Having gone through the transfer process a year ago, Colorado’s Jade Masogayo didn’t have much interest in doing it again.

So, despite some opportunities this offseason to go elsewhere, it was a fairly easy decision to stay in Boulder, where she’s already found what she wants.

“For me personally, it was simply because of the coaches,” Masogayo, a standout forward for the CU women’s basketball team, said of why she didn’t enter the transfer portal. “I feel like they’re very genuine and just really good people, and really good people to be around and be coached by. I wanted to continue to be coached by them.”

A 6-foot-3 rising senior from Fort Worth, Texas, Masogayo was recruited by CU head coach JR Payne out of high school but wound up at Missouri State.

After two seasons with the Bears, she transferred to CU last year and wasn’t interested in making it a one-year stay in Boulder.

“I was recruited by them in the first place (out of high school), and it just felt right to just continue to be here and just still be a Buff,” Masogayo said. “The transfer portal for me (last year) was kind of a stressful process, and that’s not something that I would want to go through again. Just a lot of decisions, moving, all that type of stuff.

“At the end of the day, I’m just really happy where I’m at, and I wasn’t really even thinking about that, for real.”

This past season with the Buffs, Masogayo earned All-Big 12 honorable mention after posting 12.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, as well as a .599 field goal percentage that is the fifth-best mark for a single season in CU history.

Only four players from last year’s team will be back next year, but one of them being Masogayo is huge for the Buffs.

“All year long, she’s really been pretty vocal with us, as far as sharing how appreciative she is for the opportunity here and her development here, so I think it was great for her to be able to stay and show her appreciation,” Payne said.

“It’s wonderful that she’s going to stay here and finish what she started.”

Almost across the board, Masogayo’s numbers last year were better than the previous year at Missouri State, despite a bump in competition level, and she credits the CU staff for that jump.“I was actually just really nervous coming into the Big 12, being from a mid-major,” she said. “I was a little nervous, playing against these types of players, but honestly, it was just the coaches that really instilled confidence in me, because I really didn’t have that coming in to this program.

“I feel like my confidence kind of skyrocketed … and that’s all thanks to my coaches, my teammates, just pushing me every day, believing me in me every day.”

The growth in confidence was evident throughout the season. Statistically, Masogayo averaged 10.9 points and 4.0 rebounds in nonconference play, while hitting 55.8% of her shots. Once Big 12 play began, she averaged 13.3 points and 5.2 rebounds and had a .617 field goal percentage the rest of the way.

“She made such a big jump development-wise (last year), and I think she has just as much more,” Payne said. “She can make just as big of a jump from this year to next year as she did from last year this year.”

Payne said Masogayo has been “really intrinsically motivated in the weight room this spring.” She also said the Buffs are working on developing Masogayo’s confidence from 3-point range.

Masogayo has attempted just two 3-pointers in her three college seasons combined (missing both), but Payne said, “Absolutely, that’ll be a big part of her development.”

For now, Masogayo is enjoying a bit of a break. Her summer will include a fun trip through Italy with teammate Tabitha Betson. But when the time comes, she’s excited for her senior year and a second season with the Buffs. “I just want to continue to get better,” she said. “So I just feel like this was a really good choice for me, and I just want to continue to be here.”