Baylor Officially Announces Transfer of Jana Van Gytenbeek
WACO, Texas – Baylor head coach Nicki Collen announced the signing of Stanford transfer Jana Van Gytenbeek on Friday morning. The sophomore will have three years of eligibility after racking up back-to-back Pac-12 championships in addition to a national championship during her time at Stanford.
“We are so thrilled to add Jana and her parents, Carol and Tony, to the Baylor Women’s Basketball family,” Collen said. “Jana is an intense competitor with the ability to play both guard positions equally well. While her opportunity for court time wasn’t significant at Stanford due to a talented veteran backcourt, when opportunity knocked, she seized it by contributing big numbers in their Arizona and Arizona State games. She is a great 3-point shooter with deep range but also has the ability to create off the bounce for herself and her teammates. Jana is an incredible student with future aspirations of being a child psychologist. Baylor fans will love her tenacity, smile and passion for the game.”
Van Gytenbeek averaged 2.2 points in 8.3 minutes off the bench for the Cardinal. The Greenwood, Colo., native finished her time at Stanford shooting 37.8 percent from the perimeter, including a 6-for-8 performance from downtown against Arizona in January. Overall, 17 of her 18 made shots this past season were from behind the arc.
As a freshman, the 5-foot-7 guard appeared in 28 games off the bench. Her five assists vs. Cal Poly marked the most by a Stanford player in a collegiate opener since 2007.
Van Gytenbeek was a five-star recruit, and the No. 39 player overall by ESPN HoopGurlz, who set school career, single-season and single-game records in points, assists and steals at Cherry Creek High School. She finished as Colorado girls’ basketball’s all-time assists leader (679) and was the 2020 Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year.
Van Gytenbeek was also a three-time participant at USA Basketball 3x3 National Championships, where she placed second in 2017 and was a semifinalist in 2018 and 2019.