Standish showing senior class at Gonzaga

Ellensburg grad reflects on her time at Gonzaga ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — Arriving at Gonzaga four years ago, Kayla Standish wondered if she was, in fact, up to this new basketball challenge.

As a stellar career with the Bulldogs winds down four years later, Standish looks back and laughs at her early worries.

Gonzaga's Kayla Standish in action against Rutgers in the second half of an NCAA tournament first-round women's college basketball game Saturday, March 17, 2012, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

“I knew it would be a huge transition,” she said. “That first summer was a lot harder than what I expected. But I developed great friendships right away and that really helped. That freshman class grew really close those first weeks.

“The seniors (this season) have been through everything and it’s like going through it all with friends.”

Along the way, Standish has played a big part in Gonzaga’s transformation from a growing program to perennial winner, with her and the Bulldogs’ other four seniors playing in their fourth straight NCAA tournament, including a third straight Sweet 16 where Kentucky awaits at 4 p.m. today.

“I’m very honored to be part of changing the program,” Standish said. “I take pride in being a part of it.”

“I always knew she was a special player and a great young lady,” said Craig Faire, Standish’s basketball coach at Ellensburg High who has remained in contact with her. “To see what she’s accomplished at the college level is fantastic.”

Even so, for Standish, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder this season and all-time blocked shots leader, reaching this pinnacle came with some early growing pains.

A three-sport standout at Ellensburg High who was the Class 2A state basketball player of the year her junior and senior seasons — the last of which saw E-burg fall by a point to River Ridge in the state title game — Standish quickly realized that none of those accolades would help her succeed at Gonzaga.

“Coming in, I knew I wasn’t strong enough,” said Standish, who endured the added burden of being thrust into a new position, playing in the low post.

“I started as a guard and they discovered my dribbling skills weren’t up to par, so they wanted me in the post,” the 6-foot-3 Standish said. “I had never played with my back to the basket before.”

Learning from and playing behind Heather Bowman and Vivian Frieson, Standish began a bruising transition.

“Bowman and Vivian would kick my butt every day in practice,” she said. “I learned a lot from getting my butt kicked every day.”

For two years she labored in a reserve role, although she did average 8.1 points as a sophomore, honing her skills and knowing her opportunity was coming.

“Sitting on the bench, it took time for me to find my fit but I stayed motivated,” said Standish, who proved to be well-prepared when her time came, averaging 17.1 points and 8.4 rebounds last season and boasting team-best totals of 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds this season.

“I knew I had a big role to fill (as a junior) but I had a lot of help on the court,” she said of her teammates, particularly point guard Courtney Vandersloot, helping her quickly feel comfortable and confident in her expanded role.

Standish’s eventual success is the result of her pure athletic abilities blending with a dynamic competitive drive and mental toughness, Faire said.

“She’s one of those kids who was confident in herself but also worked hard to keep getting better,” Faire said. “She was never arrogant. She’s one of the most coachable players I’ve ever worked with and was always willing to do what you asked.

“They needed her inside and that’s what she did. Give Kayla a lot of credit. It shows her drive that she was going to make this work. It shows how hard she has worked to have this type of career.”

That motivation is also evident in her efforts to help fill a leadership role this season.

Although admitting she’s never really been a vocal leader — hers is more by example — the soft-spoken Standish has emerged as a guiding force for coach Kelly Graves, although it didn’t come easily.

“You mean something besides the coaches yelling at me every day?” she said, laughing, when ask how she’s stepped up as a leader this season.

Noting her “humble” qualities, Faire understands the challenge she faced, but also knew she’d meet it head on.

“She still doesn’t like to talk much; she let’s it show on the floor,” said Faire, adding that he talked to her about this before the season. “(But) she’s figured it’s her time. It was one of the things she expected. Kelly told her she was going to have to step up as a leader; have to step up as a scorer, and she’s done that.”

In one way, the leadership displayed by Standish and her fellow seniors has been simply reminding the younger players what the Gonzaga program has evolved into — and not just in terms of wins and losses.

“We just try to ingrain what a special thing we’ve got going at Gonzaga,” Standish said. “We’ve been a growing program for years … and our team and coaches are very close.”

That bond was evident to Standish on her recruiting visit and the main reason she chose Gonzaga over, at the time, higher-profile schools California, Washington and Washington State.

“I went to coach Graves’ house and hung out with his family and the assistant coaches and players,” she said. “It was a big family. It’s close, like my family at home. There’s a lot of love on this team.

“The team has always had a strong bond and that’s shown on the floor.”

“Of the many reasons she went there, number one was the family atmosphere,” Faire said.

Now, an emotional Standish admits that it’s hard to think about this special run ending, but, true to her nature, she’s managed to turn it into a positive.

“It’s a scary feeling but I think it’s motivating,” said Standish, who does plan to pursue professional basketball opportunities. “It’s not a good feeling knowing the next loss will be my last game, but it brings out the drive in me to try putting it off as long as possible.”

Whenever that moment arrives — whether today against Kentucky, in the championship game April 3 or somewhere in between — Standish is certain of one thing — she did in fact make the right decision.

“I know why I came to Gonzaga and why I play basketball. I love it. It’s my passion,” she said. “Things have been way better than I expected. I’ve had the time of my life at Gonzaga. This has been the best four years of my life.”

Notable

• Gonzaga’s all-time leader in blocked shots (176 through today).

• As a junior, became just fifth Gonzaga player to top 600 points in a season (617).

• Had back-to-back 30-point games in ’11 NCAA tournament, the first Bulldog to score that many points in consecutive games, regular or postseason.

• Averaged team-best 21.2 in NCAA tournament last season.

• Played on U.S. Pan American Games team last summer.

High school

• Three-sport standout in volleyball, basketball and track and field at Ellensburg.

• Two-time Class 2A state basketball player of the year (’07, ’08).

• Led Ellensburg to 4 state basketball appearances and 3 trophies, including runner-up finish in ’08.

• Topped 2,000 points (2,076) in basketball.

• Helped Ellensburg to 3 straight state state volleyball trophies, capped by third-place finish in ’07.

• Won 9 state track and field medals, including 3 runner-up finishes.

• Yakima Sports Awards’ female athlete of the year in ’06 and ’08, and female basketball player of the year ’06, ’07 and ’08.