Downey’s Rachel Spinosa will play basketball at LPU

DOWNEY — Downey High School standout basketball player Rachel Spinosa has signed a letter of intent to play at Life Pacific University in San Dimas. 

LPU is an NAIA school and competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference against such schools as Hope International University and Vanguard.

Coach Harris said Spinosa is “an exceptional all-around basketball player with no weaknesses.” She started every game for Downey as a freshman and helped lead the Lady Vikings to the C.I.F. Division 2 A Finals before missing her sophomore year due to a serious knee injury.

Spinosa returned for her junior season and was selected to the All-San Gabriel Valley League Team. 

“Life Pacific is not just getting a great basketball player, they are getting an amazing young woman who is a leader on and off the court,” said Coach Harris. Spinosa is involved in ASB leadership at Downey and holds a 4.3 Grade Point Average.

LPU head basketball coach Richard Salgado said he is happy to have Spinosa join the Warrior family. Salgado’s passion is “to build leaders out of his student-athletes so that they are prepared for their careers and lives after basketball.” 

Further, Salgado “hopes to use basketball and coaching as a way to inspire the next generation of athletes to not only achieve their dreams but to also motivate them to make an impact once they graduate from Life Pacific.”

Interestingly, former Lady Viking standout Surie Camacho signed to play at Hope International University two years ago. It would be awesome to watch these two former Doty Knights play against each other in collegiate league play.