% convinced that Nikki would fit well into our system and culture. She is a competitor, and with her skill and IQ, she will continue our path to the Big West championship."
Olivia Williams (San Francisco, Calif.) is currently a senior at Archbishop Mitty High School. The 6-foot-1 guard is a two-time all-state selection and was named the 2020 Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Junior of the Year. In addition, she received first-team All-CIF, All-Bay Area News Group and All-West Catholic Athletic League honors. Williams, who averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game last year, led the Monarchs to their third-straight CCS and WCAL titles. In 2020, Mitty also won their first Nor Cal championship in three years, and advanced to the state championship game, which was not played due to the pandemic.
Williams, who has dual citizenship, is currently a member of the New Zealand U19 Women's National Team and was invited to the 2020 NBA Women's Academy Next Generation Showcase. She was also on New Zealand's U17 team that won silver at the 2019 FIBA Women's Oceania Championship.
"When I first saw Olivia play, there was no question I believed in her future," said Inoue. "The relationship started early and I could always see Olivia in our program here at UCI. Her development through her high school coach, Sue Phillips, and her international experience on the New Zealand National Team has grown her game to an even higher level. She is college ready and will make an immediate impact on both sides of the court."
2021 UCI Women's Basketball Signing Class
Hunter Hernandez, 5-10, Guard - San Jose, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty HS)
Deja Lee, 5-9, Point Guard - Surrey, British Columbia (Semiahmoo Secondary)
Amelia Scharpf, 6-0, Guard - San Jose, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty HS)
Nikki Tom, 5-9, Point Guard - Clovis, Calif. (Clovis West HS)
Olivia Williams, 6-1, Guard - San Francisco, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty HS)
Hernandez, Scharpf, Tom and Williams are all from Northern California, while Lee hails from Surrey, British Columbia.
"I am really excited about our 2021 recruiting class," said Inoue. "I couldn't be more grateful to my staff and my team, who allowed these families to see themselves here at UCI. We knew we had a big class to fill and felt we had the opportunity to capitalize in California, which we targeted early. Then, when you are given an opportunity internationally with Coach Y bringing me a high caliber player from Canada, you don't ignore it."
Hunter Hernandez (San Jose, Calif.) is a four-year varsity letterwinner at Archbishop Mitty High School. Despite suffering an ACL injury last summer, the 5-foot-9 guard made her way back to the court after only six months. She played in 10 games as a junior, helping the Monarchs make a postseason run that saw them reach the state championship game, and claim the West Catholic Athletic League, Central Coast Section and Nor Cal titles. In 2018-19, Hernandez was a first-team All-WCAL and third-team All-Nor Cal selection after averaging 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. She was named the Central Coast Section Freshman (2018) and Sophomore (2019) of the Year, and has helped Mitty win three-straight CCS and WCAL championships.
"Hunter is a winner and has already shown her perseverance with her recovery from a torn ACL," said Inoue. "When you see her play, she is fearless on the floor and a go-to scorer, which is something we will need going into next season. I always envisioned Hunter in a UC Irvine jersey, and when she announced she had the same vision, I knew I had a competitor ready to go into battle with me."
Deja Lee is a 5-foot-9 point guard from Surrey, British Columbia. She is the eighth-ranked 2021 prospect in Canada, and is sixth at her position according to CROWN Scout Girls Basketball. Lee competed with the Canadian National Team at the 2019 U16 FIBA Americas Championship. She has also been selected to the British Columbia Provincial Team in each of the last two seasons, helping Team BC to the U15 Canadian National Championship in 2018, while finishing third in the U17 division in 2019. Lee was named to the First All-Star Team both years.
Lee attends Semiahmoo Secondary School where she has led her squad to back-to-back BC Senior Girls 4A Championships. She was named the tournament MVP as a sophomore, and a First Team All-Star as a junior. Lee plays club for BC United, which as a U15 team, took home the U17 Division title at the 2018 Western Canadian Championships.
