Alicia DaOro

Sacramento City College's Alicia DaOro, who played at Folsom High School and now resides in Citrus Heights, is showing the skills that may enable her to continue playing basketball for a four-year school.

- See additional images
...
It seems big things are always expected from the modest Alicia DaOro.

In high school, DaOro played with All-American Jenn Hall, but her coach would say that much of the team's success hinged on how DaOro played.

Now at Sacramento City College, DaOro is in her sophomore season, where she is expected to carry the burden of leading the Panthers.
...
DaOro said the team has confidence in Moser and assistant Patrick Cranford, who will run the team.
...
"I don't think that anything's going to change because we're going to be out there doing it for him," DaOro said.

When she arrived at SCC last season, DaOro wasn't sure what to expect but worked her way into the starting lineup.She brought a work ethic that would be important in her development.

"From high school on, I learned you have to work for what you want," DaOro said."I wasn't expecting to start on a college team, but I came out here and realized I could play with these girls."

Not only did she play, she excelled, earning all-Bay Valley Conference East honors as a freshman, something she didn't fathom before the season.

"It was a shock to me," DaOro said."I knew I had a good season, and I thought I did a really good job out there.But I wasn't expecting that at all."

Now, the 5-foot-10 forward is expected to repeat her success of a season ago.DaOro's coach at Folsom, Cynthia Ahr, couldn't be happier.
...
Hard work is something DaOro does not shy from.Since her sophomore year at Folsom, DaOro has been employed at a deli in El Dorado Hills.She landed the job through Folsom and current SCC teammate Tonya Reynolds.Both are now supervisors.

DaOro makes the 40-minute drive from her home in Citrus Heights to work, still juggling 6:30 a.m. practices, games and classes.

As she works toward an Associate of Arts degree in social science, she hopes to eventually pursue a degree in kinesiology, physical therapy or another profession that would allow her to stay in sports.

But academics haven't always come easy, DaOro admits.She had to take summer school classes to stay on line toward graduation but still found time to work on her ballhandling skills and perimeter play.
...
The inferno that is DaOro could spark her to heights that she never imagined for herself - such as playing basketball at a four-year school.

Ahr thinks somewhere like Sacramento State would be a good spot for DaOro.
...
For her part, DaOro would be happy with a solid Division II program.

"I thought about (playing college) in high school, but I never thought I'd make it this far," DaOro said.
...
"But there are hundreds of schools in Division I, Division II and Division III that would love a kid like Alicia."