Ranking the top 15 women’s basketball recruiting classes before national signing day
National signing day is two and a half weeks away for women’s college basketball recruits in the 2023 class. Prospects are still making their rounds of official visits, cutting down their lists and making decisions.
Currently, 84 players in the 2023 espnW 100 have committed.
The future order of the class rankings will be heavily dependent on the decisions that will occur over the next few weeks. Seven top-20 prospects have yet to announce their commitments, but have narrowed their lists:
No. 1 Judea Watkins (G): USC, Stanford, Arizona, South Carolina
No. 5 Hannah Hidalgo (PG): Notre Dame, Duke, Stanford, Michigan, Ohio State
No. 7 Aalyah Del Rosario (P): North Carolina, LSU, Tennessee, South Carolina
No. 13 Milaysia Fulwiley (PG): Florida, Ole Miss, Louisville, South Carolina
No. 16 Cassandre Prosper (F): Notre Dame, Duke, South Carolina, Arizona, North Carolina
No. 17 Chloe Kitts (F): Louisville, Arizona, South Carolina, Oklahoma
No. 19 Laila Reynolds (G): Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, UCLA
Two schools (NC State and Virginia Tech) have four espnW 100 commits, while eight schools (Arizona, Iowa State, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Stanford, UConn and Washington) have three top-100 commits.
But which schools have the strongest classes as signing day nears? We rank the top 15.
Highest-ranked commit: F Montaya Dew (No. 8)
Adia Barnes has leveraged her quick success, including an NCAA championship game appearance and four straight 20-win seasons, onto the recruiting trail. Barnes has already landed three McDonald’s All-Americans in her tenure and is bound to have multiple once more. Montaya Dew is a versatile, long and springy forward who can do everything. She can facilitate the offense as a point forward, knock down the 3-ball and play out of the ball screen. No. 14 Breya Cunningham separated herself as one of the dominant post players in the country early in her high school career. She has a strong base and a soft touch and brings USA Basketball experience with her to Tucson. No. 21 Jada Williams is no stranger to the big stage as she has multiple USA Basketball gold medals and is what many consider to be a pioneer in this NIL age. She is a true PG that sets the table for her teammates, leads by playing example and verbal encouragement, and keeps defenses honest with her ability to knock down shots.
Highest-ranked commit: PG Kamorea Arnold (No. 6)
Another year, another top recruiting class for Geno Auriemma and UConn. PG Kamorea Arnold is one of the toughest competitors in the country. She is quick and physical to the rim, plays relentless defensively and can knock down shots off the dribble out to the 3-point line. No. 15 Ashlynn Shade is a mid-range master whose leadership intangibles don’t show up on the stat sheet. The 5-foot-9 guard elevates beautifully on her jumper and has increased her consistency beyond the arc. No. 41 Qadence Samuels is a long wing/forward who has some of the highest potential in the class. At 6-2, she is bounce and long, specializes in running the floor and can be a lock-down defender.
Highest-ranked commit: W Courtney Ogden (No. 10)
Stanford’s recruiting means the Cardinal will not slow down after last year’s Final Four run. Courtney Ogden is a versatile 5-11 guard who has proven to be able to be effective in multiple positions during her high school career. She has filled various needs with her successful FBC club, sometimes leading the offense and sometimes filling the 4 spot against the zone to aid with floor spacing. No. 37 Sunaja Agara is coming off a summer with USA Basketball in which she also was part of the gold medal-winning U17 World Cup squad. She is a lefty forward who is a good passer and relentless rebounder with a fundamental face-up game. No. 39 Chloe Clardy is a scoring combo-guard who has a brilliant pull-up jumper and can also knock down the 3-ball.
