Teiko Nishi (born January 24, 1967)[1] is an American former women's basketball player. She played for the UCLA Bruins each year from 1985 until 1988.[2] In 1987, Nishi, from North Torrance, California, was the only Asian American woman playing Division I basketball in southern California.[3]

Teiko Nishi
Personal information
Born (1967-01-24) January 24, 1967 (age 57)
Listed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Career information
High schoolNorth High
(Torrance, California)
CollegeUCLA (1984–1988)
PositionGuard

Nishi was heavily active in the Japanese American basketball leagues in Southern California throughout her childhood, and became a starter at North Torrance High School.[4] While at North High, Nishi led her squad to CIF playoffs in her senior year, losing to Cheryl Miller's Riverside Poly in the playoffs.[4]

While playing AAU basketball during the off-season, Nishi was heavily recruited by major universities nationwide, finally choosing UCLA over USC. In her career at UCLA, Nishi played with Jackie Joyner-Kersee, defeating the Cheryl Miller-led USC dynasty twice in their 1984-85 season.[5]

After graduating from UCLA Nishi coached girls' basketball in South Torrance, California.[6]

Nishi is currently coaching girls' basketball in Yorba Linda, CA.[7]

Nishi is the older sister of Kikuo KeyKool Nishi of the rap group The Visionaries.

Career statistics

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College

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
1987–88 UCLA 30 - - 37.5 0.0 56.3 1.3 4.3 1.2 0.0 - 2.6
Career 30 - - 37.5 0.0 56.3 1.3 4.3 1.2 0.0 - 2.6
Statistics retrieved from Sports-Reference.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Teiko Nishi was born on January 24, 1967 in Los Angeles County, California". californiabirthindex.org. California Birth Index. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  2. ^ "UCLA Women's Basketball All-Time Letterwinner List". UCLA Bruins. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  3. ^ Garcia, Irene (31 December 1987). "Only 5'8", but Bruin cager a real standout. Southland's only oriental in Division I is no gunner but she makes it happen". Los Angeles Times (South Bay ed.). Sports, p.3. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  4. ^ a b Garcia, Irene (4 February 1988). "Not Tall, No Top Gun, but Bruin Is in a League By Herself". Los Angeles Times. p. 15. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Clash of the Titans". UCLA Bruins. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  6. ^ Fernas, Rob (17 March 1994). All-Star Action. Los Angeles Times. Sports, page 18.
  7. ^ "Husband of Yorba Linda girls basketball coach Teiko Ikemoto remembered after dying from coronavirus". 10 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Teiko Nishi College Stats". Sports-Reference. Retrieved 7 July 2024.