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Cal Women's Basketball

Cal Women's Hoops Add Big Pickup With 5 Star 2025 PG Aliyahna Morris

October 20, 2024
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The Bears are staying hot on the recruiting trail, adding their fourth commitment of the 2025 class and their second ESPN Hoopgurls Top 100 player with the commitment of 5’5 Etiwanda point guard Aliyahna Morris today. The announcement followed her nationally-televised dominating Border League performance in her IE Eagles’ 73-64 win over LV Orange in a clash of California vs Nevada squads on ESPNU. Morris led her IE squad with 32 points, 5 steals and 2 rebounds in an impressive performance in the win.

“For the next four years, I’ll be attending the University of California Berkeley,” Morris announced after the game. “Go Bears!

“The coaching staff’s been amazing. The team is great out there and the visit went great. I feel like out of all the options I had out there, they fit me the best.

“I worked so hard. Just two years ago, I didn’t know I’d be in this position so I’m just happy I’m here today. The only one I can thank today is God. He’s been with me in all my ups and downs and I’m just so happy.

“They’re getting someone who is ready to do all the work...we’re going to be great. I’m just so excited to go work with Coach Charmin...she wasn’t just focused on the basketball aspect of me going to Cal. She’s worried about me as a student and my life and my relationship with God and I think that was most important. Coach Charmin made me feel accepted for everything I am and not just the player I am.”

Rated the #24 overall player in the 2025 class, Morris has started at point guard for one of the nation’s top programs since her freshman year. Her combination of ball handling, ability to get to the hole and smooth perimeter stroke as well as a tough and quick defender made Morris one of the more coveted recruits in the nation, holding offers from Duke, USC, Michigan, Illinois, Mississippi State and a host of Ivies, including Harvard, Yale and Princeton.

Playing alongside 5 star USC signee Kennedy Smith, Morris led her Etiwanda squad to an Open Division state championship win over Archbishop Mitty as a junior, finishing 32-3. Morris averaged 16.8 points, 5.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 steals.

The newest Bear announced her commitment on ESPN2 this afternoon, choosing the Bears over fellow finalists Duke and Yale. She’ll join 4 star Texas wing Taylor Barnes - the ESPN Hoopgurls #70 overall recruit, Kansas combo guard Grace McCallop and Detroit PG Isis Johnson-Musah in the Bears’ current 2025 recruiting class.

 

Cal Women's Hoops Add Big Pickup With 5 Star 2025 PG Aliyahna Morris

14,985 Views | 30 Replies | Last: 8 days ago by SFCALBear72
SFCALBear72
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3:04p, 10/20/24

Welcome to the Bears, Aliyahna!!
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Schroeder71
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3:11p, 10/20/24
Charmin Smith may have found a player to build her team around in PG Puff Morris. She's ranked #24 in her class of 2025. Morris had 5 assists and 20 points in leading her team to the state title over Archbishop Mitty.
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graguna
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3:11p, 10/20/24
wow!
great pick up!
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MoragaBear
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3:13p, 10/20/24
Staff
32 points in her game on ESPNU before her commitment announcement. Watched it from start to finish. What a game!

Huge pickup for Cal.
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CalFanatic
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4:14p, 10/20/24
Amazing pickup!
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CalFanatic
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4:30p, 10/20/24
Beating out Duke for her commitment seems particularly notable.
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Eastern Oregon Bear
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4:33p, 10/20/24
Wow! Best basketball recruit since Jaylen Brown. Great news!
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annarborbear
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4:36p, 10/20/24
The kind of talent we need. Put her immediately in charge of recruiting two post players to join her.
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philbert
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4:37p, 10/20/24
Nice! Need some bigs now.

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SBGold
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5:30p, 10/20/24
Great decision! Welcome and Go Bears!
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stu
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6:35p, 10/20/24
Excellent! We're on a roll!
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BeatTheClockBear
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7:41p, 10/20/24
Very exciting news! Welcome to Cal!
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Shocky1
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9:31p, 10/20/24
KABOOOOOMMMM!!
https://bearinsider.com/forums/2/topics/110786/replies/2405266
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ClayK
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7:28a, 10/21/24
Great news. She makes plays that win games.
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TomBear
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7:31a, 10/21/24
She sounds like a great young woman. I like her thought process. Seems like she has her priorities in good order. And her game, from the videos I watched, is top notch.

Glad to see her in Blue and Gold!
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mbBear
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In reply to ClayK • 7:31a, 10/21/24
ClayK said:
Great news. She makes plays that win games.
And yet she wanted to come to Cal....
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TahoBear
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7:52a, 10/21/24
Welcome to Bear Territory Puff!!
“ Once a Bear - Always A Bear”
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ClayK
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In reply to mbBear • 7:11a, 10/22/24
mbBear said:
ClayK said:
Great news. She makes plays that win games.
And yet she wanted to come to Cal....
She is tiny. And Duke is a long way away.

