Olivia Cochran
Hanna Wheeler of Austin, Texas, gave her verbal commitment to the University of Incarnate Word this weekend. *Photo by Chris Hansen.
The evaluation periods for 2019 are now complete. With no non-scholastic basketball left, opportunities to be seen by new programs is limited which means players focus on their existing options and start making decisions. Here’s a rundown on recent commitments as players and coaches return home from 12 days on the road in July.
Cochran To Louisville
Olivia Cochran, the 6-foot-3 frontcourt player from Columbus, Georgia, announced her verbal commitment to Louisville on Twitter. The physical interior player came into the summer ranked No. 12 in the class and the No. 3 ranked post in the 2020 class. She is the Cardinals first commitment in the 2020 class.
CLAY’s TAKE
Cochran will provide Louisville with a versatile factor in the frontcourt. She can face the rim and make positive things happen then take it to the block going to work from there too. Cochran has a skill set tailor made for the new age post player. Her willingness to consistently be impactful around the rim separates her from most of her peers nationally.
HANSEN’s TAKE
Our latest look at Cochran came at the semifinals of Under Armor Finals and when she kicked her game into beast mode it was game altering. She moves without the ball to find scoring in the halfcourt but her impact working the offensive glass and her high post touches change the tempo and trajectory of games. She brought a special energy to the floor and it propelled her loaded team to pull away in the semifinals.
Hay Day For Belmont
ELITE 150 Watch List guard Whitney Hay announced her verbal commitment to Belmont on Sunday. The 6-0 scoring guard from Eastview, Kentucky, chose the Bruins over offers from Wake Forest, Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana State, Morehead State, Murray State, Northern Kentucky and UT-Martin.
CLAY’s TAKE:
Whitney Hay has the potential to be a premier perimeter scorer at the next level. Continuing to develop her consistency as a position defender will enhance her game. She has the length and size to be a productive force on both ends of the hardwood for the Bruins. Hay’s ability and willingness to put the ball in the bucket separates from most of the wings regionally in the class. That skill provides her a lane to potentially contribute early in her college career.
Boni To Colorado State
Ellie Boni of Veradale, Washington, has verbally committed to Colorado State. The 5-9 guard from University High School played this summer with Tree of Hope EYBL and shot over 40-percent from 3-point range in EYBL game play.
HANSEN’s TAKE
Boni has shown she is a well-rounded option at the guard position. She has the size, strength and bounce to attack the lane and make plays. She combines that skill set as a good spot shooter. She’s a quality defender as well, both on the ball and in the first gap.
Wheeler Picks IW
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Hanna Wheeler, the 5-6 shifty point guard from Cedar Park, Texas, has committed to in-state program Incarnate Word. Her ability to find teammates will be well received as UIW. The 3-star-plus rated prospect was a regular at the Check Me Out Showcase where she showed she can compete against top players from across the country.
CLAY’s TAKE
Wheeler is the type of prospect at the point guard position who will make it hard for Jeff Dow to keep her off the floor. She's a heady, skilled option who will understand where she and her teammates are supposed to be at all times. At Check Me Out Seattle, Wheeler took on all comers regardless of level and make her presence felt in my recruiting notebook while doing so.
Chris Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and serves on the McDonald’s All-American and Naismith Trophy selection committees. He was a co-founder of and the national director of scouting for ESPN HoopGurlz from 2005 until 2012 and is the director of the Check Me Out Showcase and ELITE is EARNEDevents. He can be reached at chris@prospectsnation.com.
Brandon Clay serves as the WNBA Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com and owns The JumpOffPlus.com International Report, which is picked up by more than 150 colleges and universities nationwide. He serves as the Executive Camp Director for the Elite Basketball Academy Camps. He serves on the Naismith Trophy Men’s / Women’s College Player of the Year Academy and is chairman of the HS Boys / Girls Board of Selectors and is on the McDonald’s All-American Selection Committee. He also is the publisher of BrandonClayStyle.com.
