College choice crystal clear for WCA hoops standout

Posted: August 21st 2023

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

About nine months ago, Kaci Mikulski visited Jefferson University.

She couldn’t shake from her mind how impressed she was.

So when it came time to select her destination to continue her academic and basketball career, the choice was clear for the 5-8 standout combination guard who is about to begin her senior year at Wildwood Catholic Academy.

Jefferson University it is.

“I visited Jefferson last fall going into winter and the minute I stepped on campus I absolutely fell in love with the school,” Mikulski said. “Even if I wasn’t playing basketball, I just loved the school.”

Mikulski, one of the top players in the Cape-Atlantic League, will join one of the elite programs in NCAA Division II basketball. Last season, the Rams finished 28-5 overall and won two games in the NCAA Division II Tournament to advance to the East Region final.

“The one goal and the one ambition I have is to win a national championship and with this program that’s something that could happen while I’m there,” Mikulski said. “I really like Coach Tom (Shirley) and Coach Matt (Bamford). The best way to describe them is that they have the same type of mindset and mentality as I do. They’re not too serious and they like to have fun, but they also love to win. The girls up there are so nice, too. Everything about it is picture perfect to me.”

Mikulski was the leading scorer on one of the CAL’s best teams last winter, averaging 14.7 points per game as a junior. She also topped a Wildwood Catholic team that finished 24-6 and advanced to the South Jersey Non-Public B title game in assists with 84 and three-point field goals with 71.

Mikulski, who has made quite a name for herself on the AAU circuit as well as at Wildwood Catholic, chose Jefferson, located in the East Falls section of Philadelphia, over a handful of other Division II schools.

“I was aiming more to make my decision in September but it just kind of happened this way,” she said. “I had other offers but when I was visiting schools, none of them really stood out to me as much as Jefferson. The moment I stepped on campus last year, I just knew. I had that feeling.” 

Wildwood Catholic is again expected to have one of the best teams in both the CAL and South Jersey this winter. Mikulski is eagerly anticipating the start of the season.

“I really believe that we have the deepest group we’ve had in my high school career yet,” she said. “Everyone is very determined and motivated. We feel like we have unfinished business. … I’m very excited. This should be a very good season, a very entertaining season. It’s going to be cool to see how we turn out as a group.”

Mikulski, who has a goal to eventually become a basketball coach, said she plans to major in psychology and sports management while at Jefferson.

“I am so so excited and blessed and beyond happy,” Mikulski said. “I’m very lucky to be in the position I’m in. It’s so exciting.”