Top-ranked recruit makes final visit to Oklahoma Sooners for March Madness before making life-changing decision
The Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball program has radically shifted under head coach Jennie Baranczyk, who has built a 99-33 record (so far) as the head coach of the Sooners since taking over in 2021. The Sooners have steadily advanced in the playoffs every year under Baranczyk and have improved their talent every year, with this […]
The Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball program has radically shifted under head coach Jennie Baranczyk, who has built a 99-33 record (so far) as the head coach of the Sooners since taking over in 2021.
The Sooners have steadily advanced in the playoffs every year under Baranczyk and have improved their talent every year, with this year's #3 seed led by star Reagan Beers.
Now, the Sooners are major players for the number-one recruit in the country in point guard Aaliyah Chavez, who was in town on a visit to see Oklahoma take down Florida Gulf Coast 81-58 in the Round of 64 on Saturday.
It's believed that the Sooners and Texas Longhorns are the top two schools in her recruitment, and the Sooners made a fantastic last impression before Chavez makes her decision on Tuesday, March 25th.
Chavez, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2025, was named both the Gatorade National Player of the Year and Naismith's National Player of the Year, as well as a McDonald's All-American. She is a two-time winner of Gatorade's Player of the Year for the state of Texas.
This season, while leading Monterey high school to it's first state championship since 1981, Chavez averaged 34.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks.
Many around the Oklahoma program believe that Chavez can be a program-changing talent who can elevate the Sooners into the elite tier of women's basketball alongside another SEC team in South Carolina. Pulling a recruit like Chavez could send ripples throughout women's basketball as well and help the Sooners firmly establish themselves in this new landscape.
It's still far from a guarantee, as the Texas Longhorns are one of the best teams in the country this season, and have no shortage of funds to pull off an NIL deal for the ages. Yet, the Sooners will still be major players for Chavez all the way to the end.
This should be a major battle. Expect Oklahoma to pull out all the stops in order to bring Chavez to Norman.
