Eggleston Quickly Shows She’s a Superior Freshman

Jessica Eggleston does her best to sound like someone who didn’t expect so much success so soon.

However, as refreshing as Eggleston’s modesty is, the numbers give her away. Eggleston, a freshman forward at Cal Poly Pomona, is simply that good.

The Broncos’ opponents now know, just as Cypress High’s opponents quickly learned when Eggleston was one of the county’s best.

“When I first came into the program, I worked really hard so the payoff would come in the season,” said Eggleston, 18. “But I definitely think there is more I can do.”

Of course, but the Broncos’ coaching staff is quite pleased right now. Eggleston (5 feet 11) has team-leading averages of 15.5 points and 7.6 rebounds.

“I’ve definitely had to adjust my play,” Eggleston said. “I played inside all the time in high school, I was always a post-up player.

“I shoot a lot more outside right now because the players are a lot stronger. And the game is a lot faster.”

She scored a season-high 33 points against Cal State Stanislaus on Dec. 2. Eggleston had 31 points against UC Riverside on Jan. 26 and was selected the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. player of the week.

“I knew what I was getting,” Bronco Coach Paul Thomas said.

Signing Eggleston was one of Thomas’ top priorities last season.

A Times all-county selection, Eggleston impressed Thomas with her offensive skills. She led the county with a 29.5 scoring average as a senior and was a three-time Empire League most valuable player.

“She is a very effective scorer within 15 feet of the basket,” Thomas said. “Someone always has to guard Jessica. I know if I’m an opposing coach, that’s what I’m thinking.”

However, Eggleston’s game is not without its rough edges. Defense, in particular, is a concept she needs to learn better.

“Defense has basically been the worst thing for me this year,” she said. “In high school, we never played man-to-man defense, and that’s all we do here. It’s a lot harder than I expected.”

Thomas is not concerned.

“She wants to get better,” he said. “She is already making plans to work out this summer. She is the kind of person we like to get at Cal Poly Pomona.”

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Talented Trojan: Forward Jodi Anton (Brea Olinda) has been one of USC’s most consistent players this season.

Anton averages nine points and 5.4 rebounds for the Trojans (15-6, 8-5 in the Pacific 10 Conference). Anton, The Times Orange County player of the year in 1992, has started every game.

Keeping Track is a regular column in The Times following the progress of former Orange County athletes competing for colleges elsewhere.