A homecoming is in the cards for Kanani Coon.

After playing two years for the University of California Santa Barbara Gauchos women's basketball team, the 琉璃神社 native is set to return home and play for the UBC Okanagan Heat.

"Kanani is someone we recruited out of high school and are very happy she is coming home to play here at UBCO," commented Heat head coach Bobby Mitchell. "A player like her coming home shows where are program is at and says a lot about the entire team. Kanani will join a strong group and makes us better instantly."

Coon appeared in 29 games in two years at the NCAA Division 1 level, bringing a ton of experience to the Heat team. 

She played 21 of her 29 career games last season where she averaged averaged 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game, including recording a career-best 11 points and five rebounds against UC Davis. She finished the season shooting 46.2 per cent from the field and 38.9 per cent from three-point range.

"Kanani has size and versatility at both ends of the floor and we anticipate her having an immediate impact as she is a very good fit to our style of play," added Mitchell. "Her ability to score and put pressure on defences will free up more opportunities for everyone. We are very excited to get to work this off season as a group."

Before heading south for two seasons, the 6'2" guard attended and graduated from Okanagan Mission Secondary where she was named a provincial all-star in her senior year (2022-23) after averaging 24 points and nine rebounds a game.

Coon is the fourth recruit this offseason for the Heat, joining Kamloops' 5-10 guard Nevena Nogic, 6-1 guard/forward Saige Parfitt from Victoria and 5-7 guard  Kristen Francks, who is a Vernon native and a Douglas College transfer.

The women's team went 7-13 last season, finishing 10th in the conference.