"When Coach Y organized a visit for the Lee family to come watch a game and see the campus, I knew right away that Deja was a complete fit," said Inoue. "There was no question about her basketball skill and her seamless fit to UCI academically. As a junior national team player, I feel that experience has elevated her IQ, especially at point guard where she is able to experience different styles of play and figure out how to beat it. DJ is a natural leader and can score from anywhere on the court."
Amelia Scharpf (San Jose, Calif.) is a 6-foot guard from Archbishop Mitty High School. As a junior, she was named to the All-West Catholic Athletic League First Team, All-Central Coast Section Third Team and All-Metro Bay Area Honorable Mention Team. Scharpf played in 29 games, averaging 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.7 assists per contest. She helped the Monarchs win the 2020 Nor Cal Open Division, Central Coast Section Open Division and WCAL titles. In addition, they advanced to the state championship game, which was not played due to the pandemic. Scharpf has earned both the team Defensive Player of the Year and Coaches Award in her time at Mitty.
"I have had the opportunity to watch Amelia grow through her high school years at Archbishop Mitty," said Inoue. "Every time I would come watch her practice or play, her growth and intangibles that helped make her team successful could not be ignored. She is the ultimate teammate and I believe she is just scratching the surface of her ability as an athlete, and will be a very good college player."
Nikki Tom (Clovis, Calif.) is a 5-foot-9 point guard from Clovis West High School. Tom has led the Golden Eagles to three-straight CIF Central Section titles, including the inaugural Central Section Open Division Championship in 2019-20. She was named the tournament MVP as both a sophomore and junior. Clovis West also advanced to the Open Division CIF State Championships each year, making the regional finals in 2018 and 2019, and the regional semifinals in 2020. As a junior, Tom was selected as the Central Section Offensive Player of the Year after averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 3.1 assists per game. In addition, she earned first-team All-CIF honors, while being tabbed the Clovis Sports Report Girls' Player of the Year and the Tri-River Athletic Conference MVP. Tom is a three-time all-state and all-league selection.
"I am so excited to coach Nikki," said Inoue. "I was first able to see her when she came to our elite camp her sophomore year, and a call from a great friend and mentor let me know that I needed to take a look. It didn't take long for me and my staff to be 100% convinced that Nikki would fit well into our system and culture. She is a competitor, and with her skill and IQ, she will continue our path to the Big West championship."
Olivia Williams (San Francisco, Calif.) is currently a senior at Archbishop Mitty High School. The 6-foot-1 guard is a two-time all-state selection and was named the 2020 Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Junior of the Year. In addition, she received first-team All-CIF, All-Bay Area News Group and All-West Catholic Athletic League honors. Williams, who averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game last year, led the Monarchs to their third-straight CCS and WCAL titles. In 2020, Mitty also won their first Nor Cal championship in three years, and advanced to the state championship game, which was not played due to the pandemic.
Williams, who has dual citizenship, is currently a member of the New Zealand U19 Women's National Team and was invited to the 2020 NBA Women's Academy Next Generation Showcase. She was also on New Zealand's U17 team that won silver at the 2019 FIBA Women's Oceania Championship.
"When I first saw Olivia play, there was no question I believed in her future," said Inoue. "The relationship started early and I could always see Olivia in our program here at UCI. Her development through her high school coach, Sue Phillips, and her international experience on the New Zealand National Team has grown her game to an even higher level. She is college ready and will make an immediate impact on both sides of the court."
2021 UCI Women's Basketball Signing Class
Hunter Hernandez, 5-10, Guard - San Jose, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty HS)
Deja Lee, 5-9, Point Guard - Surrey, British Columbia (Semiahmoo Secondary)
Amelia Scharpf, 6-0, Guard - San Jose, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty HS)
Nikki Tom, 5-9, Point Guard - Clovis, Calif. (Clovis West HS)
Olivia Williams, 6-1, Guard - San Francisco, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty HS)
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