Connect with us

Women's Basketball

NC State Women’s Hoops Inks Top-Five 2023 Signing Class

Published

on

RALEIGH – NC State women’s basketball signed its highest-ranked class of future Wolfpackers on Wednesday as four high school student-athletes inked National Letters of Intent to join the squad beginning with the 2023-24 season.

NC State received official commitments from ESPN No. 9 Zoe Brooks, ESPN No. 55 Mallory Collier, ESPN No. 56 Laci Steele and ESPN No. 71 Maddie Cox. The four players make up a Wolfpack 2023 class that has been ranked as high as fourth nationally by ESPN, and the four top-100 signees mark the best-ranked 2023 class in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the best in program history.

“We’re very fired up about this class,” said head coach Wes Moore. “It’s always good when you can acquire players that were at the top of your recruiting lists. We feel like we added great talent while also addressing needs for our team. Each of these players are used to winning and will help us continue performing at an elite level.”

Zoe Brooks • 5-10 Guard • Plainfield, N.J. • Saint John Vianney High School
No. 9 player in ESPN’s Class of 2023 rankings … ESPN scouts grade of 97 and a five-star signee … 2022 WNBA Skills Challenge champion alongside former Oregon standout Sabrina Ionescu … Averaged 18.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 3.7 assists as a high school junior … Three-time All-State honoree who helped lead her team to an NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title… Reached 1,000 career point milestone in 2021-22 … 2022 Team USA Trials participant.

 
“Zoe is a combo guard who can run the show at point and break the defense down while also scoring the ball at all those levels,” said Moore. “She makes everyone around her better with a high school state championship to prove it.”

Mallory Collier • 6-3 Center • Millington, Tenn. • Bartlett High School
No. 55 player in ESPN’s Class of 2023 rankings … ESPN scouts grade of 93 … Averaged 13.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game as a high school junior … 2022 All-Metro Girls Basketball First Team and nominee for Memphis Area Player of the Year … I Have A Dream Classic All Showtime Team … Nominee for Miss Tennessee Basketball Award and Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year … 2022 Team USA Trials invitee.

 
“Mallory is a strong interior player who moves and scores well around the basket,” said Moore. “She’s capable of being a force on the boards. She can also score from the mid-range with the jumper or by getting to the rim. She too comes from a very successful high school team.”

Maddie Cox • 6-2 Forward • Flower Mound, Texas • Flower Mound High School
No. 71 player in ESPN’s Class of 2023 rankings … ESPN scouts grade of 93 … First Team All-District after leading her team in points, rebounds and assists … Nike EYBL Iowa Region champion … Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star selection … PassThaBall MVP … Earned Not Given and Prime Event Finals standout … Comes from a basketball family – mother, Brenda, played at SMU; father, Dennis, played at Central Methodist; three older sisters all were/are collegiate athletes.

 
“Maddie is a versatile player who can fill up a stat sheet,” said Moore. “She has the length and physicality to go inside and be a factor on both ends of the court but also has the athleticism and skill set to be effective on the perimeter by hitting threes or dishing out assists.”

Laci Steele • 5-11 Guard • Guthrie, Okla. • Edmond North High School
No. 56 player in ESPN’s Class of 2023 rankings … ESPN scouts grade of 93 … Helped lead Edmond North to the state title last season, averaging 21.9 points per game in the team’s run … COAC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference … MVP of the Mustang Holiday Classic Tournament during which she set the individual scoring record … Nike EYBL Second Team All-Tournament … 2021 Super Five Roster First Team and Big All-City Girls’ Basketball Roster First Team as named by The Oklahoman … Was named 6A Super Prep Breakout Player of the Year in 2021.

 
“Laci does a lot of things well that lead to winning,” said Moore. “She’s a knock down shooter from three-point range who also has the toughness to score in traffic. She has the handles to push tempo and set up her teammates and the competitive spirit to be a lockdown defender. Laci has the heart of a champion, validated with a state championship as well.”

ESPN ON THE WOLFPACK’S 2023 SIGNING CLASS:
“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. 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. 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. Maddie Cox is a skilled forward who can stretch the floor and fill several holes with her versatility and glue-player effect.”

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Women's Basketball

VIDEO: NC State women fall 64-63 to Princeton on late three in NCAA 1st Round

Published

on

The NC State women were a 7 seed, picked to move on over 10-seeded Princeton, but that’s not how it worked out.

The Pack women were plagued by turnovers (20) and Princeton capitalized with a late 3 to clinch the win. Highlight above.

