Fresno State Athletics
The Magic Touch
2/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
by Curtis Webb
Magic Johnson is one of the greatest players ever to have touched a basketball. His savvy, poise, and quickness, not to mention his brilliant passing and ability to come through in the clutch are attributes that people remember most. Especially freshman guard Laura Garcia.
Garcia, the youngest member of 10 children and a graduate of Roosevelt High in Fresno, grew up playing most every sport. She was a soccer maniac playing with fellow classmates early in elementary school and it helped that the rest of her family were huge soccer fans, too. But a basketball bounced her way at the age of nine and she hasn't put it down since.
"I got started playing basketball in about the third grade," Garcia said. "One day I saw Magic Johnson play and he made it look so easy. So I tried it and..."
And the rest is history.
As a three-sport athlete at Roosevelt, Garcia was dominant. She lettered four times in basketball and softball and three times in volleyball. She was named to the first-team All-North Yosemite League all four years of varsity basketball competition. Twice she was honored with first-team All-NYL selections in softball. Garcia, the career scoring leader at Roosevelt, is definitely one of the greatest players to wear a Rough Rider uniform.
"She had a great work ethic," Roosevelt's head girls' coach Christy Fullton said. "It was always comforting to have someone with great ball handling skills and athleticism to lead the team. She always led by example."
Roosevelt's athletic director Jim Fletcher feels the same way: "Garcia turned our program around. She was a great player and a great competitor. Most of all, she was just a joy to have around."
Garcia knew early that her basketball career wouldn't end when she graduated last May.
"In my sophomore year I began to realize I might have the opportunity to play basketball at the collegiate level," Garcia said. "I really started to think about it because I would also have the opportunity to earn an education."
Garcia has been essential to the team's success this season. She is a threat from anywhere in the gym, except the bench. Recently the 5-foot-8 guard has had to cope with sitting on the bench due to injury. She missed the TCU game at home on Jan. 20 with a sprained ankle and it has not totally healed. Lately her minutes have been decreased because of limited mobility and quickness.
"I've had minor injuries before, but nothing that has kept me out of an important game," Garcia said. "I haven't enjoyed the experience. It is very difficult to just sit and watch my teammates from the bench without being able to help. It makes me appreciate the opportunity I have to be out there. It's helped me realize I could be sitting down at any time."
Bet on Garcia coming back strong, though. She entered this week averaging 9.6 points a game, three assists and 3.4 rebounds in 33 minutes. She is shooting a solid 84.4 percent from the free throw which ranks best on the team.
Her presence on the court as a scorer is becoming more important to the team. She had a breakout game against UTEP in which she scored a career high 25 points, a season best seven assists and four rebounds. As the second best ball handler on the team her ability to push the ball up-court is also a key component to the team's success. She becomes the leader at point guard when fellow freshman guard Lindsay Logan gets a rare rest. So with five freshmen on the team her leadership will be a factor especially in the future.
"I was always told I was a silent leader," Garcia said. "I let my performance on the basketball court do the talking. I don't really talk a lot, I just work hard and it pays off."
Garcia said her shot has been a strength so far this season. But she said her patience needs to develop, as well as her vocal chords. One thing is certain, she will always play hard.
"I just think it's all about heart," Garcia said. "Who ever plays the hardest and leaves it all out on the court will come up with the win."
There is no doubt Garcia plays with all heart. She plays with a little bit of magic, too.
