Women's college basketball's early signing period has arrived for the Class of 2022. Since releasing our initial top 10 of the class rankings in mid-October, there has been significant movement. (We also expanded the list to 25.)
UCLA overtook Oregon for the No. 1 spot. No. 2-ranked prospect Kiki Rice committing to Cori Close gives the Bruins a huge class, both in terms of talent and size of their class (five players).
No. 3 Janiah Barker landing at Georgia vaults the Lady Bulldogs into the top 10. After the fantastic class Joni Taylor signed last year, another tremendously talented group is headed to Athens.
Although she previously committed to UCLA, No. 21 Paris Clark officially reopened her recruitment for now, and it appears she will make an announcement in the late signing period.
Clark is one of two espnW prospects who have yet to commit. The other is Maggie Mendelson, a USA Volleyball and USA Basketball player who will play both sports in college and reclassified from the 2023 class. Their decisions could affect the class rankings.
Individual talents and the larger classes can impact the weight of recruiting classes. But impact on the programs and also how well the pieces project to fit together in the program can also influence the rankings.
Here are the early leaders for top recruiting classes in the country.
1. UCLA Bruins
Previous ranking: 2
Highest-ranked commit: PG Kiki Rice (No. 2)
With five signees in the 2022 class, UCLA has seen a flurry of commits in multiple classes since the spring. Rice, the top-rated guard in the country, was the icing on the cake for the top-ranked class. No. 19 Gabriela Jaquez is a major stock-riser from the summer with her edgy competitiveness and all-around skill. No. 22 Londynn Jones, from California, is dynamic with the ball and can create her own at any time. No. 49 Christeen Iwuala is a strong rebounder off the glass from Texas and improved her ability to finish around the rim during a monster summer. UCLA also added German forward Lina Merle Sontag, No. 4 in the Premier Basketball Worldwide Hoops International rankings. She brings added length and skill on the perimeter, can score at all three levels and is a strong rebounder.
2. Oregon Ducks
Previous ranking: 1
Highest-ranked commit: PG Chance Gray (No. 7)
Kelly Graves and the Oregon women's basketball program are no stranger to a highly rated recruiting class. Currently, they have four commits in the 2022 class, and they went to Ohio and Arizona to get it done. Gray is a dynamic and quick guard with serious 3-ball range. Also from Ohio is No. 13 Grace VanSlooten, a forward with perimeter skill and a knack for crashing the glass. Jennah Isai out of Arizona is an all-around utility player who can fill any holes on the floor. Kennedy Basham, also out of Arizona, is a finesse big who can shoot the 3 and has developing back-to-the-basket game.
3. Oregon State Beavers
Previous ranking: 3
Highest-ranked commit: F Timea Gardiner (No. 6)
Oregon State's 2021 recruiting class included three top-100 players, and Scott Rueck has followed that up with two top-10 commits and four total so far in the 2022 class. Gardiner is the highly regarded forward out of Utah with USA Basketball experience. No. 10 Raegan Beers overcame an ACL injury that sidelined her for her junior year, but she is back and displaying her versatility again. Beers is one of the best passers in the class, and she can bang on the block and shoot the 3. Four-star recruits Adlee Blacklock (Texas) and Lily Hansford (Wisconsin) are 3-point specialists who will fit in well with Oregon State's style of play.
4. UConn Huskies
Previous ranking: 4
Highest-ranked commit: W Ayanna Patterson (No. 4)
Following a 2021 class in which top-10 players Azzi Fudd and Caroline Ducharme headed to Storrs, UConn and Geno Auriemma have landed two more top-10 talents. Patterson is arguably the best athlete in the class and has shown that with multiple two-handed dunks. She rebounded extremely well for the U18 USA 3x3 team that won gold over the summer. Isuneh Brady out of California is a lefty power forward with a soft touch outside and strength inside.
