Four Giants Sign to Four-Year Programs After Historic Season
Visalia, CA – Fresh off a historic 31-1 season and a trip to the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) State Final Four, four sophomores from the College of the Sequoias women's basketball program officially signed with four-year universities on Wednesday in front of coaches, teammates, and family.
Morgan Trigueiro (Caruthers HS) is headed to NCAA Division I Southern Utah University, while Jocelyn Medina (Arbuckle, CA) signed with NCAA Division I University of Denver. Meanwhile, teammates Lucia Ricci (Seattle, WA) and Anisa Torres (Caruthers HS) will continue playing together at NCAA Division II Hawaii Pacific University.
The signings are a milestone for a group that helped lead Sequoias to one of the best seasons in program history. The Giants finished 28-0 in the regular season, captured the Central Valley Conference title, and advanced to the 3C2A State Final Four before falling to Mt. San Antonio College in a hard-fought 57-50 loss.
Medina, named Northern California Player of the Year, was one of the state's most dynamic players. She averaged 22.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 3.3 steals per game, while shooting 57.8% from the field and 44.3% from three-point range. Her combination of scoring and grit helped lead the Giants to a fantastic season.
Trigueiro, a First Team All-State and CVC Co-MVP selection, was the CVC's top scorer at 24.1 points per game, and shot nearly 40% from three, making nearly 4 threes per game. She was instrumental in College of the Sequoias' offense all season and provided leadership throughout the year.
Ricci played a crucial two-way role for the Giants, averaging 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game, while also providing key defensive plays throughout the postseason. Her effort and toughness made her a key contributor down the stretch.
Torres came up big in critical moments off the bench, as she averaged 6.5 points and 1.5 steals per game. She made big shots and provided a steady presence as the primary ball handler.
"This is what junior college basketball is all about," said Head Coach Tyler Newton, who earned CVC and NorCal Coach of the Year honors in his first season at COS. "You come here to develop, get exposure, and prepare for that next level—both as a player and as a person. These four trusted the process, bought into the work, and now they're headed to four-year universities with opportunities they've earned. That's what we're here to do."
All four players were key members of a group that set the tone for the program's culture, work ethic, and identity. Newton emphasized that the signings speak not just to individual talent, but to the strength of the program as a whole.
"Success at the next level starts here," Newton said. "We talk a lot about sustained excellence, and this is part of that. These four represent what Sequoias basketball is all about—playing hard, playing together, and getting it done on and off the court."
With their college destinations now official, the Giants' legacy continues—both in Visalia and beyond.
