This multi-faceted 6-0 guard has earned comparisons to Magic Johnson.

Only a junior, Noelle Quinn already has an outstanding high school career. In three years as a varsity player, she has led Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, Calif., to three consecutive Division III state titles.

In the latest title game, Quinn scored 20 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead Bishop Montgomery to a 60-55 victory over Miramonte. "She reminds me of Magic Johnson," Miramonte Coach Darrell Hirashima said in the Los Angeles Times. "She plays that multi-positional position. She can do it all."

This season, the 6-0 guard showcased her versatile game, averaging 21.8 points, 11.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.8 steals and 2.3 blocks per game. She received many postseason honors, including being named 2002 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division IIIA Player of the Year and the Los Angeles Times' girls' basketball player of the year.

Quinn is more than worthy of the recognition, according to Bishop Montgomery Head Coach Lisa Cooper. "Even though her athletic ability is unbelievable, her heart and determination outweigh her athletic ability, and that's saying a lot," Cooper said in the Daily Breeze. "She loves big games, especially the fourth quarter--that's her time to shine. She's ready to take over and she calls for the ball, but she does a great job keeping everyone involved. She's truly one in a million, almost too good to be true. I wish I could clone her."

"I like getting my teammates involved before myself--it makes everyone else happy and allows them to play better," said Quinn in the Daily Breeze. "I try to lead by example, to be there for the team. They feed off it and have better energy, and it lifts our whole team. When the team needs me to take over, I have confidence I can do that.

"When it's crunch time, I know it's my time," Quinn continued. "There's just something about crunch time--I love to have the ball in my hands. People always say great players step up in big games, and in championship games, you have nothing to lose."

Quinn's teammates definitely appreciate her abilities and desire to win "In her mind, she's not walking off the court without a win," said point guard Nykia Peace, who's also Quinn's cousin. "She always tries to get everyone involved and has done that with whatever team she's on. She lifts people up and encourages them. She wants to win so badly, and doing the right thing comes naturally to her. She scores when she needs to, but she finds new ways to pump up her team and give them that extra push. I like her whole outlook."

Also an outstanding volleyball player and an excellent student, Quinn has a disposition that has made her a role model to both her teammates and classmates. "She's so sweet and natural," Peace said in the Daily Breeze. "She is so level-headed and doesn't let anything change her. She handles pressure so well. She doesn't talk bad about anybody.

"A lot of people look up to her at school--students, teachers, everyone," Peace continued. "That type of vibe is always good to be part of because she can lift people's spirits. It's her natural nature. She's kind of the BMOC, the Big Man on Campus, but she'd never say that."

The multi-talented Quinn is drawing a lot of interest from NCAA Division I programs such as Tennessee, Notre Dame, USC, Stanford, and UCLA, according to her coach, but right now she has no college preference. Rather, she's already focused on capping her high school career with her fourth state title. "It's a goal for me to get back here [to the championship] next season," she said in the Los Angeles Times right after winning her third championship.

Article written by Gball Associate Editor Jim Catalano.

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