Email this article Printer-friendly format Kathy Olivier signed three standouts for the 2002-03 season.

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UCLA Signs Three Standouts In Women's Basketball

Kathy Olivier inks Nikki Blue, Emma Tautolo, Lisa Willis for 2002-03.

Nov. 14, 2001

UCLA head women's basketball coach Kathy Olivier announced today the signing of three student-athletes to a national letter-of-intent. The list includes guard Anitra 'Nikki' Blue of West (Bakersfield, CA) High School, forward Emma Tautolo of Moreno Valley, CA High School and guard-forward Lisa Willis from Narbonne High in Harbor City, CA. Each will enter UCLA in the fall of 2002 as a freshman and become a member of the 2002-2003 Bruin team.

Blue, a 5-8 guard, is regarded by several publications as the number one combo guard in the nation. All-Star Girls Report listed her as the number six player in the nation. Street and Smith's named her a third-team All-America. Last year, she was named Cal-Hi Sports Junior Player of the Year in the state and broke the all-time Central Section scoring record with 913 points while averaging 34 points and six assists per game. She needs 342 more points to break the all-time Central Section career scoring mark. Blue already has recorded 2,033 points for her career.

Tautolo, a 6-2 forward-center, is an all-league athlete in the sports of basketball and volleyball. Last season, she averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game. Her father, John, was a defensive lineman on the UCLA football team from 1977-80. Emma is expected to concentrate on basketball at UCLA.

Willis, a 5-9 guard-forward, lives in Long Beach, CA and has been a starter on Narbonne's California State title teams in both 2000 and 2001. She was named a third-team All-State performer by Cal-Hi Sports after averaging 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals per game last season. Willis was recognized as an honorable mention USA Today and Street and Smith's High School All-American. She is the leading three-point shooter on her team. Ranked as the 38th best prospect in the nation by All-Star Girls Report.

"We are very excited to add a group which brings with it as much talent and promise as any we have ever had here at UCLA," said Olivier. "We competed with many of the other top programs across the country and came out on top. Each of these players will be able to make their mark individually and as a unit. We also hope to add one or two more recruits to the class."