Highest-ranked commit: G Zoe Brooks (No. 9)
Coach Wes Moore bolstered his roster with several impact transfers, and the 2023 recruiting class will complement that talent well. Zoe Brooks is a scoring machine who knows how to put the ball in the hole. An incredible finisher and creative shot-maker, the 5-10 Brooks has worked herself into great physical shape as she prepares for the next level. No. 55 Mallory Collier is a traditional back-to-the-basket post player with good hands and footwork. She is good on the offensive glass and has some upside. No. 56 Laci Steele is the ultimate glue player on the perimeter. She is a gritty shot-maker and proved over the summer that she is not afraid of the big moment. No. 71 Maddie Cox is a skilled forward who can stretch the floor and fill several holes with her versatility and glue-player effect.
Highest-ranked commit: P Ciera Toomey (No. 4)
After signing the No. 3 recruiting class in 2021, Courtney Banghart has another top-five class in 2023, led by the smooth Ciera Toomey, a skilled 6-3 forward from Pennsylvania. Toomey, whose knee injury will keep her sidelined for her senior season, has a sweet stroke out beyond the 3-point line, exceptional footwork in the post with a complementary turn-around jumper and is an incredible passer. No. 30 Reniya Kelly is a crafty, smart point guard who brings a veteran-like poise to the floor. She is patient and directs traffic well. No. 90 Rylee Grays is an extremely physical forward who rebounds and patrols the paint well.
Highest-ranked commit: G Mikaylah Williams (No. 2)
Kim Mulkey had the No. 17 recruiting class for the 2022 class and then added impact transfers in the offseason. She has followed that up with another impactful 2023 class, led by superstar Mikaylah Williams. Williams has won gold medals in both 3×3 and the FIBA U17 World Cup. She is a physical guard who is arguably the best one-on-one isolation player in the class. No. 44 Angelica Velez is a shifty point guard with an East Coast flair to her game. She sets the table for others and runs the show. No. 73 Janae Kent is a wing/forward with nice mid-range game and the ability to knock down the 3-point shot. She gets on the glass well.
Highest-ranked commit: W Riley Nelson (No. 18)
Brenda Frese signed a big 2022 class with four recruits — two of whom signed late due to coaching changes at their original schools — and has Maryland in the top 10 again. The 6-foot Riley Nelson leads the 2023 class. She is long and very fundamentally skilled with a strong shooting ability. She has become a quality finisher and uses her length well defensively and on the boards. No. 43 Amiyah Reynolds, who was limited during the summer with an ankle injury, is a big guard who sees the floor, has a nice pull-up jumper and plays out of ball screens well. Her older sister, Mila Reynolds, was part of Maryland’s 2022 class. No. 80 Emily Fisher is a versatile wing/forward who can fill many roles depending on the night and the need. She is tough and strong on the glass and brings that utility attitude to the floor. Three-star guard Summer Bostock is skilled and can make big shots, while four-star center Hawa Doumbouya has good hands, clogs the paint defensively and has upside.
Highest-ranked commit: W Madison Booker (No. 12)
Vic Schaefer signed the No. 15 and No. 4 classes in 2022 and 2021, respectively. He follows that up with what looks like will be another top-10 class in 2023. Madison Booker is a two-time USA Basketball gold medalist and quite the facilitating forward on the floor. She can create off the bounce and stretches the floor out behind the 3-point line. After leading Cedar Park (Texas) to back-to-back state 5A state championships, No. 38 Gisella Maul missed the summer with a knee injury. Still, she is a combo guard with the ability to create and score the ball. Three-star Abby Boutilier is a 6-8 paint presence and will look to further develop once she gets on campus.
Highest-ranked commit: G Tessa Johnson (No. 25)
National champion South Carolina and coach Dawn Staley seem primed for another top-10 class after finishing first in 2021 and sixth in 2022. The Gamecocks landed two recruits in October. With a lethal pull-up jumper, crafty finishing skills and a knock-down shot from deep, Tessa Johnson is a smooth guard who can score from all levels. She is incredibly poised and does not allow the opponent to speed her up. No. 40 Sahnya Jah is an active forward with immense potential. She uses her length and agility to get to rebounds and block shots. She is good in the face-up game from the trail position, as well as the high- and mid-post areas.