5. Stanford Cardinal
Previous ranking: 5
Highest-ranked commit: P Lauren Betts (No. 1)
Stanford has had some of the best post players in women's college hoops history in Val Whiting, Jayne Appel, Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike and Kayla Pedersen. The Cardinal have landed the Class of 2022's best post player and No. 1 overall player in Betts, and coach Tara VanDerveer has shown she knows how to utilize her bigs. No. 20 Indya Nivar has all-around game. She can give her team combo guard minutes with her ability to distribute and also score. She is strong physically, which helps her be a very good defender. Coming off a national championship, the Stanford roster is absolutely loaded. The Cardinal are also known for their cerebral point guard play, and No. 71 Talana Lepolo is a natural fit as she runs the show on the floor.
6. South Carolina Gamecocks
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: P Ashlyn Watkins (No. 12)
Dawn Staley has no problem procuring talent for South Carolina. Watkins is a supremely gifted leaper who brings instant energy and toughness to the floor. Watkins' rare combination of elite strength and physicality make her one of the best defenders and rebounders in the country. Her ever-evolving offensive skill set, including adding the spot-up 3-ball, makes her ceiling as high as anybody in the class. No. 18 Talaysia Cooper is a big guard who thrives in the open court. She has all the physical tools to become an elite lockdown perimeter defender at the next level. Her improving offensive game, paired with her ability to slash and finish at the rim, make her one of the top playmakers in the class.
7. Georgia Lady Bulldogs
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: F Janiah Barker (No. 3)
After signing the No. 14-ranked recruiting class in 2021, which included two McDonald's All-Americans in Reigan Richardson and Jillian Hollingshead, Joni Taylor has landed one of the biggest prizes in the country in Barker, the ultimate combination of size, strength, skill, agility and versatility. She won a gold medal this past summer with the USA Basketball 3x3 squad in Hungary. Coming with her to Athens is club teammate No. 37 Sydney Bowles, one of the best shot-makers in the country. Rounding out the class is Tineya Hylton, a small but explosive and skilled guard out of Canada (No. 21 international).
8. Arizona Wildcats
Previous ranking: 6
Highest-ranked commit: F Maya Nnaji (No. 9)
Coach Adia Barnes is coming off of her first Final Four run as a head coach. These successes can generally carry over into recruiting. Arizona has landed three elite prospects in the 2022 class in Nnaji, No. 31 Kailyn Gilbert and No. 85 Lemyah Hylton (No. 2 international). Nnaji is a multifaceted forward who can play with her back to the basket as well as face up away from the paint. Gilbert is as naturally gifted a scorer as there is in the country, and she creates off the dribble with the best of them. Hylton, out of Canada, is a high-energy wing with massive potential and elements of all-around game.
9. Baylor Bears
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: W Ysabella Fontleroy (No. 41)
Replacing legendary Kim Mulkey is no easy feat. Former Atlanta Dream coach Nicki Collen got right to work when she took the Baylor job in early May. Fontleroy had a major stock-rising summer after returning from an injury that saw her miss a season. She is strong and explosive, has a great feel for the game, and has a nice stroke out to the 3-point line. No. 62 Kyla Abraham is a post who does everything a coach asks her: run the floor, defend, catch and finish, and intimidate shots in the paint. Baylor also got Catarina Ferreira, a highly regarded Eastern Arizona juco product by way of Brazil.
10. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Previous ranking: 7
Highest-ranked commit: PG Mara Braun (No. 28)
This is Lindsay Whalen's fourth season at the helm, and this recruiting class is her best yet with three top-100 prospects. Braun is a heady guard with leadership qualities who can really stroke the outside shots. No. 39 Amaya Battle is a three-level scorer who attacks the rim hard, finishes with contact very well and can knock down the 3 at a high percentage. She rebounds very well from the guard position. No. 55 Mallory Heyer is a skilled forward who has expanded from the paint and beyond. She is good on the glass, is a face-up threat and has become a good passer and facilitator.
11. Duke Blue Devils
Previous ranking: 8
Highest-ranked commit: G Ashlon Jackson (No. 16)
Coach Kara Lawson has had her hands full taking over a program during COVID-19 and handling USA Basketball 3x3 responsibilities, as well as getting on the road to build the Duke program through recruiting. Jackson is a sharpshooting point guard who oozes positive leadership vibes and is a proven winner in high school and club ball. No. 32 Shay Bollin is a forward who can fill a lot of holes on the floor. She is a floor spacer in terms of her ability to shoot, and she can facilitate for teammates and create off the bounce. Emma Koabel, the No. 6 international prospect, is a Canadian signee who specializes in long-range shooting.
