Former Buena star Keani Albanez hired as Oaks Christian girls basketball head coach

Oaks Christian School has hired former Buena High star Keani Albanez as its girls basketball head coach, the school announced this week.

The Star’s 2011 Girls Basketball Player of the Year takes over the program Kristy Hopkins coached to the 2022 CIF-Southern Section Division 3A title last season.

“Her basketball experience, desire to mentor young ladies, and heart of service will prove beneficial for the Oaks Christian community,” Oaks Christian athletic director Brad Cook said in a release. “We are excited about the future of our program.”

The Santa Barbara native spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Santa Barbara City College men’s and women’s basketball teams.

"I am so excited for the opportunity to lead these young women through faith, basketball and community," Albanez said in the release.

More:Oaks Christian plays like a top seed to win CIF-SS Division 3A girls basketball title

Albanez was a three-year starter at Gonzaga University, averaging 13.1 points per game as a senior in 2014-15, and played abroad professionally for six years in China, Greece, Switzerland and Egypt.  

Albanez was a four-year varsity player at Oxnard High and Buena High, averaging 21.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.7 assists per game as a senior.

She led the Bulldogs to the CIF-SS Division 2AA and CIF Division II Southern California Regional finals in 2011. Buena lost both games to Rialto on buzzer beaters.

Joe Curley is a staff reporter for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage of local high school sports, follow @vcspreps on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.