Mohave Today

Mael Gilles, a 6-foot-1-inch forward, will join the Arizona State basketball team as a graduate transfer from Rutgers.

Sun Devils head coach Charli Thorne said the veteran player will strengthen the team for the 2021-22 season.

The ASU website noted that at Rutgers, Gilles averaged 8.1 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and started all 18 games as a senior last season. During her junior year, Gilles played 31 games averaging 7.7 points per game and 5.5 rebounds resulting in 22 wins for Rutgers.

“Mael is going to bring experience and toughness as a fifth-year player who has started in a top program,” Thorne told Mohave Today. “We know that she is a versatile scorer and someone who can guard pretty much any position on the floor.”

Gilles is the third player added to the ASU lineup since last season. She joins Ayzhiana Basallo, a 2020 Mountain Conference Newcomer of the Year Award winner, and Jade Loville a 2021 All-Mountain West Conference standout. New players also include freshmen Meg Newman and Jade Melbourne.

Thorne said Gilles' depth of experience will give needed balance to the ASU team.

“She complements not only the newcomers but returners as she brings us some things that we do not have,” Thorne said. “She is going to help the newcomers by setting the tone and being a veteran that knows what it takes to win.”

Thorne added that top core players are returning for the new season including Jayde Van Hyfte. The coach indicated this combined with a new influx of talent should result in a powerhouse offense.

“I couldn’t be more excited about who we’ve added to this roster to get back to an elite level and get back to competing for a Pac-12 championship,” Thorne said. 

The Sun Devils finished the 2020-21 season 12-12.