Commitments update: 65 players have said ‘yes’

Alyssa Ustby of Rochester Lourdes Updated 11/13 - The commitments keep on coming so we've updated the info accordingly. When last we updated the list of Minnesota-bred college commitments on Sept. 6 we titled it Waiting for Alyssa, as in Alyssa Ustby of Rochester Lourdes. Ustby is the #3-rated player in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2020 and her college choice was going to be big news in these parts regardless of the outcome. It was of particular importance to University of Minnesota coach Lindsay Whalen and her staff, who have worked hard to land some top home-grown talent. Alas, the Gophers would go home disappointed as Ustby selected the University of North Carolina on Sept 18. As a consolation prize, Minnesota landed 5-star recruit Alexia Smith from Ohio on the same day, which was one heck of a great acquisition. In the meantime, 21 more Minnesotans announced their college commitments – two at the Division 1 level, four at D2, 6 in NAIA, four in Division 3 and five more junior college verbal commitments. Here’s a summary of signings in the past couple of months. Division 1 #3 Alyssa Ustby – Rochester Lourdes, Fury 2020 UAA (North Carolina) # 8 Nneka Obiazor – Eden Prairie, Metro Stars Starks (Youngstown State) #11 Zareia Chevre – Simley, Fury 2020 UAA (Monmouth) In addition, #20 Ava Hill of Mesabi East and North Tartan EYBL announced her commitment to run track at Minnesota. Hill, who had Division 1 basketball offers, is one of the top runners in the country and had numerous power conference offers for track. Former Minnesotan Nyamer Diew of Metro Stars Starks also announced her commitment. Diew, who now plays in Sioux City, Iowa, committed to Butler. Rylie Polomny of Moorhead will stay home and attend MSU-Moorhead. Division 2 #26 Sydney White – Andover, Minnesota Stars Antl (Sioux Falls) #41 Rylie Polomny – Moorhead, Fury 2020 Yellow (MSU-Moorhead) #66 Vanessa Alexander – STMA, Metro Stars Starks (Winona State) In addition two players in the Class of 2021 have made D2 commitments. The first is #49 Lizzie Berkvam of North Tartan Elite, formerly of Northfield HS and now at Lakeville North, who will attend MSU-Moorhead. The second is 6'0 forward Brigid Boyle of St. Agnes and Stars DeSart, who said 'yes' to D2 Wayne State in Nebraska. The other known 2021 commit is #7 Cassidy Carson of Eastview and North Tartan who verballed with D1 South Dakota. Basketball lost a great prospect to volleyball when top 20 junior Erin Lamb of Stewartville committed to Kentucky. Tanna Gallo of Minnehaha Academy signed on with Waldorf. NAIA #40 Julia Dammann – Sauk Centre, West Central United (Jamestown) #46 Grace Cote – Stillwater, MN/WI Force 2020 (Mayville State) #79 Julia Salmen – Mahtomedi, Stars DeSart (Viterbo) #131 Tanna Gallo – Minnehaha, Stars Buerman (Waldorf) #147 Makala Shelton – Mound Westonka, UVA (Mayville State) Taylor Moen – Big Lake, Stars Buerman (Waldorf) Division 3 #94 Colie Justice – Austin, So. Minnesota Fury (UW-River Falls) #103 Abby Barschdorf – Elk River, Minnesota Comets (Hamline) #129 Delaney Wagner – Stillwater, MN/WI Force (UW-River Falls) #134 Abby Thompson – Spectrum, Crossfire (Hamline) One ex-Minnesotan also committed recently at the D3 level. That would be forward Val Higgins of Sioux Falls, formerly of Eden Prairie and E1T1 Premier. She signed with St. Mary’s University in Winona. Junior College #15 Zhane Thompson – Burnsville, North Tartan EYBL (NIACC) #62 Carly West – Woodbury, Suns Bluestar (Iowa Central) #75 Kayla Cox - Park Center, Suns Bluestar (NIACC) #92 Rachel Breck – Waseca, MN Rise (Iowa Lakes) #96 Nevaeh Moeschter – Cretin-Derham Hall, Suns Bluestar (Iowa Central) TOP 10 REMAINING PROSPECTS There are plenty of nice prospects left on the board. These are the top 10 according to the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2020 rankings. #18 Nurjei Weems – DeLaSalle, Suns Bluestar #19 Patience Williams – Benilde-St. Margaret’s, North Tartan EYBL #21 Mia Curtis – Minnehaha Academy, Metro Stars Starks #28 KK Adams – Hopkins, Metro Stars Starks #30 Ravyn Miles – Simley, injured in 2019 #32 Sam Sibbet – St. Anthony Village, Heat Hinck #34 Jaide Pressley – Hopkins, injured in 2019 #35 Jasmine Smiley – Wayzata, injured in 2019 #37 Shayla Miller – St. Louis Park, Suns Bluestar We have one more important signing to note which came to light on Tuesday night. That would be 2019 Woodbury graduate Solape Amusan pictured above. The 6'1 forward, who played summer ball on Fury 2019 Yellow, is currently at Iowa Western. Next fall she will suit up in the Big 10 at Ilinois. For all of those 2020s still holding out for a higher-level opportunity – you know who you are! – this is a great example of how junior college can be a great path to a higher level. Our list of commitments is based on information from players, families and coaches, but I’m sure we haven’t got them all. If you know of a player who has made a college commitment, whether they are included in the Prep Girls Hoops Top 150 or not, please let me know. I can be reached via direct message on Twitter (@gmachoops) or email (gmachoops@gmail.com). Thanks!