2025 Recruiting Report: as of April 17, 2024

Mid-April Greetings, Benchers:

Welcome to the mid-April edition of the 2025 ND Women’s Basketball Recruiting Update, which concentrates on the Irish class that will suit up in Fall 2025.

Official Visits (OV's) for the current junior HS class (which graduates in Spring 2025) began the week following the NCAA Championship Game.
From April 9 through July 31, D-1 Women's Basketball is primarily in a "Quiet Period," save for several evaluation periods.

A Quiet period is "that period of time when it is permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the member institution's campus. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made during the quiet period."

Hence, this is the time to bring members of the Class of 2025 onto campus if the coaches and staff are trying to get an early(ier) commit.

There are several Evaluation Periods scattered up to July 31. During this time, it is "permissible for authorized athletics department staff members to be involved in off-campus activities designated to assess the academic qualifications and playing ability of prospective student-athletes. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts shall be made with the prospective student-athlete (PSA) during an evaluation period, save for seniors at scholastic events. Quiet period activities are also allowable."

Evaluation Periods are: April 19-21; May 17-19; June 13-15; July 12-15; July 19-22; and, July 26-29.

There is a recruiting shutdown from May 6-12, which is exactly what it sounds like; and, three dead periods: June 11-12; July 10-11; and, July 16-18.

PERSONNEL OVERVIEW
(Chart by BabaGhanouj)

Let's examine the current recruiting state-of-play, position by position.

FORWARDS/POSTS

Context
- There are question marks at the post/forward positions in 2024. With Nat Marshall in the portal and Kylie Watson having ACL surgery and rehabbing, Maddy Westbeld and Kate Koval are sole front-court players right now.
That will have to be filled up by transfers from the portal in 2024-25, but augmented by high school recruits in 2025.

So these are positions that should have a strong focus by the ND coaching staff.

Class of 2025

- Grace Knox (HG #11), Etiwanda H.S. in California. Had been at Centennial HS in Las Vegas, Nevada. 6'1" wing/forward to does most of her damage inside (at least, thus far). ND is one of some 20 schools to have made an offer. Will keep track to see how that progresses. ESPN cited her as a riser after this high school year.
- Leah Macy (HG #14, ASGR #16), 6'3" forward who plays for Mercy Academy HS and KY Premier in AAU (same as Zakiyah Johnson). Power forward who used to play for Elizabethtown HS, same as Erin Boley. Sturdy forward who is very strong with either hand going to the hoop. Good pull-up jumpers in the lane. Attended ND vs. UConn game in Dec. 2022 and took unofficial visit to campus in 2023, replete with self-released pictures. Came back in September for Tenn. State game. Very strong mutual interest.
- Madison Francis (HG #23) 6'2" forward (wing) who plays for Lancaster Central in western New York State. An All-Western New York first team large schools selection, she averaged 22 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 4 steals and 3.2 blocks this season, along with scoring her 1,000th career point. Offered by ND in late June '23. Maryland, Miami, Syracuse have also offered, among others.
- Zhen Craft (HG #36, Prospects Nation #11, Blue Star #20), 6'2" wing/forward from Bishop McNamara H.S. in Maryland. Rangy, athletic forward who listed ND as one of 12 schools she's considering, including other ACC programs UVA, FSU, NC State and Miami and SEC teams Georgia, Floriday, Ole Miss and Miss. State; plus hometown team, Maryland.

Class of 2025 Forward Prospects Going Elsewhere:

- Sienna Betts (HG #2, #22 ASGR), Grandview HS/Hardwood Heat AAU, Aurora, Colorado. Smaller, younger sister of UCLA center Lauren Betts. Nonetheless, sienna is a 6'3" forward who offers rangy height and athletic ability. Came to South Bend on unofficial visit to attend ND vs. Duke game on 2/5/23. Named ND one of 11 schools she's considering. On Nov. 11, 2023, COMMITTED TO UCLA and will join older sister there.
- Kira Reynolds (HG NR, #10 ASGR), South Bend Washington, Indiana. The 6'3" sophomore — and younger sister of Mila and Amiyah Reynolds who recently transferred and decommitted from Maryland, respectively. Member of Blue Star 30, much like -23 recruit Emma Risch. On Oct. 12, 2023, announced commitment to PURDUE, joining her two older sisters.

Class of 2026

- Olivia Vukosa, (HG #2)(Mentioned in Hoopgurlz 2026 Summary, a "Blue Star 30" member) 6'4" Post who plays for Christ The King High School and Philly Rise AAU. The "Big O" has an ND offer (April 2023), as well as offers (pleas?) to play from virtually every major program in the country. Already. ND has good affiliations with both CTK (Nat Marshall's alma mater) and the Philly Rise (formerly the Belles).
- McKenna Woliczko (#6 HG) 6'2" wing/forward from Archbishop Mitty, who was named to all Tournament Team at the recent U-16 Americas Tournament in Mexico. Very versatile, athletic player who probably played more as a forward for the U.S., much like Sonia Citron has. ND offered her in late June 2023 and family (dad) appears to be an Irish fan.

GUARD/WING

The 2024-25 season would be Sonia Citron's senior season, so there would be a strong need to find tall guards/wings to join Emma Risch and Cass Prosper, particularly with KK Bransford leaving via the portal.

