Maite Cazorla is already a decorated international basketball player at 18 years old. Now she’s taking on a new test more than 5,500 miles from home: Pac-12 basketball.
A native of Las Palmas, Spain, Cazorla moved to Oregon a couple of weeks ago. Her journey to NCAA Division I sports took her from her home in the Canary Islands, the archipelago off the coast of Morocco, to Barcelona, where she competed for the elite basketball club Siglo XXI, and now, to Eugene.
This summer, Cazorla played in the FIBA U-19 World Championships and won gold in the FIBA U-18 European Championships for Team Spain. She had three steals, three assists and two rebounds in the final game against France. Many in Spain consider her one of the most promising teenage athletes and believe she will represent Spain for years to come.
In Eugene, Spain native Xavi Lopez, Oregon’s assistant strength and conditioning coach, translates instructions to Cazorla during practice. Although she has plenty of basketball experience, some of the wording and terminology is different overseas. Lopez, who Cazorla considers “an older brother,” played for Chemeketa Community College in Salem after moving from just outside Barcelona.
“My teammates are super nice and close as a team,” Cazorla said, translated by Lopez. “It’s different than Spain. Now I feel like part of a family.”
Cazorla, a 5-foot-10 guard who ProspectsNation.com ranked No. 7 overall among international prospects, has “an uncanny vision on the floor” and the ability to drill a three-pointer, head coach Kelly Graves said last November. Cazorla figures to see a boost in playing time after fellow newcomer Megan Trinder underwent ACL reconstruction surgery last week.
Cazorla lives with two other freshmen and spends time with teammate Jacinta Vandenberg and others off the court. They give her rides across the river to the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex for team meals and pepper her with words they know in Spanish. At the team’s recent retreat to Black Butte Ranch in Central Oregon, Cazorla impressed with her cooking skills and her efforts in kickball and volleyball. The laid-back Cazorla also swung a golf club for the first time.
Although she’s quiet at times, Graves said Cazorla is a “baller” and has an “infectious smile.”
“She understands the language of basketball,” Graves said.
Lopez predicts Cazorla won’t take long to become comfortable speaking English, something he remembers about moving to the United States for the first time. “She’s way ahead of where I was,” Lopez said.
Cazorla will wear No. 4 for the Ducks this year and help lead a team hungry for success following a 13-17 season last year. Cazorla, Lauren Yearwood and Oti Gildon form Graves’ inaugural freshman recruiting class.
“It’s really cool to see (Maite’s) face — awed at the arena she gets to play in and the school she gets to attend,” Lopez said. “She’s so thankful and humble.”
Maite said she was nervous for the move to Oregon at first, but quickly became comfortable when united with her new Duck teammates.
“I’m excited for a good four years,” Cazorla said. “This is definitely a new challenge for me.”
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne