Blondie's Pizza, Amoeba Music, Chez Panisse - these are some of the better known landmarks in the city of Berkeley (Calif). Another "landmark" that visitors to Berkeley should start getting familiar is the "Game Changer," that is Chairese Culberson, the No. 3 ranked player in the NorCalPreps.com 2011 girls basketball Top 40. The name is appropriate because this Berkeley High Yellowjacket is an all-around player who can be athletic, a slasher, and a power player. She is athletic because she has an uncanny jumping ability. Culberson is a slasher because she can take the ball to the basket with ease against her helpless defender. This Yellow Jacket is a power player because she can play the post despite her undersized 6-foot and 176 pound frame.
During her junior year at Berkeley High of the Alameda Contra Costa League, she helped the Yellow Jackets to a 27-4 record but was not able to be part of a 52-42 loss to Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) in the state playoffs due to injury. She averaged a double-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per contest. Despite being undersized at the post, Culberson considers rebounding to be her best basketball skill. For her senior season, she wants to become a McDonalds All-American selection and to be able to dunk in a game while her team goal is to play more cohesively.
Culberson started playing basketball since the 4th grade and has been a Berkeley High varsity starter since her freshman year. During the summers, she has been working on her dribbling and shooting to make her a more complete player. She is also part of her club team California Ballaz that is coached by Leroy Hurt. Culberson compares her game to Cal star Ashley Walker because she is an undersized post that has an effective game in the paint.
This Yellow Jacket has the physical skills to compete, but also has the mental fortitude to play tough. She tore her ACL during the season last year, which prevented her from helping her team get to a state championship and from playing in front of college coaches during her last summer of AAU basketball. She rehabbed extremely hard and also worked on becoming a stronger player through weight lifting.
Despite having to rehab from her injury, many colleges are in need of a game changer for their program. Fresno State, Louisville, Missouri, Northern Arizona, Pepperdine, San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara, UNLV, and Washington have been in contact with her. She has made official visits to San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara, and Washington. She has no favorites.
Culberson wants to attend a solid program with a strong tradition that is in a competitive, strong conference. She would like her destination to have nice weather. Academically, Culberson has a 3.30 GPA and 1580 SAT. She would like major in Criminology with a Sports Medicine minor. During her free time, this Yellow Jacket likes to write poetry that she may turn into a rap song. Watch for this Game Changer in Berkeley this upcoming year.
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