SPOKANE, Wash. – “When I visited, my mom, I remember when we got off the plane and my mom was like, started crying,” Gonzaga freshman Jaiden Haile said. “And I was like, ‘why are you crying, we just got here, nothing has happened.’ and she was like, ‘I just have a feeling that this is where you’re going to end up.'”
Meet Jaiden Haile, true freshman phenom for Gonzaga women’s basketball.
She comes from dominating for the West Fargo Horace Hawks in North Dakota, winning Eastern Dakota Conference player of the year and a state title in just the third season of Horace’s existence.
“There’s quite a big difference,” Haile said. “Horace were brand-new, there was no precedent set. We kinda had to wing it, and kinda figure it out on our own. I feel like Gonzaga is a very storied program, and the coaches are amazing. They’ve been here.”
That conference chip featured a standout performance from Jaiden, and her next time in the Scheels Center came quickly.
Game one of her college career with the Zags featured taking on her hometown North Dakota State Bison.
“I took a charge on Avery Koenen, she hit me square in the chest and I was laying there like, ‘oh, that really hurt, that is not the same as a high school charge,’” Haile said. “I’m really grateful I got to do that and that got to be my first college game, because I’ll remember that the rest of my life.”
The rest of her debut season has featured an expanded bench role, especially learning alongside another freshman great: Lauren Whittaker.
“When you walk into the locker room before film, there’s lots of laughs and giggles and us being rowdy and ridiculous, but it makes it fun,” Haile said. “I don’t know, I think Lauren is so talented, and so, to be around her and learn from her, it’s really special.”
Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier sees the vision and improvement too.
“She’s evolving kinda right in front of our eyes, or maybe even blossoming right in front of our eyes into much more than just a rebounder,” Fortier said. “She’s capable of a lot, and it’s fun to see the success that she’s having.”
Haile remarked on her time becoming a Zag, and what it means to her to be one.
“I mean, just going back to the community, they talk about it a lot,” Haile said. “It’s special to go out into the community. Spokane is not a super-small town, and be recognized and have women’s sports be valued as much as the women’s side is really special.”
Gonzaga faces Washington State tomorrow night in Spokane at 6:00 p.m.
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