Among the four freshmen the Sacramento State women’s basketball team showcases every game, there is one who stands out from the others.

As a senior in high school, current Sac State freshman point guard Gigi Hascheff led her Reno High School Huskies to a the state championship game in spring 2013, before losing to Reed High School(another high school in Reno).

As a senior at Reno, she led the team in three offensive categories with 14 points, 5.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Gigi Hascheff’s high school head coach, Shane Foster, challenged her at the beginning of the season to be the leader.

“Gigi responded to the pressure I put on her to go out and lead her team to another successful year,” Foster said.

Gigi Hascheff was not only the best player on her team, but she was the best in the Reno area. She was selected as a Nevada Preps All-State first team selection and was named to the 2012-2013 USA Today Family Insurance All-USA Nevada state team.

Gigi Hascheff said she expected the pressure of being the leader of the team during her senior season.

“We always had players step up and be leaders in years previous to last season,” Gigi Hascheff said. “It was my year to step up and I felt like I did that for my team as my team played in the state championship.”

Foster said he was fortunate to have coached a lot of girls in his years at Reno, but the way Gigi Hascheff handled the load for the team is what stood out to him.

“Gigi was the heart and soul of our team last season because of what she meant to our team’s success, both in the regular season and postseason,” Foster said.

Gigi Hascheff  was being looked at from mid-major schools like Sac State, Utah Valley and Santa Clara. It was not until after her championship run, she catch the attention of USC and UNLV.

Although the bigger schools in the nation were looking at the guard, there was only one that caught her eye. Gigi Hascheff’s older brother, Andrew Hascheff, said the former Sac State head coach Jamie Craighead solidified his sister’s decision.

“Gigi was kind of overlooked until she signed with Sac State,” Andrew Hascheff said. “The reason why she is a Hornet now is because Jamie (Craighead) showed interest in bringing Gigi to play at the university.”

The Hascheff family is basketball oriented. The success on the basketball court for Gigi Hascheff started when she refined her skills against her brother Anthony Hascheff.

“My brother (Anthony Hascheff) is someone I really looked up to as an athlete because of all the games we played 1-on-1 with each other,” Gigi Hascheff said. “I have learned from my brother and my dad to believe in myself and be the best I can be in every practice and game.”

Anthony Hascheff said what most people do not  know about her is that she will look to better her teammates before padding her own statistics.

“(Gigi) is a very selfless player because she is willing to score zero points over scoring 20 in order make everyone around her better,” Anthony Hascheff said.

At this point in the season, Gigi Hascheff has averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game for the 6-1 Hornets.