Nicole Ybarra was the first freshman to play varsity basketball at Elk Grove High School. Partway through her sophomore year she transferred to Laguna Creek, where she played for her dad for her final 2 seasons. During that time, she was first team all-Delta League (twice), team MVP (twice), and a member of the Bee’s all-metro team as a senior, when she averaged 19 ppg and played in the Optimist All Star Game. Her senior season was highlighted by her school record 36 points against Florin and her 29 point performance in an upset win over #5 seed Oakmont in the first round of the section playoffs. 

Nicole then chose Sac City and was a 2-year starter for Connie Zuercher. As a freshman she earned first team all-league honors and posted a school record 200 assists (5.7 apg), with a school record 13 assists in a game (twice). The team finished with 23 wins before losing in the second round of the playoffs. As a sophomore, Nicole averaged 13.9 ppg, had 197 assists (5.8 apg) and also led the team in threes (56), steals (98), and blocked shots (27). The team won 20 games before losing in the second round of the playoffs. Nicole was the BVC Valley Division Player of the Year, and played in the California Junior College All-Star Game. With the top 2 single season assist totals, Nicole is the Sac City career assist leader (397) by 76 assists, and her 14 double figure assist games are more than all other Sac City players combined. She also is in the top 10 for career points. 

Nicole’s performance earned her a scholarship to UC Berkeley. Despite being hampered by an Achilles injury she played in 52 of 56 games, averaging 10 minutes per game and finishing 4^th on the team in league play as a junior.  Nicole, who graduated from Cal with a BA in sociology, is an administrator for Apple.