California Golden Bears Athletics

BERKELEY – A pair of Cal Sparks standouts will add another boost of size and speed for Cal women's basketball next season, as the Golden Bears inked club ball teammates Jaelyn Brown and Celeste 'CJ' West to the 2016-17 roster, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb announced Wednesday.

Brown, a wing from Murrieta, Calif., and West, a post player from Bakersfield, Calif., are consensus four-star recruits who are among the nation's elite at their positions, marking yet another successful signing day for Gottlieb and her staff.

“During my time here, we've had a history of bringing in high-quality students and athletes who are incredibly talented and charismatic young women,” Gottlieb said. “I don't think my staff gets enough credit, not only for their hard work in recruiting but for the culture they help to create, which makes top-caliber athletes want to be a part of our program. As we celebrate this signing class, I'd like to recognize the wonderful people I work with every day, as well as our players, who are a huge part of what attracts people to come here.”

As the 10th-ranked wing in the country, and No. 54 overall according to ESPN HoopGurlz, 6-1 Brown adds another long body to Cal's already lengthy squad. The three-time All-Southwestern League Most Valuable Player also ranks among the top 40 according to the All-Star Girls Report (No. 9), Blue Star Basketball (No. 31) and Prospects Nation (No. 39 overall, No. 12 wing).

“From the first time I saw Jaelyn Brown play, there was no question that there was a 'wow factor' there. Even sometimes now I think, 'I can't believe I'm going to be able to coach this young woman,' because she was such a showstopper from the moment I saw her,” Gottlieb said.

In each of her three seasons at Vista Murrieta High School, Brown has led her Broncos squad to the Southwestern League Championships, plus two CIF-Southern California Regional semifinals (2013, 2015). As a junior, she averaged 18 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals per game to pick up Press-Enterprise Player of the Year honors.

“She is a big, athletic, talented lefty, but her game has a fluidity to it that sets her apart. She's had an NBA-style pull-up jumper probably since she was 5. She's a great rebounder, an exciting player in transition and is a perfect fit in the defenses we play,” Gottlieb added. “In addition, we're proud that academics is an important factor to her too. We are so thrilled to have her in Blue and Gold.”

Fellow SoCal product West, out of Garces Memorial High School, was already familiar with the Bears after attending several Cal camps and visiting campus.

 “We've joked with CJ's family that it seems like she's been a Golden Bear since as long as I've been here. She's been connected to our program for a long time, and she already feels like family,” Gottlieb said. “She will continue our tradition of having some of the best post players in the country in Haas Pavilion.”

The No. 15 post player in the country averaged 18.8 points, 14.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 1.8 steals and 1.1 assists in 30 games as a junior, and propelled her Rams team to a Central Section Division II Championship win in 2014. West has already turned in more than 1,500 points and 1,500 rebounds in her prep career and is a two-time reigning Bakersfield California Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

“She is a low-block talent who can score with either hand and she has a great sense of how to use her size and athleticism in the paint,” Gottlieb said. “CJ has also worked hard to expand her game beyond the paint, is a terrific rebounder and has a high basketball IQ. She's going to be a force to be reckoned with and I'm excited to coach her.”

Off the court, West carried the highest grade point average among her Ram teammates. She enjoys creating art and was even invited to showcase her work at a local art exhibit.

“She's also a really highly motivated student who wants to study in the Haas School of Business, and I'm excited for what she's going to bring to the campus, not only our team,” Gottlieb added.

Learn more about each of Cal's 2015-16 NLI signees in their bios below:

Jaelyn Brown

High School/Club Ball:

ESPN HoopGurlz four-star prospect and No. 54 player in the nation, and No. 10 wing (2015)…Also among the Top 40 according to All-Star Girls Report (No. 9), Blue Star Basketball (No. 31) and Prospects Nation (No. 39 overall, No. 12 wing)…Attended the USA Basketball U-16 trials in 2013 and 2014…Three-year Southwestern League All-League MVP and All-Team CIF Southern Section selection (2013, 2014, 2015) at Vista Murrieta High School…Led her squad to the Southwestern League Championship in 2013, 2014 and 2015 with a 29-1 record over three seasons… Led the Broncos to the 2015 Open Division Sectional Quarterfinals…Two-time State Regional Semifinalist (2013, 2015)…CIF Sectional Quarterfinalist in 2014 and 2015…2013 CIF Sectional Semifinalist…Awarded Player of the Year by the Press-Enterprise (2015)…As a junior, averaged 18 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals per game…Career average of 16.6 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.4 spg, 2.7 apg and 1.2 bpg entering her senior season…Also played for the Cal Sparks club ball squad, coached by Elbert Kinnebrew

Personal:

Born with club feet and wore casts and corrective shoes for her first six months before learning to walk at eight months of age…Tore her ACL, MCL, meniscus and compressed cartilage artery before her senior year…Enjoys watching movies…Would like to pursue a collegiate basketball coaching career…Parents are Jeff and Leah Brown…Has one older brother, Jeffrey

What They're Saying:

At 6 feet 1, Brown will give Cal another long, athletic, and versatile piece that will fit in perfectly with the type of athletes Gottlieb and her staff like to recruit.  She has the ability to be effective playing on the wing, slashing to the rim, or posting up smaller defenders. – Keil Moore, JumpOffPlus.com Director of Scouting

She is a tremendous rebounder. And while Brown can have a tough, interior presence, she also has a smooth, left-handed jump shot that's strikingly good from 14-16 feet. She can step out and further stretch a defense, too, as evident by her 13 3-pointers, many of which were hit in preseason, top-flight tournaments. – Landon Negri, Press-Enterprise Staff Writer

High School/Club Ball:

ESPN HoopGurlz four-star prospect and No. 15 post player in the 2016 class…No. 48 overall according to Prospects Nation, and eighth-ranked post player…No. 58 in All-Star Girls Report…Member of the Garces Memorial High School varsity squad…Averaged 18.8 points, 14.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 1.8 steals and 1.1 assists in 30 games as a junior… Central Section Division II Champion in 2014…Two-time Bakersfield Californian Girls Basketball Player of the Year (2014, 2015)…Led Garces to a 27-3 record and top 10 state ranking in 2015…Has turned in 1500+ points and 1500+ rebounds at Garces…Highest grade point average among her high school basketball teammates…Played club ball with the Cal Sparks, coached by Elbert Kinnebrew

Personal:

Began her athletic career competing in the shot put event before picking up the family sport of basketball…Played one year of varsity volleyball as a freshman at Garces Memorial…Was invited to show her art at a Bakersfield Art Exhibit…A Daughter of Divine Roses Catholic Household Leader…Interested in studying Business Management and Art…After graduating from Cal, plans to get her MBA and establish a corporate career…Enjoys baking and art…Parents are Charles and Vernetta West…Father, Charles, was a tight end for Bakersfield College and Long Beach State…Mother, Vernetta, is a member of the Bakersfield College Track and Field Hall of Fame…Both of her older siblings, Nikhol (CSU Bakersfield) and Rachol (San Jose State), received full-ride scholarships to play collegiate basketball

What They're Saying:

A true center, a bit of a throwback as she likes to play in the post and can make a play with her back to the basket. – Prospects Nation