Class of 2025

- Aaliyah Crump (HG #5), a 6'1" guard from Minnetonka, MN, has taken unofficial visits to Notre Dame in Oct. '22 and January 2024 (UNC game).Solid indication of any mutual interest between guard and Irish. Played on U.S.A. u-16 team during summer of 2023 and was leading three-point shooter on team.
- ZaKiyah Johnson (#7 HG), a 6'0" guard for Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, KY, who also plays up (by two years) the U-17 Kentucky Premier AAU team (same as Leah Macy). Named Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year after her freshman year, in which she averaged 17.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.2 assists per game and 1.9 steals per game. Received an offer from ND in May 2022 and looked forward to "learning more about" ND. On Nov.5, 2023, named ND as one of 12 school in which she was still interested.
(Followed on Twitter by NI, MM)
- Deniya Prawl (HG #16, PN #9), 5'11" guard from Toronto now at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., who has played in the Canadian National program. Getting solid reviews from followers of Canadian HS/AAU. Attended Jan. 1 BC game at South Bend.
- Aniya Foy, (#42 HG, #15 ASGR, 38 in Prospects Nation) a 5'11" guard from Cinco Ranch, Texas who plays AAU Ball for the Houston Defenders. In late August 2023, Raoul listed her as an ND target. We'll stay tuned.

Class of 2025 Guards Going Elsewhere

- Darianna "Dee" Alexander (#6 HG, #4 ASGR, too early for PN, Blue Star), a 6'0" guard who plays for Purcell Marian H.S. in Cincinnati, Ohio and the West Virginia Thunder in AAU Ball. She's coached by former ND player Mychal Johnson's dad in AAU. Received an offer from ND in July 2022. Playing on U.S.A. u-16 National Team during summer of 2023. Named ND one of 15 finalists around Thanksgiving 2023 but didn't make final three (Cincinnati, Illinois, Ohio State) in April. On 4/17, Committed to Cincinnati.

- Adelaide Jernigan, (HG NR) 5'10" guard who plays for Bishop McGuinness HS Lady Raiders and Winston-Salem Stealers AAU Team. Lefty who leads team in scoring as a freshman. Coach Michaela Mabrey observed a practice during Irish trip to Wake Forest. Jernigan announced her finalists and ND not among them.

Class of 2026
- Saniyah Hall (#3 in Hoopgurlz) is a five-star, 6'1" guard, who plays for Laurel High School in Ohio. Has an offer from Notre Dame, as well as UConn, Southern Cal and Baylor, among other schools.
- Jacy Abii (#5 in Hoopgurlz), a 6'1" guard from Plano, Texas who attends Liberty High School. Made and played for U.S.A. U-16 Team in recent Americas Tournament in Mexico, averaging 8.3 ppg, 5 rpg and 3.2 apg in 17 minutes per game. Tall, rangy build who appears to use all three aspects of of offensive game (driving, mid-range and long-range). ND offered in late June '23.
- Addison Bjorn (#10 in Hoopgurlz), a 6'1" guard from Park Hiil South in Missouri, just outside of Kansas City. Played on U.S.A. U-16 Team in Mexico. Publicized offer from ND in late June. Took unofficial visit to ND and posted in Winter 2024.
- Isabella "Bella" Ragone (#12 HG), a 6'2" wing from Mill Creek H.S. in Georgia who announced she received an offer from ND in mid-September. - - -- Amari Byles (#15 Hoopgurlz). 6'2" wing from DeSoto, TX, who was given an offer by Niele Ivey in early August 2008. Smooth wing/tall guard who is adept at driving and has good form on her jumper.
- Jenica Raine (Lewis). (#23 Hoopgurlz). 5'10" combo guard who plays for Johnston HS in Iowa and PurePrep AAU. Footage of her from middle school (!) and in AAU show a player with an excellent mid- to long-range jumper with decent moves to the hoop (both right and left). Offered by ND in July 2023 and mentions Coach(es) Ivey and Mabrey.

POINT GUARDS
Context:

In the fall of 2025, ND could have two point guards, Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo, so this doesn't appear to be a position of need. However, Olivia may choose not to exercise her medical hardship year and make herself available for the draft. If that is the case, here are two prospects.

Class of 2025

- Emilee Skinner (#9 HG, #13 PN) 6'0" PG from Millville, Utah, who plays for Ridgeline High School and Utah Lady Prospects AAU. Rose to attention starting in late(r) Spring AAU tournaments, as noted in ESPNw article. ND is among more than a dozen schools offering, from Utah and Harvard to UCLA, Southern Cal, Louisville and North Carolina. Seems to be smooth operator who keeps head up and accelerates smoothly.
- Janiyah Williams (#49 HG, #24 ASGR) 5'7" PG from Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Edmond Memorial H.S. (Followed on Twitter by Charel Allen)

Regarding This Information

As most Benchers know:
- We rely on input from Benchers, publications, blogs and outside information; even posters from other sites. We try to verify claims, so it does not become a rumor board
- We include up-to-date ratings of Hoopgurlz, ASGR & Prospects Nation. These ratings are not the defining input on a prospect by any means, but can offer context relative to other prospects if a reader is not familiar with that player’s game.
- Same goes for recent developments and heights. We tend to use national team listings and/or informed local descriptions.
- Please take in posts/insights/links/research by Baba Ghanouj, Fighting Artichoke, MPG, Domerduck, RI Steve, Cbiebel, NDoggie78, No Right Turn on Red, JBC_MO and others who scour the internet for more information/tape. Any and all information is appreciated.

- ND Hoops Recruits
@NDHoopsRecruits

Lastly, here are some recruiting sites that have prospect reviews and/or ratings. These are all free, so use these addresses to bookmark 'em. Thanks to Baba:

https://www.bluestarbb.com
https://prospectsnation.com
https://asgrbasketball.com/?v=f24485ae434a#
https://www.prepgirlshoops.com/2022-rankings/
https://jrallstar.com/rankings/?filter=National,2022