Hilda Garcia didn’t waste much time when the early signing period opened, as the senior at Durango High School quickly signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for Otero Junior College next season.
“I loved the environment of the school. They’re updating everything and I felt at home there,” said Garcia, who signed her letter of intent earlier this month but held a signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon at DHS. “It’s a small town, and I’m from a small town. The coach and the girls made me feel at home. It made me excited, and they have a really good nursing program, and that’s what I want to pursue my career in.”
In signing with Otero, which is located in La Junta, Garcia will receive a partial scholarship that will cover a good chunk of her tuition.
Garcia spent her first two high school years at Ignacio High School and led the Bobcats in scoring both seasons. As a freshman in 2014-15, she averaged 13.9 points per game, and she scored 14.7 points per game as a sophomore.
She transferred to Durango for her junior season, but per CHSAA transfer rules had to miss the first half of the 2016-17 season. When she was available, Garcia averaged 9.7 points per game in 13 games played.
Garcia’s scoring prowess helped grabbed the attention of college programs. She received interest from a handful of other junior college and Division II programs, including Division II Adams State University in Alamosa.
At close to 5-foot-10, Garcia has the athleticism and length to guard multiple positions on defense and can create mismatches on the offensive end.
“She’s pretty versatile in the number of positions she’s able to play,” DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said. “She has perimeter skills and enough size to play a little bit inside. She’s a pretty dynamic basketball player.”
One challenge Garcia said she’ll have at Otero is adjusting to the Rattlers’ style of play.
“They’re a fast-playing team, and I think it’ll be a good challenge for me to accept because I’m not used to it, but I’ll come around to it,” Garcia said. “I have good length, and I think that will help me fit in with them.”
Garcia is the third DHS girls basketball player to sign a letter of intent in the past two seasons. She joins 2017 DHS graduates Katrina Chandler, who signed with Colorado Mesa University, and Taylor Edwards, who will play for Otero this season.
Otero is 4-5 so far this season.
Garcia and the Demons will open their season against Rifle at the Roaring Fork High School tournament Dec. 1 in Carbondale.
kschneider@durangoherald.com
