Maya Nnaji commits to Arizona Wildcats as highest-rated recruit ever
May 10, 2021, 1:36 PM
Maya Nnaji (Screenshot/@maya_nnaji23)
(Screenshot/@maya_nnaji23)
Five-star recruit Maya Nnaji revealed on Monday that she will be bringing her talents to Tucson and joining the Arizona Wildcats women’s basketball squad.
The 6-foot-4 forward from Minnesota announced her commitment via a video on Instagram, but she first revealed her decision to UArizona’s staff, including head coach Adia Barnes, over Zoom.
The moment when @maya_nnaji23 told @ArizonaWBB she’s becoming a Wildcat.
(🎥 Maya Nnaji / IG) pic.twitter.com/cyXXISd3tQ
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) May 10, 2021
Nnaji is the highest-rated player Arizona’s women’s program has ever landed — ranked No. 7 overall and the third-best forward in the Class of 2022 by ESPN.
“This school has been watching and supporting me from the sidelines since Day One,” Nnjai said in her announcement video. “They saw a spark in me at an early age and now they’re like family.”
She joins No. 18 recruit Kailyn Gilbert as the two Wildcats commitments so far.
Nnaji continues on a family legacy by joining the Wildcats, as her older brother, Zeke Nnaji, also played for Arizona. Zeke played one season with Arizona and was named All-Pac-12 Freshman of the Year before he was selected No. 20 overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Last season was Arizona’s best in school history, toppling national powerhouse UConn in the Final Four to reach the NCAA championship game for the first time. The Wildcats then lost to Pac-12 rival Stanford by one point.
