National signing day arrived Wednesday for Division I sports excluding football, allowing schools around the country to add to their 2021 recruiting classes.
In basketball, the early signing period runs through next Wednesday, Nov. 18 — the regular signing period goes from April 14 to May 19 next year. These athletes signed a national letter of intent with Division I basketball programs in the state of Utah.
BYU men’s basketball
Jake Wahlin
6-foot-7, 180 pounds, wing, Timpview High
Wahlin is the No. 3-rated prospect from the state of Utah in this year’s class and had offers from Arizona State, San Diego State, Dixie State and San Diego, among others, according to 247 Sports. He averaged 13.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks per game last year in helping the T-Birds advance to the 5A state championship game.
Quotable: “Coach Pope and his staff have got me fired up. I got to go to a few games, and the one game I really remember was the Gonzaga game, and I remember after the game coach Pope and all the fans were on the court and thinking, ‘Man, how could you not want to be a part of this?’” — Jake Wahlin, after committing to BYU
Dixie State men’s basketball
Noa Gonsalves
6-foot-1, 165 pounds, guard, Lehi High
Gonsalves earned Deseret News 5A first-team all-state honors last year while leading the Pioneers by averaging 19.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He also shot 43% from the perimeter and 86% at the free-throw line.
Quotable: “I think he will fit in nice for us, a lot of stuff he does (at Lehi) is similar to what we do, so it’s going to be an easier transition for him. He is very offensive minded. He’s a smart kid, a tough kid, and I think he can come in and help us right away.” — Dixie State coach Jon Judkins
Utah men’s basketball
Lazar Stefanovic
6-foot-6, 180 pounds, guard, Belgrade, Serbia
Before the pandemic, Stefanovic helped the Partizan U18 team win the Adidas Next Generation Tournament, averaging 15.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He also played for Mladost in the top Serbian league this past year and averaged 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26 games.
Quotable: “Lazar is a tremendous player with high character and an elite student so it’s a great fit both for him and our program. His experience playing in some of the top leagues in Europe and FIBA will be a tremendous boost and brings maturity to both ends of the floor.” — Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak
Utah State men’s basketball
Dallin Grant
6-foot-8, 210 pounds, wing, Cedar City High
Grant is rated the fourth-best prospect in the state and also had offers from BYU, Utah, Stanford and Southern Utah, according to 247 Sports. He averaged 14.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season while earning Deseret News second-team all-state honors and helping Cedar advance to the 4A state quarterfinals.
Quotable: “He will add versatility to our program at 6-8, 210 pounds with his size, athleticism and skill level. Dallin makes an impact on the game with his ability to handle the ball, shoot with range and rebound at a high level. His style of play will be a great fit for our program.” — Utah State coach Craig Smith
Utah Valley men’s basketball
Ethan Potter
6-foot-8, 205 pounds, forward, Layton High
Potter, who plans to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before enrolling at UVU, was named the Deseret News 6A MVP last season after leading the Lancers to the state championship game, where they lost to Fremont. He averaged 22.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals as a junior in 2019-20.
Quotable: “Ethan Potter is a winner in every sense of the word. He has phenomenal touch, finishes through contact around the rim, and his speed running the floor is one of a kind.” — UVU coach Mark Madsen
Dixie State women’s basketball
Averi Papa
6-foot-2, center, Pine View High
Papa averaged a double-double during the 2019-20 season, with averages of 14.4 points and 10.7 rebounds, while leading the Panthers to a runners-up finish at the 4A level. She was a first-team all-state selection and averaged 1.5 blocks per game.
Quotable: “We also love her versatility, she can shoot it comfortably from the perimeter and also has a strong athletic post game. We are fortunate to have such a talent from the St. George area and that she chose to play D-I close to home.” — Dixie State coach JD Gustin
Macie Warren
5-foot-10, guard, Lehi High
Macie Warren earned Deseret News 5A all-state first-team honors last season while averaging 15.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game. She helped the Pioneers reach the 5A state semifinals a year ago.
Maddie Warren
5-foot-10, guard, Lehi High
Like her twin sister, Maddie Warren was named to the Deseret News 5A all-state first team as a junior in 2019-20. She did so with a similar stat line, averaging 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.8 steals per game.
