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You won't find Western Nebraska's Simone Santos on many coaches lists, having played just one year of college ball in America and playing in a relatively remote area of Nebraska at that.
Sure, there were the inquiries by nearby schools, but outside the midwest Simone was pretty much a secret. After all, her numbers were modest as a freshman, playing on a loaded team filled with sophomores who were good enough to challenge on a national level.
Modest numbers like 6.5 points and 3.2 rebounds in roughly 12 minutes per game. If you're into stats, those numbers won't "wow" you. But all Gonzaga's Head Women's Coach Kelly Graves and staff needed were a couple of game tapes and a quick whirlwind visit, and it was obvious that Simone Santos was that coveted, "unknown" diamond that every coach loves to find.
The Brazilian native is very athletic and long, very active and high energy. Her defense exceeds her offense at this stage in her career but what stands out most is her upside. Santos' potential is through the roof. She can run the floor like a guard and sky high for rebounds or blocking shots. And with only one year of American-style basketball under her belt, logic dictates that she has really only just begun.
This season will see Simone taking on a significant role for Western Nebraska Community College as a starter playing significant minutes. Zags Hoops will follow Simone's games as she readies herself for a two-year stay at Gonzaga.