Ashlee Trebilcock has had a blessed basketball career so far. Considered one of the top guards in the country, the senior-to-be at Hart High School in Newhall, Calif., has already verbally declared her intention to attend UCLA in 2005.

First, though, sheŐll have to recover from a torn left-ankle ligament suffered at tryouts for the USA Junior Olympics team in Colorado last month. "It's definitely scary," Trebilcock told the Los Angeles Daily News. "I've never had anything as serious as this before."

While she faces surgery, she said she was determined to "rehab like crazy" to return for the upcoming season. "It's so frustrating," she said of waiting for the swelling to go down. "I just have to sit here. And it takes forever to get up and do anything. ... I can't wait to start rehabbing."

As a junior, Trebilcock led Hart to the CIF-Southern Section Division I championship and the second round of the state tournament. She has been named Player of the Year by the Los Angeles Daily News twice.

The 5-10 guard made quite an impression at the 2003 Nike Camp, according to oldgoldfreepress.com, which reviews many of the nationŐs top players at the camp. One report called her one of the best two guards in her class, noting her "versatile, nearly complete game, who in college will be a point guard who also has a handful of rebounds and a handful of steals to go along with her double-digit scoring output each game.... (She) showed the defensive capability to shut opponents down offensively."

Another report stated: A "Very nice, fast combo guard. Ashlee has an excellent handle and was one of the better players at penetrating. She never took a bad shot, and was always squared up to the basket before releasing the ball. Defensively her quick hands allowed her to steal the ball from other players. The best aspect of Ashlee's play was a beautiful pull up mid-range jumper."

Trebilcock chose UCLA over Stanford, Duke, Connecticut and Tennessee.

Article written by Gball Associate Editor Jim Catalano.

Nominate someone you know as a High School Hero. Email us at info@gballmag.com.