Still, a great get and if she can up her game at this level, she will be a Leilani-type player -- or maybe even better.
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mbBear
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In reply to ClayK • 8:19a, 10/22/24
ClayK said:
mbBear said:
ClayK said:
Great news. She makes plays that win games.
And yet she wanted to come to Cal....
She is tiny. And Duke is a long way away.

Still, a great get and if she can up her game at this level, she will be a Leilani-type player -- or maybe even better.
A "great get" that is coming to Cal....
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annarborbear
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8:23a, 10/22/24
I like that she both attacks and facilitates. Other teams won't be able simply to back off and defend others. I thought that was Leilani's one major weakness, although she did improve on it in the end.
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BearBint
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In reply to TahoBear • 9:59a, 10/22/24
TahoBear said:
Welcome to Bear Territory Puff!!
I look forward to hollering, "P-U-U-U-U-F!!!" from Section 16. (It will also look nice on a sign or t-shirt.)
"Don't get distracted, myself. Don't get distracted." Self-talk from a young relative
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stu
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In reply to annarborbear • 11:48a, 10/22/24
annarborbear said:
I like that she both attacks and facilitates. Other teams won't be able simply to back off and defend others. I thought that was Leilani's one major weakness, although she did improve on it in the end.
I don't think Leilani's offense was a weakness. Her 3-point shooting did improve through her career but from day one she could blow by people for a floater or a layup or an assist. She was a total team player who didn't look for her own shot first so her stats were never that gaudy.
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annarborbear
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In reply to stu • 12:18p, 10/22/24
stu said:
annarborbear said:
I like that she both attacks and facilitates. Other teams won't be able simply to back off and defend others. I thought that was Leilani's one major weakness, although she did improve on it in the end.
I don't think Leilani's offense was a weakness. Her 3-point shooting did improve through her career but from day one she could blow by people for a floater or a layup or an assist. She was a total team player who didn't look for her own shot first so her stats were never that gaudy.
My perception was that in her initial years she backed off from attacking and taking shots that were available outside. That led to a lot of defenders collapsing back into the paint to double team our posts, and was like playing 4 on 5. She did eventually change, but wanting to give it up to others was more her nature.
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ncbears
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In reply to annarborbear • 12:46p, 10/22/24
annarborbear said:
stu said:
annarborbear said:
I like that she both attacks and facilitates. Other teams won't be able simply to back off and defend others. I thought that was Leilani's one major weakness, although she did improve on it in the end.
I don't think Leilani's offense was a weakness. Her 3-point shooting did improve through her career but from day one she could blow by people for a floater or a layup or an assist. She was a total team player who didn't look for her own shot first so her stats were never that gaudy.
My perception was that in her initial years she backed off from attacking and taking shots that were available outside. That led to a lot of defenders collapsing back into the paint to double team our posts, and was like playing 4 on 5. She did eventually change, but wanting to give it up to others was more her nature.
Agreed.
But, Asha Thomas was listed only at 5'4, so I'm not too worried about size if she can attack, dish and score like Thomas!
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stu
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In reply to ncbears • 4:58p, 10/22/24
ncbears said:
annarborbear said:
stu said:
annarborbear said:
I like that she both attacks and facilitates. Other teams won't be able simply to back off and defend others. I thought that was Leilani's one major weakness, although she did improve on it in the end.
I don't think Leilani's offense was a weakness. Her 3-point shooting did improve through her career but from day one she could blow by people for a floater or a layup or an assist. She was a total team player who didn't look for her own shot first so her stats were never that gaudy.
My perception was that in her initial years she backed off from attacking and taking shots that were available outside. That led to a lot of defenders collapsing back into the paint to double team our posts, and was like playing 4 on 5. She did eventually change, but wanting to give it up to others was more her nature.
Agreed.
But, Asha Thomas was listed only at 5'4, so I'm not too worried about size if she can attack, dish and score like Thomas!
Leilani was also a defensive dawg. What she lacked in length she made up in strength, toughness, and attitude.
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annarborbear
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5:14p, 10/22/24
Thomas was our starter on three consecutive NCAA tournament teams. This new well-rounded recruit will have similar potential with an appropriate surrounding cast. So keep recruiting.
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upsetof86
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6:02p, 10/22/24
Great job women's basketball!
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upsetof86
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In reply to upsetof86 • 6:06p, 10/22/24
upsetof86 said:
Great job women's basketball! I'm to going to follow and support to offset my utter disappointment with football.
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CalFanatic
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10:34a, 12/16/24
Cal shared a post showing Morris scored 38 points/ 6 3's in a weekend game.

I'd have to do some research but I can't imagine many people have won state Sophmore, Junior and Senior POY. She could be on track.
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SFCALBear72
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4:40p, 12/16/24
It was part of the Iolani Classic in Honolulu, December 12-14.

Girls Schedule | Iolani Classic
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