Gabby Kukura, a 5-foot-10 wing player from Regina, SK, has signed on with the UBC Okanagan Heat women鈥檚 basketball program.
Kukura began her competitive basketball career as a six-year starter with the Junior Cougars club program.
Playing her high school ball at Campbell Collegiate, Gabby earned a pair of city championships with the junior team and another with the senior team, in her Grade 11 year. Starting her last three years at Campbell, Kukura also earned an all-star nod at the Luther Invitational Tournament.
Outside of her school ball, Kukura played as a member of the Jr. Cougars (PEBL; 2016-17) and Team Saskatchewan (2015-17). With the Provincial program she played on the U15, U16, and U17 teams, as a starter each year.
With the Jr. Cougars she played U17 both seasons, and was a starter the second.
鈥淚 chose to attend UBCO because of the high academic quality that it upholds,鈥� said Kukura in her statement about the signing and her decision behind it. 鈥淚 also chose to attend UBCO because coach Claire is a great coach and the girls out there were teammates that I would love to be able to play with. I have confidence in coach Claire and where she is taking the team!鈥�
鈥淚 feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue an undergraduate degree in science at UBCO, while also continuing my basketball career,鈥� Gabby said of her newly-decided future as a student-athlete.
鈥淚 am a teammate who enjoys sharing success and learning through challenges with all the teams I鈥檝e been apart of. I am looking forward to bringing my defensive intensity and work ethic to the team. I can鈥檛 wait to be apart of the Heat鈥檚 program and success.鈥�
鈥淲e are thrilled to be adding Gabby to our Heat program,鈥� head coach Claire Meadows stated. 鈥淕abby will bring a tough competitive edge to our team. She is an excellent perimeter defender and her athleticism also allows her to be an effective slasher. Gabby鈥檚 experience playing with the Saskatchewan Provincial team will help her transition to Canada West basketball.鈥�
Kukura is the third recruit to commit to Meadows鈥� program and will join Emma Huff, a guard from Quebec, along with Vernon鈥檚 Mackenzie Horst as first year players on the 2018-19 Heat women鈥檚 basketball team.
