New Canes: Paula Fraile Ruiz
In a few short months, Paula Fraile Ruiz will pack up her belongings and make her way across the Atlantic Ocean to start her freshman year at the University of Miami. Fraile is set to join the Miami women’s basketball team as one of two incoming freshmen.
“For me, playing at Miami next season is a real pleasure because I will be able to play on a very good team with fantastic coaches and players,” Fraile said. “They will help me improve on my weaknesses and become the player that I want to be.”
Fraile comes to Miami with a wealth of international experience, most recently competing at the 2019 FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship – Division B in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The forward averaged 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 11.1 minutes of action throughout the tournament, helping Spain to a fifth-place showing.
A “free-flowing and versatile post player” according to head coach Katie Meier, Fraile can not only rebound and block shots, but also run the floor and hit 3-pointers. Her versatility was on display during Spain’s game against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the European Championship, as Fraile totaled nine points, nine rebounds, two steals and a block in 17 minutes of action.
“I think the strongest part of my game is that versatility,” Fraile said. “I also love to pass the ball because I think that it generates a lot of game situations.”
A native of Olesa de Montserrat, Spain, Fraile garnered international recognition on the basketball circuit earlier this year, participating in the sixth annual Basketball Without Borders Global Camp, which was held in Chicago in mid-February as part of NBA All-Star Weekend.
While at Miami, Fraile has clear goals: to develop herself as a basketball player and a person. And she knows that putting in the work is the only way to achieve her goals.
“Leaving home will be hard, but I’ll be living in a big city with this team and this staff, and also getting the opportunity to study at the University of Miami,” Fraile said. “I think there isn’t any better place to get this experience.”
See Paula in action at the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp (Sparks, #26).
