From the day Oregon women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves took the job in Eugene, he and his staff have focused primarily on the 2016 recruiting class.
Today, those efforts will officially pay off.
Ranked No. 6 nationally by espnW, Oregon’s class features skill and size across the board. Graves has said the 2016 class will be “program-defining” for years to come.
The class includes five-star recruits 6-foot-3 forward Sierra Campisano (San Diego, CA) and 6-foot-4 forward Ruthy Hebard (Fairbanks, AK), four-star recruits 6-foot-1 guard Jayde Woods (Yorba Linda, CA) and 6-foot-4 center Mallory McGwire (Reno, Nevada), and three-star recruits 6-foot-5 center Lydia Giomi (Seattle, WA) and 5-foot-9 point guard Morgan Yaeger (Forestville, Australia).
Campisano is the highest ranked commit in the class per espnW, coming in at No. 14 nationally, followed by Hebard, ranked No. 41 nationally.
“[Kelly Graves] is a unique individual,” espnW’s Dan Olson said. “He’s a basketball junkie, but he’s a great guy personally who has a phenomenal court-side manner with his team, players and staff. This could be a real defining moment for Oregon basketball, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he does even better in years to come.”
Check back here throughout the day for updates, reaction and photos from the coaching staff and commits.
12:44 p.m. — Jayde Woods, the final of six commits, submits her letter of intent to Oregon.
Welcome @WoodsJayde to Oregon! @GoDucksKG – “One of the most physically and mentally tough players in the country.” pic.twitter.com/yIrmuuvXHO
— Oregon Ducks WBB (@OregonWBB) November 11, 2015
“She’s a great defender,” Graves said of Woods. “I think the most elite defender in the country. She can guard every position and plays really tough. She has the size to do that. She’s not going to make eight 3-pointers, but she is a team-first player. She’s all about the team. She’ll do whatever it takes for the team.”
11:54 a.m. — Lydia Giomi’s letter of intent comes in on Kelly Graves’ phone.
Welcome @Lydiagiomi! @GoDucksKG – “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a player with her combo of length & athleticism.” pic.twitter.com/ljAMTjtRyS
— Oregon Ducks WBB (@OregonWBB) November 11, 2015
“She has great potential,” Graves said. “She’s relatively new to the whole basketball scene, in terms of playing on a select team and national tournaments. Her potential for growth is tremendous. She’s such a great athlete. For her size, she runs like the guards. I love that she has great enthusiasm. She’s always talking and so supportive of her teammates. She’s willing to step back if needed. She’s a great kid all the way around.”
Last season for West Seattle High, Giomi averaged 14.8 points a game and 10.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.6 percent from the floor and helping West Seattle to a 22-3 record.
“It’s kind of like a birthday,” Giomi said of signing day. “I knew it was right all along, and at the same time it was official, but it was just as official yesterday. It feels so good… It’s bringing all of us together. It’s such a confirmation of our new family.”
11:17 a.m. — Ruthy Hebard’s letter of intent comes in for the Ducks.
Welcome @RuthyHebard24 to the Oregon family! @GoDucksKG – “Ruthy is one of the most gifted athletes in the world.” pic.twitter.com/qgfMmyLztC
— Oregon Ducks WBB (@OregonWBB) November 11, 2015
Hebard is a two-time Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year. She averaged 24.5 points and 13.9 rebounds along with 3.0 steals and 2.0 blocks last season at West Valley High School.
“She’s got an incredible upside,” Graves said. “So athletic. She hasn’t played a ton of club ball, so I think she has so much room for growth. She’s a hard-worker; great smile and infectious personality. I think she has the potential to be a special player.”
10:36 a.m. — Mallory McGwire becomes the third recruit to sign with the Ducks, the program announced.
Welcome @mallorymcgwire to the Oregon family! @GoDucksKG – “Great hands, great feet and a big heart.” #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/460NsB49jj
— Oregon Ducks WBB (@OregonWBB) November 11, 2015
“She’s a winner, no doubt about it,” Graves said. “We love to play inside-out basketball, and you have to have those elite post players. She has the ability to be that. She has great hands. Once she learns how to really use her size and athleticism, watch out, basketball world… She catches everything.”
“It’s great to see that they can tweet about us now,” McGwire said. “It’s all out in the open. Everyone knew, but it’s great to have the coaches talk about us now. It’s a surreal feeling.”
9:59 a.m. — The Ducks announce their second singing of the 2016 class, Sierra Campisano.
Welcome @sierracampy52 to the Oregon family! @GoDucksKG – “Perhaps the most skilled tall player in the country.” pic.twitter.com/pm2arUrwVC
— Oregon Ducks WBB (@OregonWBB) November 11, 2015
“She stayed loyal to us, even in a tough year,” Graves said. “You know she’s all in when she committed the day that we lost by 30 something at home to Oregon State.”
Campisano averaged 24.7 points a game last season for Torrey Pines High School.
“She’s the total package,” Graves said. “She has uncanny ability to score. We nicknamed her, ‘Buckets.’ She can shoot the three off the dribble. She can score in a variety of ways. She’s a phenomenal shooter. I think she’s the most skilled tall girl in this class. I don’t know if that’s really a question. She has an amazing motor. She is always going.”
Campisano jumped from No. 77 to No. 14 over the summer in the espnW rankings.
“This kid’s a skilled basketball player,” espnW’s Dan Olson said. “She’s separated herself among many forwards in the country by simply doing that. She has great feet. She can score in the block, but she can step you outside and knock down consistent jumpshots. She will always compete on both ends of the floor.”
Campisano is the highest-ranked recruit ever to enroll at Oregon, according to espnW. Campisano averaged 24.7 points a game as a junior at Torrey Pines High School.
7:58 a.m. — The Ducks received a Letter of Intent from 5-9 guard Morgan Yaeger of Forestville, Australia Tuesday morning, Graves said in a text message.
Welcome @morganyaeger to the Oregon family! @GoDucksKG – “I love how aggressive she plays!” #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/cQp4dv8NPt
— Oregon Ducks WBB (@OregonWBB) November 11, 2015
She is a three-star guard according to espnW, and most recently she started playing for the Women’s National Basketball League’s Adelaide Lightning as an amateur. In limited time with the Lightning, she’s averaged 5.7 points a game, normally off the bench.
She’s the first of six players expected to sign with the Ducks in the early signing period.
“Great athlete,” Graves said in a text message. “Combo guard. High character. High basketball IQ. Attacks the rim and competes at a high level. Not going to get the attention USA kids get because she’s from Australia but she can ball.”
Yaeger gave her verbal commitment to the Ducks in May.
“Oregon has some incredible coaches,” Yaeger said in May. “The whole Ducks basketball team is just a massive family and as soon as they called me, I could feel a warmth from the coaches. It was really easy to like.”
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne
