Yvonte Neal
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A big move off the court
Yvonte Neal has found the program and place for her at Mount Miguel
Judging by her smile, it appears nothing has ever been off-kilter for Mount Miguel High senior Yvonte Neal.
Looks can be deceiving. Neal says she is happier since transferring from Eastlake to Mount Miguel following her junior season with the Titans.
“She’s a happy-go-lucky kid,” Matadors coach Robbie Sandoval said. “She listens and learns. That’s why she will be a success at the next level.”
Neal, who is averaging 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and 4.7 steals a game, has accepted a basketball scholarship to Cal State Fullerton, where she plans to study criminal justice.
“I hope to specialize in forensics,” said Neal, who now lives within the Mount Miguel boundary. “That is really interesting.
“I’m so glad I’m a senior at Mount Miguel. I didn’t like it at Eastlake because you had to act a certain way. I didn’t like their way, and I’m so glad to get out of there.”
Before her change of schools, Neal had Mount Miguel ties. Her sister Monique Clayton played for the Matadors from 2004 to 2006, and current senior teammate Shataera Anderson is a cousin.
“Yvonte’s attitude is so positive,” Anderson said. “We are glad to have her.”
The 5-foot-8 Neal, who hopes to compete in gymnastics and run the sprints in track during the spring, is the most versatile player on Sandoval’s roster. She has scored in double digits in all of Mount Miguel’s games, with a high of 22.
“Neal is our strongest scorer,” Sandoval said. “But more than that, she can play the 1, 2, 3 or 4 position. She’s that good. When she was at Eastlake, all they needed her to do was score. We are trying to make her a complete player.”
Neal was essentially a three-point shooter for the Titans.
“Shooting the ball is definitely her strength,” Sandoval said. “But we are working hard to expand her game.”
Neal’s teammates say she is meeting Sandoval’s demands.
“What she does is bring a lot of energy to our team,” sophomore Shay Young said. “We all know she can score, but she’s not a ball hog. She shares the ball with regularity.”
No. 2-ranked Mount Miguel, which opened the season with eight straight wins, has crushed opponents by an average of 58 points per game. Only once were the Matadors challenged, and that was against No. 8 Our Lady of Peace. The Matadors trailed by 10 points in the second half but managed to squeeze out a 51-47 victory.
Some of the credit for that win goes to Neal, who scored five points in the final minute.
“When it comes down to it, Yvonte delivers what it takes to win,” Anderson said.
Junior teammate Danielle Miller agrees.
“Even going against her in practice is a big challenge,” Miller said.
Sandoval is not surprised that Neal converted the clutch buckets against OLP.
“Neal is unselfish. She sets her teammates up into position to win a game rather than insisting on doing it herself,” Sandoval said. “But she can do it if necessary.”
Yvonte Neal has found the program and place for her at Mount Miguel
Judging by her smile, it appears nothing has ever been off-kilter for Mount Miguel High senior Yvonte Neal.
Looks can be deceiving. Neal says she is happier since transferring from Eastlake to Mount Miguel following her junior season with the Titans.
“She’s a happy-go-lucky kid,” Matadors coach Robbie Sandoval said. “She listens and learns. That’s why she will be a success at the next level.”
Neal, who is averaging 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and 4.7 steals a game, has accepted a basketball scholarship to Cal State Fullerton, where she plans to study criminal justice.
“I hope to specialize in forensics,” said Neal, who now lives within the Mount Miguel boundary. “That is really interesting.
“I’m so glad I’m a senior at Mount Miguel. I didn’t like it at Eastlake because you had to act a certain way. I didn’t like their way, and I’m so glad to get out of there.”
Before her change of schools, Neal had Mount Miguel ties. Her sister Monique Clayton played for the Matadors from 2004 to 2006, and current senior teammate Shataera Anderson is a cousin.
“Yvonte’s attitude is so positive,” Anderson said. “We are glad to have her.”
The 5-foot-8 Neal, who hopes to compete in gymnastics and run the sprints in track during the spring, is the most versatile player on Sandoval’s roster. She has scored in double digits in all of Mount Miguel’s games, with a high of 22.
“Neal is our strongest scorer,” Sandoval said. “But more than that, she can play the 1, 2, 3 or 4 position. She’s that good. When she was at Eastlake, all they needed her to do was score. We are trying to make her a complete player.”
Neal was essentially a three-point shooter for the Titans.
“Shooting the ball is definitely her strength,” Sandoval said. “But we are working hard to expand her game.”
Neal’s teammates say she is meeting Sandoval’s demands.
“What she does is bring a lot of energy to our team,” sophomore Shay Young said. “We all know she can score, but she’s not a ball hog. She shares the ball with regularity.”
No. 2-ranked Mount Miguel, which opened the season with eight straight wins, has crushed opponents by an average of 58 points per game. Only once were the Matadors challenged, and that was against No. 8 Our Lady of Peace. The Matadors trailed by 10 points in the second half but managed to squeeze out a 51-47 victory.
Some of the credit for that win goes to Neal, who scored five points in the final minute.
“When it comes down to it, Yvonte delivers what it takes to win,” Anderson said.
Junior teammate Danielle Miller agrees.
“Even going against her in practice is a big challenge,” Miller said.
Sandoval is not surprised that Neal converted the clutch buckets against OLP.
“Neal is unselfish. She sets her teammates up into position to win a game rather than insisting on doing it herself,” Sandoval said. “But she can do it if necessary.”
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