STOCKTON — Asia Stamps showed plenty of promise during her two years at Weston Ranch High.
Unfortunately, she was sidelined by an ankle injury, costing her seven games during the past season.
“Without Asia, we didn’t have that post player,” said Cougars coach Darrell Johnson, who was already shorthanded in terms of players in the recent campaign.
However, Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D., saw enough of the 5-foot-10 power forward via FieldLevel, a coach-to-coach recruiting website.
Stamps, who was joined by her mother Terresa Jones, signed with the NAIA Saints of the North Star Athletic Association Friday inside the WRHS large gym.
The Cougars coaching staff and administrators including Principal Francine Baird and Vice Principal Dave Smith were also on hand for the special occasion.
“I was juiced,” said Stamps upon being recruited by Presentation.
The same goes for her mom. “(Asia) knows academics are first, sports come second,” Jones said.
Stamps is interested in studying Dentistry.
According to Johnson, Stamps has only been playing organized basketball for two years.
She did play plenty of hoops during her days at nearby August Knodt Elementary School. Stamps also gained experience at Johnson’s WR Sports travel squad.
In this past season, Stamps had a game to remember against tough Central High of Fresno, Johnson recalled. She scored a season-high 16 points and had three blocks. Stamps averaged 9.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and a block.
“She almost single-handedly beat them,” he said of the 69-63 preseason loss.
Stamps will join a Presentation program under the direction of head coach Eric Nelson. The Saints are coming off a season in which they finished 5-12 in league – North Star includes Dakota State, Dickinson State, Mayville State, Jamestown, Winnepeg, Valley City State, to name a few –  8-21 overall.