The Nell Fortner era at Ga Tech has gotten off to a solid get started, with the Yellow Jackets achieving the Sweet Sixteen in the 2021 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Event and returning the bulk of their roster for the 2021-22 year.

Adversity has struck the plan, even so. Promising sophomore guard Faithful McQueen transferred to Alabama just three games into the typical period, and her backcourt lover, senior Kierra Fletcher, has not performed at all following undergoing surgical procedure on her foot. It is seriously hampered the Yellow Jackets’ depth, with Fortner rolling out just a 6-player rotation in a lot of video games so considerably.

It’s cases like these when programs should lean on their stars, and luckily for Georgia Tech, it has a single in Lorela Cubaj.

Cubaj, a 6-foot-4 ahead from Terni, Italy, made the decision to use her extra 12 months of eligibility (granted by the NCAA because of to the COVID-19 pandemic) to return to Georgia Tech for a fifth time, in spite of her amazing senior season in 2020-21 earning her WNBA Draft consideration.

Thankfully for the Yellow Jackets (14-4 5-2 ACC), Cubaj has gotten even greater considering the fact that then, and her expertise and numerous ability set have been paramount in her staff preserving its winning identity though making the essential adjustments by way of its roster upheaval. Ga Tech is currently ranked No. 18 in the place in the Linked Press women’s basketball poll. As the ACC standard season continues, let us glimpse at how Cubaj has helped retain the Yellow Jackets afloat and what it implies for her as a long run WNBA draftee.

Honors and figures

The No. 2 international prospect in the class of 2017 according to ProspectsNation.com, Cubaj has steadily enhanced all through her collegiate vocation. As is standard for gamers who are not offensive centerpieces, it took a when for Cubaj to be identified nationally, but the honors started pouring in for the duration of her junior year: She was named Co-Defensive Player of the Yr, sharing the award with Syracuse middle Kamilla Cardoso, soon after averaging 11.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks for each video game. Cubaj was also named an All-American honorable point out in 2021 by the WBCA.

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