Highest-ranked commit: W Addyson Brown (No. 31)
Coach Bill Fennelly has a big class: three players in the top 60 and five prospects in total. Addyson Brown is a utility forward who excels in the physical game and on the glass. She is a fantastic passer who makes others better and has increased her effectiveness from 3. No. 47 Jalynn Bristow, her club teammate, is a smooth forward with an automatic jumper from mid-range and proved this summer to be dangerous from the 3, especially in the trail and the corners. No. 57 Audi Crooks is a big with soft hands and a great touch. She carves out space for boards, finishes strong and outlets the ball with the best of them. The fundamental Arianna Jackson is a four-star point guard. Fellow four-star Kelsey Joens, a knock-down shooter, is the younger sister of current Cyclone Ashley Joens and current Oklahoma Sooner Aubrey Joens.
Highest-ranked commit: P Essence Cody (No. 22)
Kristi Curry is bringing in an impact 2023 class. Essence Cody is a physical and skilled forward who excels at finishing around the rim and the trail 3-point shot in the slot. She has gotten herself into great condition over the last year. No. 50 Reychel Douglas is one of the more complete guards in the class. She can lead the offense or be the aggressor from the wing. She is good in the pick and roll and has a nice pull-up as well as long-range jumper.
Highest-ranked commit: G Kymora Johnson (No. 24)
Coach Tamaka Agugua-Hamilton has already made an impression since taking over in March, landing quality transfers and a strong 2023 recruiting class. Kymora Johnson is a lead guard with long range. Her steady presence, fundamental approach, passing skills and leadership intangibles make her teammates better. No. 45 Olivia McGhee is a big guard who is a gifted scorer. She can drive for the pull-up, hit the corner 3 or punish opponents with post-up opportunities.
Highest-ranked commit: PG Sayvia Sellers (No. 28)
In her first full year at the helm, Tina Langley brought in the No. 14 recruiting class in 2022. This year, she has landed three top-100 commits. Sayvia Sellers is a point guard from Alaska who creates a buzz every time she ventures into the contiguous states to hoop. She is dynamic off the bounce and has a variety of finishing skills in and around the paint. She keeps defenses on their toes as she can catch fire from 3-point land. No. 46 Ari Long is one of the best shooters in the class. She makes quick decisions on the catch and excels in the open court. No. 93 Chloe Briggs is a guard with some flair to her game. Four-star Olivia Anderson is a 6-6 center with a soft touch and nice footwork in the paint.
Highest-ranked commit: G Taliah Scott (No. 11)
Mike Neighbors landed a recruiting class that fits his systemic approach and style very well. Taliah Scott can score in bunches, and with the spacing and pace in which Arkansas plays, she has chosen the perfect spot where she can use her creativity off the bounce and let the 3-ball fly to its fullest potential. No. 61 Jenna Lawrence is a fundamentally skilled forward who can space the floor and punish opponents from the high post and face-up mid-post areas. Three-star Maryn Archer is a spot-up shooter.
Highest-ranked commit: F Carys Baker (No. 58)
Kenny Brooks and the staff have pieced together a class with speed, skill and size. Carys Baker is a lefty forward with a versatile game. She is strong on the glass and is a knock down 3-point shooter. No. 65 Mackenzie Nelson pushes the ball down the court with energy and urgency, looking to get to the rim and create. No. 69 Samyha Suffren is a savvy point guard who has a knack for getting to her spots for the pull-up jumper. No. 96 Clara Strack, club teammates with Baker and Nelson, is a summer stock riser. She increased her strength, especially in her base, and became more confident and aggressive on both ends of the court.
Seventeen teams in the mix for the final 10 spots: Oregon, Michigan, Texas A&M, Indiana, Colorado, Wake Forest, Purdue, TCU, Ole Miss, Duke, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, UCLA, BYU, USC, Louisville, Princeton