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Cal Women's Basketball

Cal Women's Hoops Signs 4 To 2025 Class

November 13, 2024
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BERKELEY – The California women's basketball team added four incoming freshmen to its 2025 class as announced Wednesday by head coach Charmin Smith, whose recruiting class for the second straight year includes two players ranked in the ESPN Top 100 list. The class features Aliyahna "Puff" Morris (No. 24) and Taylor Barnes (No. 70) along with Grace McCallop and Isis Johnson-Musah.
 
"We're excited to yet again bring in another elite recruiting class that will continue to help us level up," Smith said. "The quality of talent in the classes we've brought in these last two years shows that this program is on the rise and we're building something special here in Berkeley."
 
Morris is a 5-foot-5 guard out of national powerhouse Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, which finished the 2023-24 season ranked No. 2 in the country. She has started at point guard each of her three seasons for the Eagles and led them to a 32-3 record last year which included a win over No. 3 ranked Archbishop Mitty to win a second straight CIF open division championship. That year Morris averaged 16.8 points, 5.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game. Her long list of accolades includes being named a three-time Cal Hi Sports State Player of the Year, a three-time CIF All-State selection and a two-time MaxPreps Second-Team All-America selection.
 
"Puff is not only a great offensive threat, but she's also a proven winner," Smith said. "She's helped every team that she's been a part of elevate to being champions. She has a dog mentality that makes her a great fit for our program and is always looking to make her teammate better. She's an elite defender and is used to playing at a championship level. We can't wait for her to bring that mindset to Cal next year."
 
Barnes is a 6-foot-0 small forward/guard from South Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, Texas, which finished the 2023-24 campaign at 33-4, including a perfect 15-0 in district play. She finished her junior season averaging 14.6 points per game (on 54.6% shooting) and 5.4 rebounds per game on her way to being named the District 8-6A MVP and placed on the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Team and the University Interscholastic League 6A State All-Tournament Team.
 
"Taylor is a versatile player that gives us good size in the backcourt," Smith said. "She has a high basketball IQ and is always making the right play not just for herself but also her teammates. She can defend at multiple positions and is a proven winner that delivers every time she steps on the court."
 
McCallop is a 5-foot-10 guard who plays for Bishop Miege High School in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. In 2023-24 she averaged 10.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.0 steals per game. McCallop capped off her junior season last year by scoring a team-high 19 points in the state championship game to lead Bishop Miege to its fifth straight Class 4A state title. Following her junior campaign, she was named to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Class 4A State All-Second Team.
 
"Grace is high-level two-way guard that can play both guard positions," Smith said. "She does a great job on both sides of the floor facilitating for her teammates and locking up the opposing team's best player. She's excelled at both the high school level and the Nike EYBL circuit with the best players in the country."
 
Johnson-Musah is a 5-foot-10 guard out of Detroit Edison Academy in Detroit. As a junior in 2023-24, she led her team to a 23-3 record and a Michigan Division 2 State Championship after leading her team with 16 points in the title game. She also played for Michigan Crossover AAU and averaged 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last year. At the conclusion of her junior campaign, Johnson-Musah was placed on the Michigan Associated Press Division 2 All-State First Team.
 
"Isis can score in a variety of ways, whether it's off the dribble, getting to the rim or from the midrange," Smith said. "She's got really good length that leads to steals and deflections and handles the ball extremely well. When she shifts into high gear, she's unstoppable."

Cal Women's Hoops Signs 4 To 2025 Class

1,530 Views | 3 Replies | Last: 22 days ago by CalFanatic
smh
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^ thanks
muting more than 300 handles, turnaround is fair play
CalFanatic
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Great class!

We sure have a lot of guards next year. Love that depth but I imagine we'll need to hit the portal for posts. Next year it's Abigor and....Mafua?
CalFanatic
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We could run teams to death with a 4 guard, 1 post lineup. However, you don't love that matchup against teams with 2 6'4 posts.
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