Bettencourt staying home

Oak Ridge guard Ali Bettencourt was a key player in helping the Trojans reach the NorCal Division I finals. Playing with Cal Sparks NorCal this summer, she made her verbal commitment to stay local for college basketball.

The 5-foot-10 Bettencourt verbally committed to Sacramento State on July 17 after also looking at UC Santa Barbara and Northern Arizona. Sacramento State is getting a guard with some size who is a strong shooter with three point range. She is a good fit for the up tempo system at Sacramento State, which has seen good improvement under head coach Jamie Craighead.

"I have a really good connection with the coaches. My parents can come see me play," Bettencourt said. "It is a good fit for me. It fits my game and how I play."

Bettencourt (No. 36 in the NCP Top 40) is the second NorCal commit for the Hornets, which obtained another 2014 commit last week in Miramonte/Cal Stars Nike Elite power forward Breanna Alford. Sacramento State went 19-12, including 13-7 in the Big Sky, last year.

When asked why she committed before the second half of the evaluation period, Bettencourt said, "The thought process was I know where I wanted to be, so why wait. I had it all together and it was time to decide."

Bettencourt and Cal Sparks NorCal will be at Ballin in the Ballroom in Las Vegas this week before returning the area to play in Summer in the City

Good pick-up for the Hornets in keeping a local prospect who fits their system home.