IJ girls basketball Player of the Year: Marin Catholic’s Gracyn Lovette

Gracyn Lovette

Marin Catholic girls basketball

When Gracyn Lovette walked on to the basketball court as a freshman at Marin Catholic, Ashley Saia, then in her third year as Wildcats head coach, knew she had someone who could help form the foundation of the program for years to come.

“To have a kid like Gracyn in the early part of my career, I feel so lucky,” Saia said. “She set the tone for what the program is about with how she behaves, her humility, her passion for the game and her love of her teammates.”

Lovette started her basketball career at Marin Catholic with some fanfare and some expectations from those who knew about her athletic ability and skills. She was a key to the Wildcats’ championship quest. Marin Catholic took home the MCAL pennant the past two seasons, and the North Coast Section Division III and Division IV titles in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

“She is one of the most competitive kids I’ve ever been around,” Saia said. “That leads to consistency. She wants to win and she’ll make sure her team finds a way to win.”

Lovette averaged 15.1 points per game, with 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.4 steals per game this past season, as she helped lead Marin Catholic to the NorCal Division II final.

“We won some good games, but just the memories of a great, fun year with my teammates and coaches, that’s what I’ll miss the most,” said Lovette, who has committed to Lehigh University. “It was obviously a goal from the beginning to be the best, and we had to get better to achieve that. I knew from the start we could be successful and have success, but maybe not the extent of the success we’ve had together.”

Top-seeded Marin Catholic, seconds away from its first State finals berth since 2002, was stunned by a buzzer-beater from No. 4 Central in a 48-46 loss.

“It was always in the back of my head during the playoffs that these were win-or-go home games,” Lovette said. “It gives you an extra reason to play your hardest knowing it can be your last game. … We were a little shocked when Central got the last-second basket. I was sad because we lost, but still proud of what we’ve done this season, and all the accomplishments we did have together.”

Lovette shares the spotlight with her teammates, but her ability and desire were recognized by coaches around the league, who named her the MCAL Girls Basketball Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

“She’s gotten better every single year, which is impressive when you hear about a kid who’s coming in and supposed to be really good, and she doesn’t plateau or lose her love of the game,” Saia said. “Gracyn’s a special kid.”

— Derek Wilson