Reax: Collier To UConn

Reax: Collier To UConn
Reax: Collier To UConnNapheesa Collier

Just a few short weeks after winning their ninth national championship in school history, the Connecticut Huskies secured a verbal commitment from the No. 4 overall prospect in the class of 2015, Napheesa Collier of O’Fallon, Mo. The pledge gives the American Athletic Conference school its first verbal commitment for the rising senior class and also making Collier the highest ranked prospect in the class of 2015 to make a college decision. She picked Connecticut over programs such as Louisville, Missouri, Maryland and Kentucky.

Collier gives the Huskies a much needed addition to their frontcourt as she is a 6-foot-2 forward who can play all three front court positions in UConn’s offensive and defensive systems. Her athleticism and mobility will allow her to be a tough match up offensively as she should be able to take advantage of a majority of bigs who guard her moving them away from the rim but also score on the block against smaller players.

The 2015 class could be a big one for Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma and his staff. With a verbal commitment from Collier already in hand, the program is heavily pursuing the likes of No. 1 overall prospect in the class Asia Durr of Douglassville, Ga., and No. 2 overall prospect Katie Lou Samuelson of Fullerton, Calif., Connecticut could be trying to duplicate the success of the 2012 class where it landed three of the top five players in the class.

With its 2014 scholarships Connecticut was able to score four talented backcourt prospects -- Sadie Edwards, Kia Nurse, Courtney Ekmark and Gabby Willliams -- which, in addition to Saniya Chong who came to the program as the sole 2013 recruit, should give the Huskies a ton of backcourt versatility going forward. Adding an additional post might be an area that UConn looks to address this summer when on the road recruiting.


Moore is the Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com National Scouting Report and international scouting report. He has been a member if the women's basketball community for more than six years as a trainer and evaluator. He can be reached at keil@prospectsnation.com.

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