On The Trail

Nia Coffey of Minneapolis, Minn., the No. 43 prospect in the 2013 class, has committed to Northwestern University, according to her club program director, Andy Meinhardt of the Minnesota Metro Stars.

The 6-foot forward also considered Duke, Harvard, Princeton and Stanford, according to her mother, Sheba Coffey. Northwestern was a fit, she added, because it offers an engineering major, which two current players already are pursuing.

"Nia was really choosing among prestigious schools with strong academic backgrounds. We (as parents) felt she couldn't go wrong with any of her choices," Sheba Coffey said via email. "Overall Northwestern was a great fit with academics, strong alumni, with an overall warm vibe. In addition we really like the coaching staff. We felt like with everything Northwestern had to offer, it was a more than just a great four-year decision, it was a great 40-year decision.:

Coffey is averaging 15.6 points for Hopkins (Minneapolis, Minn.), which is No. 23 in the POWERADE FAB 50. She also is rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN HoopGurlz.

Northwestern earlier this month received a pledge from Christen Inman of Katy, Texas, another four-star prospect ranked No. 55 in the 2013 class.

"Northwestern University is not only getting an amazing basketball player, but more importantly a better person," Coffey's Metro Stars coach, Mike Amos, said via email. "Nia exudes the qualities that every university wants in its student athletes such as strong character, integrity, honest, self discipline and academic excellence to name a few.

"Off the court people are drawn to Nia because of her warm smile, friendly demeanor, work ethic and her willingness to help others. On the court she is a selfless competitor, willing to sacrifice for the betterment of her team. She is attentive and focused on the details at practice and strives to consistently improve her game, which makes her a joy to coach."

Nia Coffey Archive »

Je Zhe Newton of Chandler, Ariz., has taken the first of her five official visits. According to her club team coach, Greg Strickling of GSB, the 6-foot-3 post visited UNLV this past weekend. The No. 66 prospect in the 2012 ESPNU HoopGurlz 100 will make her second visit this weekend when she travels to Seattle and the University of Washington.

Newton is one of just four recruits ranked in the top 100 by ESPN HoopGurlz who is still undecided. In addition to UNLV and Washington, she is considering Illinois, Rutgers and USC.

Je Zhe Newton Archive »

Jada Butts of Lewisville, Texas, has verbally committed to Texas Christian University, according to her club coach, Ray Mickens of Cy-Fair Nike Elite-Mickens. The 5-foot-8 prospect is the first commitment from the 2013 class for the Horned Frogs.

"She said the fact that it was close to home and how much she liked coach (Jeff) Mittie and his staff, made TCU standout more than the others schools," Mickens said. "Also, competing in teh Big 12 is something she looks forward to."

Butts is rated a four-star prospect by ESPN HoopGurlz. She follows a 2012 signing class that included two four-star prospects from Texas -- Veja Hamilton, a 5-10 wing, and Kamy Cole, a 5-9 guard -- as well as Zahna Medley of Springfield, Ill., a 5-6 point guard.

Jada Butts Archive »

Brianna Turner of Pearland, Texas, and the No. 2 prospect in the 2014 ESPNU HoopGurlz Terrific 25, used the long holiday weekend to make an unofficial visit. The 6-foot-3 sophomore forward was in Baton Rogue, La., visiting LSU on Sunday, according to her father, Howard Turner. As part of the visit she attended the Tigers' 57-41 home win over Auburn.

Turner also has made visits to Baylor, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M, previously. She has tentative plans to take unofficial visits to Auburn, Connecticut, Duke, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Stanford before the start of her junior year at Manvel High School (Texas).

Turner plays for the DFW Elite club program and her father said making all those visits will depend greatly on her team's schedule and if she's selected to the USA Basketball U17 national team, which will hold its team trials May 17-20 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Brianna Turner Archive »

Nicole Boudreau became the 60th player in the history of Massachusetts to top 2,000 career points, doing so with 32 points during a 63-47 win for Andover (Mass.) over Central Catholic (Lawrence, Mass.) on Friday night.

ESPN Boston's reigning Miss Basketball, Boudreau needed 13 points headed into the game, and currently sits at 2,019.

The 5-foot-10 guard, rated a three-star prospect by ESPN HoopGurlz, also had 10 steals, eight rebounds and three assists as Andover improved to 20-0. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Boston College.

Nicole Boudreau Archive »

Tiaria Griffin led Hattiesburg (Miss.) into the Mississippi 6A Final Four with 38 points during a 67-63 victory over Forest Hill (Jackson, Miss.) in the South State championship on Saturday.

The 5-foot-9 guard also had six steals, five assists, five rebounds and two blocks.

A Georgia signee, Griffin is rated a four-star prospect in the 2012 class by ESPN HoopGurlz.

Griffin is averaged 27 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals during her senior season at Hattiesburg.

Tiaria Griffin Archive »

Katelyn Loecker of McPherson, Kan., committed to Oklahoma State, according to her club coach, Doug Finch, of Mokan Elipse.

The 6-foot forward also considered Creighton, Kansas State, Missouri State and Nebraska.

The commitment was the first since coach Kurt Budke and his assistant Miranda Serna were killed in a plane crash in central Arkansas on Nov. 18.

Loecker is watchlisted in the 2013 by ESPN HoopGurlz.

Katelyn Loecker Archive »