Bears Pick up First Addition to 2025 Class with Kansas PG Grace McCallop

The Bears made their first addition to their 2025 class this week with the commitment of rising senior point guard Grace McCallop. The 5’10 PG averaged 10.1 points, 5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3 steals a game for Bishop Miege in Shawnee Mission, Kansas as a junior.

The Bears started recruiting their newest addition last year but their interest turned into an offer with McCallop’s standout play in the prestigious Nike EYBL Run4Roses tournament earlier this month.

"Last year, (Cal assistant coach) Travon Bryant called me and said that they were interested in me but just wanted to kind of keep watching me," McCallop said. "And then around when we went to Kentucky for the Run4Roses tournament, they came to watch me play and see if they wanted to offer and after the Kentucky tournament is when I talked with their head coach Charmin Smith and she just told me that all the staff had watched me throughout the weekend, she had seen me and then that's when they decided to give me an offer. 

“And then me personally, I talked a lot to Coach Charmin after that and then kind of did my own research, about the school, the athletics and so I kind of really just fell in love with it and just felt that God was just telling me Cal was the right place for me. And that's just kind of how I settled down with Cal."

Another element that helped get the newest Bear on the Cal staff’s radar was veteran AAU coach Elbert Kinnebrew’s glowing recommendation.

“Elbert Kinnebrew, the director of Cal Sparks saw me play in Arizona and felt like I would be a great addition to Cal, McCallop said. “He was able to connect me and Coach Charmin. Coach Charmin and her staff saw me play in Louisville and shortly after that tournament, I was given the Cal offer.”

Cal’s academic rep was another factor in the future Bear’s decision.

"Cal's academics were definitely another big thing that was just stuck out to me," McCallop said. "That was obviously super huge. The academic part and lot of successful people come out of there so that really jumped out at me, too."

"My dad's side has a lot of family out there so when we got offer, they're like calling all our family and stuff and told us it's so beautiful down here, you'll love it. So I've heard a lot of great things obviously."

Asked about the strengths of her game, it was clear McCallop values giving her all on both sides of the floor.

"I would definitely say defense," McCallop said of her strengths. "Facilitating, then just scoring and driving.

"I really pride myself on the fact that we had a big game against like the number one girl in our class (ESPN #1 recruit Aaliyah Chavez) and it was my job to guard her and I feel like I did a pretty good job. We won the game, so I definitely say I pride myself a lot on defense.

"We actually played that game on ESPN. We won in overtime.

"It was packed, crazy and kids were coming to us players everywhere. So it was really fun."

McCallop hasn’t visited campus yet but has her official visit scheduled for September 13.