Sad day for NC State all around.

Continue Reading

Women's Basketball

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: NC State Moves Up to #15 After Win Over Notre Dame

Published

on

The NC State Women’s Basketball (16-5) team moved up 5 spots in the Week 13 AP Poll, after defeating Notre Dame 69-65 yesterday, who was ranked 7th then, and ranked 9th now.

(ESPN)

ACC Teams in the Week 13 AP Poll

9. Notre Dame

11. UNC

13. Virginia Tech

15. NC State

16. Duke

23. FSU

The Wolfpack’s next game will be on Thursday night on the road at Georgia Tech at 8pm on ACC Network.

Continue Reading

Women's Basketball

NC State Signee Zoe Brooks is a McDonald’s All-American

Published

on

NC State Women’s Basketball 2023 signee Zoe Brooks was named a McDonald’s All-American yesterday.

McDonald’s All American Game East Roster
Player High School Position Height Committed to
Zoe Brooks Saint John Vianney (NJ) G 5-10 NC State
Essence Cody Valdosta (GA) F 6-3 Alabama
Aalyah Del Rosario The Webb School (CA) F 6-5 LSU
Jadyn Donovan Sidwell Friends School (DC) G 6-0 Duke
Milaysia Fulwiley W.J. Keenan (SC) G 5-6 South Carolina
Hannah Hildalgo Paul VI (NJ) G 5-6 Notre Dame
Riley Nelson Bullis School (MD) W 6-0 Maryland
Courtney Ogden Westminster School (GA) W 5-11 Stanford
Laila Reynolds Shabach Christian (FL) F 6-2 Florida
Emma Risch Palm Bay Magnet (FL) G 6-1 Notre Dame
Taliah Scott Saint John’s Country Day (FL) G 5-9 Arkansas
Ashlynn Shade La Lumiere (IN) G 5-9 UConn
McDonald’s All American Game West Roster
Player High School Position Height Committed to
Kamorea Arnold Germantown (WI) G 5-9 UConn
Sofia Bell Jesuit (OR) W 6-1 Oregon
Madison Booker Germantown (MS) W 6-1 Texas
Addyson Brown Derby Senior (KS) W 6-2 Iowa State
Breya Cunningham La Jolla Country Day (CA) F 6-4 Arizona
Kymora Johnson Saint Annes-Belfield (VA) G 5-7 Virginia
Tessa Johnson Saint Michael Albertville (MN) G 5-10 South Carolina
Amanda Muse Heritage (CA) F 6-4 UCLA
Judea Watkins Sierra Canyon (CA) G 6-0 USC
Mikaylah Williams Parkway (LA) G 6-0 LSU
Jada Williams La Jolla Country Day G 5-6 Arizona
Sahara Williams West (IA) W 5-10 Oklahoma

(SN)

Here is what ESPN had to say about Brooks being named a McDonald’s All-American.

Zoe Brooks, G

Signed with: NC State | 2023 ESPNW 100 ranking: 9
St. John Vianney HS (New Jersey)

Brooks is a gifted scorer who can flat out put the ball in the basket. Over the past 18 months, she has really gone to work on her conditioning and it brought her game to another level. She is a true three-level scorer. Defenses must be there on the close out, but containing Brooks is no easy feat as she attacks angles, changes speeds, and has the footwork and handle to counter. Her strength allows her to finish with contact at the rim and her touch provides an array of floaters and usage of the glass for buckets. Brooks sees the floor well and zips passes to teammates for open looks. Defensively, she has fantastic instincts and is good in passing lanes and in the press. Brooks is averaging 24 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game this season. (ESPN)

Continue Reading

Women's Basketball

Women’s Basketball: #20 NC State 71 Miami 61: Box Score & Highlights

Published

on

#20 NC State picked up a much needed win last night against Miami, defeating the Hurricanes 71-61 in PNC Arena, avoiding a 3-game skid.

Sophomore Guard Saniya Rivers led the pack with 14 points, 6 steals, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Seniors Camille Hobby and Mimi Collins both had 11 points.

Sophomore Guard Aziaha James had 10 points, and led the Pack with 6 rebounds.

The Wolfpack was without Jada Boyd and Jessica Timmons last night, and River Baldwin went down with an injury, and will have an MRI tomorrow.

NC State is now 14-5 overall, and 4-4 in ACC play, and will play at Louisville on Sunday at 1pm on ABC.

Continue Reading