New school commitments by Transfers - 2025

[YoDore]

Another swing and miss for Vandy. I'm not sure she ever even showed up for her scheduled visit. It was previously reported she would visit VT and Vanderbilt this week. Feeling pretty discouraged at this point. Add to this the fact that McKenna Woliczko is set to visit tomorrow and Saturday when arguably the team's best four players and biggest personalities will be playing in a 3x3 tourney in Arizona and campus will be pretty much dead because final exams wrap up today.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I was just thinking...Leger-Walker and Kneepkens were both alphas with their previous team. Is Rice gonna be the unquestioned leader in the back court? Who's team will this be? I guess a good problem to have, but definitely some things to be figured out as far as roles and leadership.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'm a little bit on the fence cuz I really like Jaquez. I'm not sure if u can bench Ledger-Walker. And I just think there were a lot of other schools she would be more of a difference maker. But I really like Kneepkens. And UCLA once again probably has the most talent or close to it from a rotation perspective.

I don't think Gardiner or Barker did themselves a favor picking UCLA last year. We'll see about the incoming transfers this time around.

 

[BruinGold]

I'm a little bit on the fence cuz I really like Jaquez. I'm not sure if u can bench Ledger-Walker. And I just think there were a lot of other schools she would be more of a difference maker. But I really like Kneepkens. And UCLA once again probably has the most talent or close to it from a rotation perspective.

That's a 3 guard rotation with Rice, Leger-Walker, and Kneepkens. I don't think Jaquez loses time at the 3, and UCLA will play 3 guards a fair amount, if you think of Jaquez as a guard.

 

[EricLA]

I was just thinking...Leger-Walker and Kneepkens were both alphas with their previous team. Is Rice gonna be the unquestioned leader in the back court? Who's team will this be? I guess a good problem to have, but definitely some things to be figured out as far as roles and leadership.

If Close is smart, and I think she is (and a darn good coach in spite of what some fans on here continue to think), she will have discussed downplaying individual goals, or whatever, for the good of the team and the hope of winning a NC. UCLA has the talent - I still think UConn is the best team in the country next season - but it seems to be a good decision on both sides.

 

[nwhoopfan]

If Oliver is smart

Well...she hasn't been the coach there for a long time. Close on the other hand....

 

[BobbyJ]

I'm a little bit on the fence cuz I really like Jaquez. I'm not sure if u can bench Ledger-Walker. And I just think there were a lot of other schools she would be more of a difference maker. But I really like Kneepkens. And UCLA once again probably has the most talent or close to it from a rotation perspective.

1) Jacquez is a nice player for the Big 18 but has minimal impact against Top 5-10 competition like UConn etc.
2) Leger-Walker is another good conference level player but nothing special as a career 38%/30% shooter with 3 APG. But another competent perimeter kid to get the ball to Betts and an upgrade over Jones.
3) UCLA may have the most talent in the Big 18 but not in the country IMO.

 

[BruinGold]

I was just thinking...Leger-Walker and Kneepkens were both alphas with their previous team. Is Rice gonna be the unquestioned leader in the back court? Who's team will this be? I guess a good problem to have, but definitely some things to be figured out as far as roles and leadership.

This is a very good question. Rice gets a ton of credit as the "locker room" leader, but she is quiet on the court, and really has never lived up to her potential in tough games. Leger-Walker is, by all accounts, the team "mom" and may assume that role on the court. Kneepkens may assert herself, or may enjoy not having all the pressure on her own head.

 

[nwhoopfan]

2) Leger-Walker is another good conference level player but nothing special as a career 38%/30% shooter with 3 APG. But another competent perimeter kid to get the ball to Betts and an upgrade over Jones.

Looking at stats doesn't remotely reveal Leger-Walker's impact on a team. Those Washington St. teams didn't have a whole lot of talent, but she made them relevant. I agree she's never been a very efficient scorer, but that's missing the point with her.

 

[cancontent]

I was just thinking...Leger-Walker and Kneepkens were both alphas with their previous team. Is Rice gonna be the unquestioned leader in the back court? Who's team will this be? I guess a good problem to have, but definitely some things to be figured out as far as roles and leadership.

Great points and questions. I also find it ironic that Coach Close now has two players she had to coach against being key pieces of her offence next season.

