Women's Basketball: Vikings send five to next level for upcoming 2016-17 season

Long Beach City College women's basketball head coach Michael Anderson has announced that five members of his LBCC squad will be moving on to the next level to continue their academic and athletic careers. Lupe Cruz is headed to Cal State San Marcos, Imani Johnson will continue at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Sopavy Seng will take her talents to Concordia University Irvine, Darshana Ta'afua will stay in the city to play at Long Beach State University, and Jakarra Waddell is traveling the furthest by going to Chaminade University in Hawai'i.

Cruz, a two-year starter for the Vikings, was a third-team All-State selection and was also named first-team All-South Coast Conference South Division as a sophomore. Cruz led the 2015-16 Vikings with 9.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. As a freshman, she ranked second on LBCC with 7.1 rebounds per game to go along with a 6.7 points per game average on her way to first-team All-SCC South honors.

"Lupe came in to our program so raw and with so much potential that she really just had this high ceiling," said Anderson. "She just soaked things up each and every day and that potential became reality, first all-conference and all-state."

Cal State San Marcos competes at the NCAA Division II level and is a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Cougars are led by third-year head coach Renee Jimenez.

Johnson twice earned second-team All-SCC South Division accolades for the Vikings. This past season, she averaged 6.6 points and 2.2 assists per game while starting 28 of 29 games. As a freshman, Johnson chipped in with 4.0 points per game.

"Johnson is the little engine that could," said Anderson. " Imani plays at one speed --- fast. She improved so much in her two years, never complained, and always encouraged her team to be better. Cal State Dominguez is getting more than a basketball player,  they are getting the quintessential teammate and winner."

Cal State Dominguez Hills is also a member of the NCAA Division II CCAA. Janell Jones begins her first season as head coach at CSUDH this winter.

Seng moves on after just one season at LBCC. But it was an impressive freshman year as she was named second-team All-State after being honored as the South Coast Conference South Division Co-Player of the Year. Seng was a leader on the court for the Vikings and averaged 8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.7 assists per game.

"Sopavy really was the heart and soul of this 2016 team and her teammates just seemed to follow her lead," said Anderson. "I can't remember a day that she wasn't in the gym with Coach AJ. Her teammates just seemed to follow her lead. Poly kids are just different, winners in every sense of word."

Concordia University Irvine competes at the NCAA Division II level and is a member of the PacWest Conference. Concordia is led by new head coach Lacey Burns.

Ta'afua signing with Long Beach State was announced earlier in the month by LBSU head coach Jody Wynn. Ta'afua, a two-year standout for LBCC, was a two-time all-state and first-team All-South Coast Conference selection for the Vikings. She was also named the SCC South Division Player of the Year after averaging 14.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game as a sophomore during the 2014-15 season.

"Darshana came to Long Beach City College with two goals --- win a state championship and become a Division I player." said LBCC head coach Mike Anderson. "From Day 1, we preached 'don't believe the hype and to go and prove it every day.' Even though we didn't win a state title, she worked so hard to achieve her goal and can now move on to Long Beach State and prove it every day."

Long Beach State competes at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Big West Conference.

Waddell (pictured, right) was one of Anderson's top reserves this past season after starting eight games as a freshman. She averaged 1.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game over 25 games as a sophomore.

"Jakarra was one of the best defensive playes to come through LBCC," said Anderson. "She's just a fiercely competitive player who gets everything out of every ounce she has as a player. Jakarra is a great kid off the court and a true teammate."

Chaminade University, located in Honolulu, Hawai'i, competes at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the PacWest Conference. 

"We are very proud of this group of young women and what they have accomplished," said Anderson. "But none of this can happen without having a great coaching staff. We are all thankful for assistant coaches AJ, Coach B, Coach Riki, and Coach Jocelyn."

The 2016-17 LBCC women's basketball season is just around the corner. The Vikings open up at the Mt. San Antonio College Tip Off Tournament on November 4.