12. Miami Hurricanes
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: P Kyla Oldacre (No. 25)
Katie Meier and Miami have locked in arguably the best frontcourt class in the country with the additions of Oldacre and No. 30 Lazaria Spearman. Oldacre is an old-school post with a strong back-to-the-basket game and great hands and footwork. Spearman is long and agile and can stretch the defense to the 3-point line, as well as attack the glass. They are a very complementary combination.
13. Louisville Cardinals
Previous ranking: 9
Highest-ranked commit: F Nyla Harris (No. 35)
It is no secret that Louisville hits the recruiting trails hard. As head coaches go, Jeff Walz is as active a recruiter as there is in the country. The Cardinals' two-person 2021 signing class morphed into three when forward Alexia Mobley reclassified and came to campus a year early. In 2022 they have four commitments thus far. Harris is a powerful forward out of Lake Highland Prep in Florida. No. 38 Zyanna Walker is a dynamic scoring big guard from Kansas who missed last season due to injury. No. 57 Imani Lester is a F/P with soft touch who can stretch the floor to the top of the key. No. 78 Jalyn Brown is a lengthy wing with serious slashing ability.
14. Washington Huskies
Previous ranking: 10
Highest-ranked commit: G Hannah Stines (No. 40)
After taking Rice to the women's NCAA tournament and to new heights, Tina Langley took over at Washington. She has already made a splash on the recruiting trail by landing three recruits in the Top 100. Stines is a guard who can shoot from deep, sees the floor extremely well and has a creative handle. No. 53 Elle Ladine is a fundamentally sound guard who is very comparable to Stines, her club teammate. She can play both on and off the ball offensively. No. 79 Teagan Brown is a springy guard with a nice pull-up jumper who also defends the perimeter well. These three players bring a very hot commodity: the ability to shoot the basketball. The impact these players will have quickly at Washington sets them up well.
15. Texas Longhorns
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: W Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (No. 34)
After landing three McDonald's All-Americans and finishing with the No. 4 class in 2021, Vic Schaefer continued to strike successfully on the recruiting trail. Texas has three espnW 100 recruits. Mwenentanda is a do-everything forward who has a nice pull-up jumper and is a defensive weapon. No. 63 Amina Muhammad is excellent on the glass and getting to the rim. No. 67 Jordana Codio is smooth, skilled and wise on the floor. She has a nice jumper that can help the Longhorns stretch the floor, and she could see minutes as a wing or a forward.
16. Texas A&M Aggies
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: G Brianna McDaniel (No. 42)
In Gary Blair's final season, the Aggies have secured their backcourt talent for the foreseeable future. Not only are these players ultra-talented, but they truly fit A&M's system. McDaniel is strong and skilled and can both score and create for teammates. Point guard Gia Cooke out of highly regarded Bishop McNamara (Maryland) is as quick with the ball end to end as any player in America. Guard Mya Petticord has a dynamic handle and can create her shot with the best of them.
17. LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: G Flau'jae Johnson (No. 26)
Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey has returned to her home state of Louisiana. Mulkey's reputation as a recruiter speaks for itself, and she has locked in her first class at LSU. Johnson is an electrifying perimeter player with a penchant for the big moment. No. 58 Sa'Myah Smith, of nationally ranked DeSoto High School, has elite length and a burgeoning skill set that projects her as a playmaking forward. Completing the class is junior college transfer Last-Tear Poa, who is regarded by many as the No. 1 prospect in the juco level after leading Northwest Florida to the NJCAA title last year as the tournament MVP. Poa is an elite shooter with a terrific combination of speed, quickness and overall skill.
18. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: PG Tonie Morgan (No. 24)
Nell Fortner & Co. did a great job of recruiting in their region for this cycle. Morgan is out of Florida's Lake Highland Prep and is one of the best point guards in her class. No. 61 Kara Dunn, from in-state Mount Paran Christian School, is a forward who can score in bunches. Four-Star guard Paris Miller is a high-level perimeter defender who can shoot the 3 and create off the dribble. Three-star Raven Boswell out of Texas is a lefty who likes the pull-up jumper.
