West Virginia Women’s Basketball Starts Assembling 2023 Recruiting Class
The West Virginia Mountaineers women’s basketball team began assembling talent for its 2023-24 team as the NCAA’s early-signing period opened on Wednesday.
The Mountaineers are led by coach Dawn Plitzuweit, who is in her first season leading the program. She succeeds Mike Carey, who led the Mountaineers for 20 years and led them to 431 wins and led them to 16 NCAA and NIT postseason appearances.
The Mountaineers lost several talented players to the transfer portal, but they do return three players that were significant contributors a year ago — guards Madisen Smith, JJ Quinerly and Jayla Hemingway.
Before the signing period, the Mountaineers had two commitments, one of which — forward Grace Grocholski — is ranked among the Top 100 recruits in the country by ESPN. Early Wednesday morning, the Mountaineers announced the signings of both Grocholski and of forward Ayianna Johnson.
West Virginia’s 2023 recruiting class is below. Players who confirmed as signed are noted below. The list below also includes the Mountaineers’ season-opening roster.
The early-signing window closes on Nov. 16.
West Virginia Women’s Basketball 2023 Recruiting Class
F Grace Grocholski, 5-10, Kettle Moraine (Wales, WI) – Signed (confirmed by WVU Sports Information)
F Ayianna Johnson, 6-3, Jefferson, (Jefferson, WI) – Signed (confirmed by WVU Sports Information)
(Grocholski is No. 98 in the ESPN Top 100).
2022-23 Season-Opening Roster
G Sarah Bates (5-8, Sr.), F Isis Beh (6-3, r-So.), F Kylee Blacksten (6-3, Jr.), F Tavy Diggs (6-1, Sr.), G Jayla Hemingway (5-11, Sr.), F Messiah Hunter (6-2, r-Fr.), G Danni Nichols (5-10, Sr.), G JJ Quinerly (5-8, So.), G Wynter Rogers (5-11, r-Fr.), G Imarianah Russell (5-10, Fr.), G Savannah Samuel (6-1, Jr.), G Madisen Smith (5-5, Sr.), G Kyah Watson (5-10, r-So.).
Player in Bold: Notes a player who is a senior and may be out of eligibility after this season, depending on whether they have a COVID-19 waiver.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