Quotable: “They work so hard and they’re very good at knowing when they can turn on an extra gear and take over and when they need to use their teammates. Their work ethic has been the thing that has steered everybody else’s work ethic,” — Lehi coach Aubrey Van Pelt, on Macie and Maddie Warren
Southern Utah women’s basketball
Aishah Anis
5-foot-7, guard, Launceston, Tasmania (Launceston Church Grammar School)
Anis joins the T-Birds from Australia, where she competed in the 2018 Australian Junior Country Cup and earned a NSATIS Basketball School Championship.
Quotable: “We are excited to add another Aussie to the mix. Aishah is a dynamic guard that is just fun to watch. You can tell she loves the game.” — Southern Utah coach Tracy Sanders
Emily Kulstad
6-foot-1, forward, Prior Lake, Minnesota (Prior Lake High School)
Kulstad has been a multi-year team captain for Prior Lake High while also earning all-conference honorable mention honors three times and leading her team to the state finals.
Quotable: “From my first conversations I grew such a huge connection and relationship with the coaches and I knew I wanted to call SUU and the team my new home and family.” — Emily Kulstad
Amoret Maxwell
5-foot-11, guard, Glendale, Arizona (PHH Prep)
Maxwell has won a pair of state championships in Arizona with Millennium High, and she’s competed in the Under Armour circuit with Arizona Select Cluband. She’ll play at PHH Prep during her senior season.
Quotable: “She’s labeled as one of the best shooters on the west coast and has the ability to really stretch the floor out for us. We can’t wait to get her in a T-Bird uniform.” — Southern Utah coach Tracy Sanders
Utah women’s basketball
Jenna Johnson
6-foot-2, forward, Medina, Minnesota (Wayzata High)
Johnson, ranked the No. 42 overall prospect in this year’s class by ESPN, was a three-time all-conference selection and averaged 22.8 points and 8.0 rebounds as a junior at Wayzata.
Quotable: “Jenna is a versatile forward who will be a matchup problem for other teams. She is very good around the basket but can also really shoot the 3. She loves the game, has a really high IQ out there, and she is a player that I could see becoming a coach someday.” — Utah coach Lynne Roberts
Gianna Kneepkens
5-foot-11, guard, Duluth, Minnesota (Duluth Marshall High)
Kneepkens set the program’s career scoring mark at Duluth Marshall in scoring, while also finishing in the top 10 all-time in scoring in Minnesota high school history. She averaged 31.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.8 steals and 4.6 assists as a junior.
Quotable: “Gianna is a long guard with a tremendous feel for the game and she has great instincts on both ends of the floor. She can score off the dribble, is a fantastic shooter, and can really rebound.” — Utah coach Lynne Roberts
Inês Vieira
5-foot-6, guard, Madeira Island, Portugal
Vieira played for the Portugal National Team at the U16 Women’s European Championships in 2018 and 2019, helping the team take home silver at the 2019 championships. She averaged 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game during the event, including a tournament-high 25 points against Ireland.
Quotable: “Inês is a fantastic get for our program,” Roberts said. “She is lightening quick and has an amazing feel for the game. She is a lefty, a one-man press break and always seems to have a sense of where the ball needs to go.” — Utah coach Lynne Roberts
Utah Valley women’s basketball
Ally Blackman
5-foot-8, guard, Skyridge High
Blackham averaged 15.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game as a junior last season and was named Deseret News 6A first-team all-state. She was among the leaders in points (second), steals (second) and assists (third) in the 6A classification.