19. Princeton Tigers
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: F Tabitha Amanze (No. 43)
The Ivy League is making its presence known this year in the class rankings. Coach Carla Berube is in her third year at Princeton, although it is only her second season, as the conference elected not to play in 2020-21. In Amanze, they have landed the player with arguably the highest upside in the 2022 class. She missed the summer due to a knee injury, but is expected to be back on the court at some point this high school season. No. 46 Madison St. Rose has all-around skill with poise and leadership intangibles that will help Princeton for years to come.
20. Iowa Hawkeyes
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: W Hannah Stuelke (No. 45)
Iowa followed its 22nd-ranked class last year with another top-25 class. Stuelke, one of three top-100 signees, is an agile and strong forward with face-up skills. No. 76 Jada Gyamfi is a wing/forward with a smooth game. She has a strong frame, can shoot the 3 and makes others better with her passing. No. 89 Taylor McCabe is a knock-down shooter.
21. UCF Knights
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: W Savannah Henderson (No. 47)
UCF will soon join the Big 12, and coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson is ahead of the curve in terms of her level of recruiting. In a unique circumstance, she has landed her own daughter, Savannah. Prior to a May knee injury, Henderson was poised to have a major breakout summer. She had added muscle and explosiveness and increased her skills in all areas, including her perimeter shooting. No. 66 Amiya Evans is the daughter of former NBA player Reggie Evans. They have very similar games: blue-collar approach to defense and rebounding, as well as skills to keep the defense honest out to the high post. Stefanie Ingram is a point guard who brings toughness and savvy to the floor. Fatima Diakhate, the No. 32 international prospect, is a post with valuable size and growth potential.
22. Michigan Wolverines
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: F Alyssa Crockett (No. 48)
Michigan locked in another top-25 recruiting class by signing two top-100 players. Crockett is a do-everything wing/forward who can shoot, pass and orchestrate the offense if needed. No. 99 Kate Clarke is a Midwest guard with strong fundamentals who can also shoot it. The seventh-ranked international prospect, Chyra Evans, is a four-star forward out of Australia who has a strong back-to-the-basket game, is effective in the pick-and-roll, can knock down the 3 and put the ball on the deck. This class fits Kim Barnes Arico very well.
23. Auburn Tigers
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: PG Sydney Shaw (No. 50)
Johnnie Harris became the head coach at Auburn in April and hit the ground running with her first signing class. Shaw is a quick, explosive and skilled lead guard who has improved throughout her high school career. Complementing Shaw is one of the top juco guards in the country in JaKayla Johnson, an explosive wing who led Jones County to a No. 1 NJCAA ranking last year. Three-star guard Audia Young is an Auburn legacy, as her mother, Carolyn Jones-Young, had her jersey retired after helping lead the Tigers to two Final Fours. Kaitlyn Duhon, from Texas, gives Auburn a downhill slasher on the perimeter. Mya Pratcher comes from Tennessee, and will add size and skill to the frontcourt. Kharyssa Richardson, of Georgia, will add physicality and size.
24. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: P Tionna Herron (No. 69)
Second-year coach Kyra Elzy has locked in four recruits in the 2022 class, two of whom are in the espnW 100. Herron is a traditional post player with some face-up game and excels defensively. No. 95 Amiya Jenkins has a slasher game and gets in the passing lanes defensively. Cassidy Rowe from Kentucky is a floor general with a quality handle and is good driving the ball and creating. Saniah Tyler out of Incarnate Word (Missouri) is quick, explosive with a shifty handle and can also score.
25. West Virginia Mountaineers
Previous ranking: N/A
Highest-ranked commit: PG Yonta Vaughn (No. 72)
Coach Mike Carey has signed two top 100 players in the 2022 class. Vaughn has a pass-first mentality and brings a poise to the floor that helps others be better. No. 83 Imarianah Russell is extremely gifted; she can drive to the rim and defend. Ace Strickland is a gritty forward with the ability to shoot the 3.
Next up: Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Tennessee