Oklahoma’s week simply acquired that a lot sweeter.
Sooner or later after returning to the second weekend off the NCAA Match for the primary time since 2013, Jennie Baranczyk beat Texas, South Carolina and Texas Tech for the nation’s prime recruit.
Aaliyah Chavez, a 5-foot-9 guard from Lubbock, TX, turned the Sooners’ highest-ever rated dedication on Tuesday.
“I’m not simply becoming a member of a program, I’m becoming a member of a household. And I’m prepared to provide my all to make this my dwelling and convey a nationwide championship to Norman,” Chavez stated.
Chavez pointed to Oklahoma’s teaching workers as one of many causes she’s elected to don the crimson and cream
“Only a nice taking part in model,” Chavez informed ESPN’s SportsCenter. “They match how I need to play. I need to play quick, and that’s why I selected it.”
When requested about what linked along with her when visiting Norman, she pointed to the OU locker room.
“Undoubtedly simply the gamers,” Chavez stated. “I feel our connection simply matched and the vibe was slightly completely different at Oklahoma with the gamers and the coaches.”
Courtney Paris signed as a member of the 2004 class, and she or he was rated the No. 2-overall participant within the nation by All-Star Ladies Report.
Chavez made her choice after a weekend of intense courting from Oklahoma.
The coveted recruit was in attendance for OU’s NCAA Match First Spherical contest towards Florida Gulf Coast, the place she was visited by Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione, college president Joe Harroz Jr., heart Raegan Beers’ father and different dignitaries in a last push for her dedication.
The Sooners lose seniors Skylar Vann, Lexy Keys, Liz Scott, Nevaeh Tot and Aubrey Joens, however a robust core of the workforce stays.
Chavez will get to play alongside returning starters Payton Verhulst, Raegan Beers, Sahara Williams and Reyna Scott, and essential bench guard Zya Vann will enter her sophomore season in Norman.
The Sooners additionally will add a pair of fellow freshmen alongside Chavez in Oklahoma product Keziah Lofton and Colorado Springs, CO, ahead Brooklyn Stewart.
Chavez is one more huge recruiting win for Baranczyk.
OU fended off loads of portal curiosity for Verhulst and Beers, each of which have been key in getting Oklahoma basketball again to the Candy Sixteen.
Touchdown Chavez is an announcement that Baranczyk can attempt to elevate this system into the higher echelon of the game.
Chavez was named the Gatorade Nationwide Ladies Basketball Participant of the Yr, following within the footsteps of South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards (2024), USC’s JuJu Watkins (2023), UCLA’s Kiki Rice (2022), UConn’s Paige Bueckers (2020), and plenty of others.
Final season, she averaged 34.9 factors, 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.7 steals and 1.2 blocks per sport for Monterey Excessive College.
She led the plainsmen to a 37-5 report and the 5A Division II state championship in Texas.
The Sooners needed to battle Texas and Texas Tech on the NIL entrance in addition to attracting the nation’s prime participant to go away her dwelling state to go well with up for Baranczyk.
