Michaela Onyenwere, the No. 10 prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100, has committed to UCLA.
"I chose UCLA because of relationships," Onyenwere said. "UCLA assistant coach Jenny Huth not only took an interest in my basketball abilities, but my life too. I consider her my coach and a second mom.
"The balance of academics and athletics as well as the connection I made with my teammates further solidified my decision."
In addition to UCLA, Onyenwere, a 5-foot-11 forward at Grandview High School (Aurora, Colorado), made official visits to Tennessee, Louisville and Arizona State.
Onyenwere, who has won back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year awards in Colorado, averaged 24.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.0 steals, 2.3 assists and 1.4 blocks per game last season as a junior. She is also a star on Grandview's track team, excelling in sprints.
Already possessing a college-ready frame, Onyenwere is a mismatch producer and one of the most athletic players in the 2017 class.
"She's the most explosive athlete I've ever coached," said Robert Sanchez, Onyenwere's coach on the AAU New Mexico Heat Elite. "She's a special player -- very intelligent and with the type of charisma you see in a person once every 10 years."
Bruins coach Cori Close adds Onyenwere to a class that was already ranked among the best in the country. The Bruins also have commitments from Australian star Chantel Horvat, ranked 15th in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100, No. 36 Kayla Owens, and Lauryn Miller, a bronze medalist with the under-16 USA Basketball team at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.
Onyenwere's commitment, which comes on the heels of No. 1 Megan Walker choosing UConn, No. 2 Evina Westbrook committing to Tennessee and No. 3 Rellah Boothe selecting Texas, means just two top-10 prospects remain undeclared. No. 5 Sidney Cooks and No. 6 Chennedy Carter are both expected to announce their decisions next week.