Quotable: “She is a very athletic guard that can get to the rim and really shoot the three. Her energy on defense is contagious and will fit right in with our defensive approach. We can’t wait to get her on campus.” — UVU coach Dan Nielson
Other in-state signees
Here’s a look at other athletes who signed a National Letter of Intent with in-state Division I schools in other sports, as announced by the universities:
BYU
Baseball
- Carter Foss, P, San Diego (Scripps Ranch High)
- Janzen Kiesel, P, Gunnison Valley High
- Kyler Lester, INF, Pleasant Grove High
- Ozzie Pratt, INF, Oxford, Mississippi (Magnolia Heights High)
- Chandler Reber, OF, Desert Hills High
- Justis Reiser, P, Bingham High
- Collin Reuter, C, Olive Branch, Mississippi (Magnolia Heights High)
- Mason Strong, C, Snow Canyon High
Men’s golf
- Tyson Shelley, Skyline High
Gymnastics
- Mina Margraf, Spring, Texas
- Jazlyn Wood, Riverside, California
Women’s soccer
- Addie Gardner, F, American Fork High
- Ruby Hladek, MF/F, American Fork High
- Kelsey Hoopes, GK, Livermore, California (Livermore High)
- Josie Shepherd, MF, American Fork High
- Caroline Stringfellow, MF/F, Syracuse High
- Jacey Wood, F/MF, Las Vegas (Desert Oasis High)
Dixie State
Baseball
- Braydon Allie, C, Stansbury High
- Easton Brooks, P, Mountain Ridge High
- Cayden Clark, OF, Stansbury High
- Ethan He, INF, Jordan High
- Carston Herman, P, Snow Canyon High
- Shane Taylor, INF, Las Vegas, Nev. (Faith Lutheran High)
Men’s golf
- Parker Reese, Lone Peak High
Softball
- Carly Eldredge, INF, Arvada, Colorado (Holy Family High)
- Ellie Evans, INF, Eastlake, Washington (Eastlake High)
- Marisa Rubio, OF, Victorville, California (Silverado High)
Women’s volleyball
- Peyton Michaelson, OH/OPP, Erie, Colorado (Erie High)
- Lauren Mena, S, Fountain Valley, California (Fountain Valley High)
Southern Utah
Gymnastics
- Ellie Cacciola, Owasso, Oklahoma
- Katie Ours, Severna Park, Maryland
- Madeline Tyau, Kaneohe, Hawaii
Men’s golf
- Napat (Pun) Vorrasanpisut, Chonburi, Thailand
Softball
- Amyah Boostedt, UTL, Casa Grande, Arizona (Vista Grande High)
- Kelleigh Fielder, C/3B, Riverside, California (Arlington High)
- Sophia Masut, SS, Riverside, California (Arlington High)
- Jayne Sepulveda, SS, Monterey Park, Calif. (St. Paul High)
- Riley Shue, MIF/UTL, Lakewood, Calif. (Mayfair High)
- Kylee Terrell, UTL, Dixie High
- Keimon Winston, P, 5-8, Moreno Valley, California (Valley View High)
Women’s volleyball
- Rylee Achtzehn, OH/OP, Scottsdale, Arizona (Desert Mountain High)
- Calli Johnson, L/DS, Litchfield Park, Arizona (Millennium High)
- Molly McDermott, S, Palos Heights, Illinois (Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High)
- Carissa Richie, MB, Minnetrista, Minnesota (Mound Westonka High)
- Isabella Saucedo, OH, Madera, Califiornia (Madera High)
- Rachel Wieber, OH/DS, Northfield, Minnesota (Northfield High)
Utah
Baseball
- Micah Ashman, P, Jordan High
- Jackson Castillo, OF, Murrieta, California (Rancho Bernardo High School)
- Jackson Clemett, 1B/OF, The Calgary, Alberta (Vauxhall Academy of Baseball)
- Cameron Day, P, Layton High
- Landon Frei, SS, Snow Canyon High
- Jaden Harris, P, Ridgeline High
- Elijha Hammill, INF, Oakville, Ontario (Holy Trinity Catholic High)
- Branson Kuehl, P, Rapid City, South Dakota (Stevens High)
- Josh Schleichardt, 3B, Tigard, Oregon (Lakeridge High)
- Zach Toglia, 3B, Gig Harbor, Washington (Gig Harbor High)
- Bryson Van Sickle, P, Eagle Mountain (Labette Community College)
Men’s golf
