Incarnate Word Academy junior basketball star Napheesa Collier has given a verbal commitment to NCAA champion Connecticut. The 6’1” All-American chose UConn over Notre Dame, Maryland, Missouri and Kentucky.
Collier is one of the top-ranked juniors in the United States. She is ranked No. 4 by All-Star Girls Report, No. 6 by Full Court and No. 7 in the ESPN Hoop Gurlz Super 60 players in the Class of 2015. She becomes the first Class of ’15 player to commit to coach Geno Auriemma’s program.
Collier is coming off a stellar 2014 campaign in which she led the Red Knights to the Missouri Class 4 state championship for the second consecutive season. Collier averaged 23.7 points and 10 rebounds a game to lead the Red Knights to a 31-1 record. She scored 33 points in the Red Knights’ victory over Dexter in the state-championship game.
In two seasons, Collier has led Incarnate Word to a 62-1 record, two Class 4 state championships and a USA Today No. 1 national ranking, which was achieved during the 2014 season. She also earned numerous postseason awards, including the St. Louis American Girls Player of the Year.
UConn is coming off a 40-0 season and its ninth NCAA championship. The Huskies defeated Notre Dame 79-58 in a national title game which featured two undefeated teams for the first time.
Collier can officially sign a binding national letter of intent during the fall signing period from November 12-19.
