Shantal Montiel: From Kofa captain to IVC Desert Warrior
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) - For years, Shantal Montiel was the heartbeat of Kofa High School girls basketball. A four-year varsity starter, four-time MVP, and a four-year captain, Montiel didn’t just play the game she set the standard for it. Now, the Class of 2024 graduate is taking the next step in her journey, becoming one of the few Kofa players in nearly a decade to play college basketball after committing to Imperial Valley College.
For Montiel, the moment still doesn’t feel real. “I still feel like I’m at home,” she said. “But honestly it’s been a dream. Always being little and wanting to play basketball… so making it to this level is a lot of fun. I’m enjoying it out here. The team is really fun. It’s really great getting to know each other in a different environment.”
Montiel spent her high school career building a reputation as a tough, dependable leader — someone who showed up early, stayed late, and always played with intensity. After graduating, she even returned to Kofa as an assistant coach for the 2024–2025 season, helping mentor the same players she once led on the court.
But stepping into the college game has brought a new level of challenge.
“In high school, we played a lot of teams where preparation was brutal,” Montiel said. “But here I’m used to the fast pace — being more aggressive — so that’s really good.”
Growing up in Yuma, Montiel says athletes in smaller communities don’t always get attention from scouts or bigger programs. That made her accomplishment even more meaningful.
“I never really would’ve thought I’d be one of the first girls to do it,” she said. “I feel like a lot of kids don’t get much attention from other programs. It’s a small city, so there’s not much out there.”
While she continues to chase her basketball dreams, Montiel is also pursuing another passion: nursing. Imperial Valley College’s strong program made her commitment feel like a perfect fit academically and athletically.
“I heard the nursing program is really good,” she said. “So I get like two bonuses. I’m really excited to start soon.”
Her love for basketball traces back to childhood — long before MVP awards and college commitments. She grew up watching Kobe Bryant and WNBA legend Candace Parker, two icons who shaped her mentality and eventually her jersey number.
“I always watched Kobe Bryant and Candace Parker,” she said. “They’re a big inspiration for me. I told my dad I liked Parker, so I switched my number to three — and I kinda kept going.”
As Montiel begins her college career, she hopes her path inspires younger athletes at Kofa and across Yuma to dream beyond the city limits.
Because for her, this journey is more than a milestone — it’s proof that big dreams can grow in small places.
And now, with Imperial Valley on the horizon, Shantal Montiel is ready for her next chapter one built on hard work, heart, and the belief that her story is only just beginning.