- Joseph Lloyd, Scottsdale, Arizona (Pinnacle High)
- Zack Neff, Olympus High
Gymnastics
- Kara Eaker, Grain Valley, Missouri
- Grace McCallum, Isanti, Minnesota
Lacrosse
- Trey Akabane, Faceoffs/Midfield, Danville, California (The Salisbury School)
- Brendan Belz, Defense, Strongsville, Ohio (St. Edward High)
- Nick Callis, Faceoffs/Midfield, Leesburg, Virginia (Riverside High)
- Ethan Cox, Attack, Marietta, Georgia, Lassiter High
- Freddie Dimarzo, Midfield, Jacksonville, Florida (Ponte Vedra High)
- Joey Garcia, Goalkeeper, Tustin, California (Foothill High)
- Will Leese, Defense, Duxbury, Massachusetts (Duxbury High)
- Aidan O’Connor, Midfield, Danville, California (The Governor’s Academy)
- Conor O’Neill, Goalkeeper, Sarasota, Florida (The Salisbury School)
- Colby Plotts, Defense, Sparta, New Jersey (Sparta High)
- Tyler Schifko, Midfield, Catasaqua, Pennsylvania (Allentown Central Catholic High)
- Ryan Stines, Attack, Cary, North Carolina (Panther Creek High)
Women’s soccer
- Sahve Beller, F, Eugene, Oregon (South Eugene High)
- Maryn Granger, D, Corner Canyon High
- Baylie Jackson, F, Fair Oaks, California (Bella Vista High)
- Megan Lusher, F, Park City High
- Kasey Wardle, GK, Meridian, Idaho (Rocky Mountain High)
Softball
- Hailey Harris, P, Downey, California (Downey High)
- Kendall Lundberg, C, Lakewood, California (Lakewood High)
Utah State
Gymnastics
- Molly Arnold, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Trinity Brown, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
- Brie Clark, Daphne, Alabama
- Kielyn McCright, Boca Raton, Florida
- Brooke Wilson, Flower Mound, Texas
Women’s soccer
- Bizzy Arevalo, F/MF, Davis High
- Addi Coon, D, Pleasant Grove High
- Tenzi Knowles, F/MF, Ridgeline High
- Grace Nicol, MF, Davis High
- Kaitlyn Richins, MF, Layton High
- Brooke Watkins, GK, Green Canyon High
Softball
- Emily Dority, P/1B, Bingham High
- Taryn Edds, C, Anaheim, California (John F. Kennedy High)
- Gigi Gonzalez, INF, San Diego (Mater Dei Catholic High)
- Ariel Lopez, INF, San Marcos, California (Mission Hills High)
- Claudia Medina, INF/OF, West Sacramento, California (River City High)
- Claire Raley, 3B/OF, Clovis, California (Buchanan High)
Women’s volleyball
- Katie Langford, MB, Snow Canyon High
- Haley McUne, LIB, Sky View High
- Adna Mehmedovic, OH, Peoria, Arizona (Sunrise Mountain High)
- Kaylie Ray, OH, Chandler, Arizona (Chandler High)
- Beatriz Rodrigues, S, Lisbon, Portugal
- Kalia Thunstrom, S, Murrieta, California (Murrieta Mesa High)
- Bella Woode, MB, Summerfield, North Carolina (Northern Guilford High)
UVU
Baseball
- Jaxon Fullmer, C, Westlake High
Men’s golf
- Noah Koshi, Pearl City, Hawaii (Hawaii Baptist Academy)
Women’s golf
- Leighton Shosted, Mesa, Arizona (Mountain View High)
Men’s soccer
- Connor Friesen, D, Sparks, Nevada (Spanish Springs High School)
Women’s soccer
- Layla Lopez, D, Melbourne, Australia (Maribyrnong Secondary)
- Miaya Sykes, F/MF, San Diego (Olympian High)
Softball
- Anna Berger, P, Snowflake, Arizona (Snowflake High)
Weber State
Women’s soccer
- Peyton Anderson, D/MF, Orem High
- Morgan Furmaniak, F, Plainfield, Illinois (Joliet Catholic Academy)
- Brynlee Meyerhoffer, MF, Fremont High
- Lukkana Phonharath, MF, Hunter High
- Olivia Seager, MF, Brighton High
- Lily Webster, F, Olympus High
- Hadley Whiting, GK, Westlake High
- Alaina Wildenradt, MF, Plainfield, Illinois (Joliet Catholic Academy)
Women’s volleyball
- Brooklyn Frederick, OH, Temecula, California (Chaparral High)
- Marley Rosello, LIB, Judge Memorial High