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New Mexico's Paris Lauro (10) drives against Northern Arizona's Leia Beattie on Nov. 4, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Photo supplied, New Mexico Athletics

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New Mexico's Paris Lauro, left, drives past a Western New Mexico player on Nov. 15, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Photo supplied, New Mexico Athletics

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New Mexico's Paris Lauro (10) sizes up the defense of Morehead State's Kalise Hill (15) on Nov. 7, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Photo supplied, New Mexico Athletics

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Paris Lauro

Photo supplied, New Mexico Athletics

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Paris Lauro saw in Weber State women’s basketball a great fit for her “high motor” — a “readable offense where they’re setting a lot of screens, a lot of fast action,” she said.

Outside of Lauro’s role in two seasons at New Mexico, WSU head coach Jenteal Jackson thought she saw clues on tape about her skill but, during a workout in Lauro’s on-campus visit, quickly saw a player she had to get on her team.

“She’s good. She’s someone who, when put in the right situation and the right system, she’s going to be dangerous,” Jackson said. “Really excited about her.”

So, the 6-foot-1 player and the third-year head coach made the deal.

Lauro committed to Weber State in early May and WSU announced her signing on May 14.

The native of Dallas, Texas, echoed many players who transfer, saying she was looking for “more opportunities, more development, and just finding a coaching staff that would believe in me and give me those opportunities.”

She played in 52 games over two seasons at UNM, averaging 7.4 minutes per game and shooting 35.2% from 3. Her biggest opportunity as a Lobo resulted in her best game; in the final week of her sophomore season, she cashed a career-high 23 minutes into a career-high 18 points, adding three rebounds and shooting 4 of 5 from behind the arc in a road win at Fresno State.

She’s looking forward to something new after describing her role as that of mostly a spot-up shooter.

“I think I’ll be able to show more than just that I can make a 3, score better at three levels than I did (at UNM), show my versatility a bit more,” Lauro said.

Lauro said he knows there’s not much film of her doing that. Jackson saw glimpses but knew what was on tape wasn’t much. Jackson’s aim was to bring in another “tweener” — what she calls a guard/forward hybrid around 6-foot or 6-foot-1 — that she’s focused on this offseason.

The in-person workout, however, made things clear to Jackson.

“She was somewhere she was put more into that four position, but she’s a lot more guard-ready than I expected,” Jackson said. “Her skillset is ready to roll … sometimes on film you look at ‘she could get to this’ or ‘we can develop this part of her game’ but … she can definitely play a big role for us.”

The proverbial “gym rat,” Lauro should “only get better,” Jackson said.

“I think she’s a little bit of a sleeper as far as portal kids signing into the Big Sky, so I’m excited to see what she can do,” the coach said.

Lauro gave her own scouting report:

“I can move the ball with pace, run the floor hard, score at three levels; if I have a mismatch in the post, I can post up. I think I’m capable to doing a lot on the floor, offensively,” she said. “Defensively, I think I bring some size so I can guard a guard or a bigger player.”

Lauro is majoring in exercise science, which will continue at Weber State and will add an emphasis on strength conditioning.

Lauro is one of six incoming transfers for Weber State after the Wildcats finished tied for third in the Big Sky last season. She and four other transfers are juniors: Cal Baptist point guard Sydney White, Buffalo wing/forward Makenna Shaffer, junior college wing/forward Celestine Segretain, and Utah Tech forward Nicole Willardson.

Shaffer and Segretain may have an additional year of eligibility remaining, depending on how court decisions and resulting policy for former junior college player apply to their situations.

WSU also added shooting guard/wing Hannah Robbins from Montana State, who has three seasons left.

The Wildcats return sharpshooter Lanae Billy and post player Antoniette Emma-Nnopu as seniors. Sophomore shooting guards Dakota Nap and Japrix Stubbs return, along with “tweener” Arizana Peaua, who joined the Wildcats during last season but did not play.

Vanna Quintana, Fui Niumeitolu and Maya Davis return as redshirt freshmen, with Quintana poised to earn minutes at the point guard spot.

Forward Mata Peaua and shooting guard Amanda Edwards both left the team to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.