Oklahoma head women's basketball coach Jennie Baranczyk announced the signing of consensus top-15 recruit in the 2021 class Payton Verhulst on Sunday. The 6-1 guard transferred to Oklahoma from the University of Louisville and will be eligible for the 2023-24 season.
"We are really excited to welcome Payton to our family," Baranczyk said. "She is a tremendous fit on and off the floor, and will be an incredible fit in our system. Sooner Nation is going to absolutely love who she is!"
The De Soto, Kan., product was a five-star prospect in the 2021 class and tabbed as the No. 8 player in the class by PASS, No. 9 by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and 12th by espnW. A USA Today National Female Athlete of the Year finalist as a senior in high school, Verhulst was a member of the All-ACC Freshman Team last season for the Cardinals. Named the top player in the state of Kansas by Max Preps, she was a Jersey Mike's Naismith National High School second-team All-American after averaging 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 steals, 3.6 assists and 3.5 blocks a game as a senior at Bishop Meige HS where she led her team to the Kansas 4A state title.
Verhulst represented the United States on the international stage at the 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. She was named the tournament's MVP after leading the stars and stripes to a 6-0 record and a gold medal. She also starred in the 2019 USA Basketball 3x3 U18 National Championship, where her Blue Star 30 Stars team finished fourth with a 5-2 record.
As a freshman at Louisville last season, Verhulst ranked inside the top 10 among ACC freshmen in points and assists per game. She played in 32 games for Louisville during its run to the Final Four and shot 43% from the field, including a 40% clip from behind the 3-point line. The guard posted three double-digit scoring games in ACC play, highlighted by a career-high 13 points vs. Duke.
Verhulst will join Oklahoma immediately but will not be eligible until next season. The 24th-ranked Sooners close their non-conference slate on Wednesday in Charlotte vs. Florida (11-1) at the Jumpman Invitational. The game tips at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
Original source can be found here
Alerts Sign-up