 

[BobbyJ]

Looking at stats doesn't remotely reveal Leger-Walker's impact on a team. Those Washington St. teams didn't have a whole lot of talent, but she made them relevant. I agree she's never been a very efficient scorer, but that's missing the point with her.

I realize this and I'm not a stats reliant person. UCLA needs at least one other impact scorer that can get them 20 a game against Top5 teams to support what Betts gives them. CLW's leadership and scoring will be fine during conference play but the NC tournament is where they'll need that big impact and those shooting stats indicate not much more than they get from Rice and Jacquez. We'll see if she can provide it when top teams are able to minimize Betts' damage.

 

[BruinGold]

Great points and questions. I also find it ironic that Coach Close now has two players she had to coach against being key pieces of her offence next season.

Close is well-known for being very nice to opposing players (I remember Haley Jones mentioning that on her podcast, among others), and definitely uses her time at UCLA, and as an international coach, to scout players. She presents herself as someone who would be "nice" to play for.

 

[BruinGold]

I realize this and I'm not a stats reliant person. UCLA needs at least one other impact scorer that can get them 20 a game against Top5 teams to support what Betts gives them. CLW's leadership and scoring will be fine during conference play but the NC tournament is where they'll need that big impact and those shooting stats indicate not much more than they get from Rice and Jacquez. We'll see if she can provide it when top teams are able to minimize Betts' damage.

Um... Kneepkens?

 

[oldude]

I think they'll be fine this time around, for two reasons:

(1) They won't be first timers (they admitted that they were just "happy to be there").

(2) UConn won't have Paige. She's not replaceable in a year's time.

Kiki Rice being healthy (potentially) could be a third reason, but I'll have to think about that one.

Everybody continues to focus on Paige not being around next season, and she will certainly be missed. But the 2 players most responsible for the beat down of UCLA in the national semifinals were Sarah and Azzi who will be back. Furthermore, Sarah will be a strong (pun intended) contender for NPOY next season. Finally, with all due respect to Cori Close, Geno’s coaching is worth an extra 10 points or so in a FF game.

 

[Crossover]

If Close is smart, and I think she is (and a darn good coach in spite of what some fans on here continue to think), she will have discussed downplaying individual goals, or whatever, for the good of the team and the hope of winning a NC. UCLA has the talent - I still think UConn is the best team in the country next season - but it seems to be a good decision on both sides.

Of course Close has discussed downplaying individual goals. Every coach everywhere does. But it is obvious that not every player and not every team takes the admonition to heart.

 

[BobbyJ]

Um... Kneepkens?

Sure, maybe? I'm sure that's why Close went after her hard. She knew that's what she needed and probably didn't think she had enough yet in her current roster.

 

[YoDore]

Another swing and miss for Vandy. I'm not sure she ever even showed up for her scheduled visit. It was previously reported she would visit VT and Vanderbilt this week. Feeling pretty discouraged at this point. Add to this the fact that McKenna Woliczko is set to visit tomorrow and Saturday when arguably the team's best four players and biggest personalities will be playing in a 3x3 tourney in Arizona and campus will be pretty much dead because final exams wrap up today.

I've decided this calls for some delusional thinking. Maybe Heckel has committed and coach Ralph had to cancel Daley's visit. Yeah, that's it. All's well.

 

[jdote33]

1) Jacquez is a nice player for the Big 18 but has minimal impact against Top 5-10 competition like UConn etc.
2) Leger-Walker is another good conference level player but nothing special as a career 38%/30% shooter with 3 APG. But another competent perimeter kid to get the ball to Betts and an upgrade over Jones.
3) UCLA may have the most talent in the Big 18 but not in the country IMO.

Interesting points. This is my whole tension with the arms race that is the transfer portal. Some times these programs stack talent, and imo limit the growth of their current players. I actually think Jacquez at her best can be an impact player vs any team. She had 18 in the elite 8 against LSU. She's a natural scorer imo, but the team is built to play through Betts and be balanced (not a bad thing just partially explains her limited numbers despite her efficiency). I feel like the whole team kinda struggled against UConn. As far as the second point CLW did make history at her former school when she lead Wash State to winning the pac 12 conference tournament, when the pac 12 was super stacked. She had Shania Twain singing her praises jk. I hear the inefficiency, critique, I just think she's special. I'm a UConn fan and I'm just saying if she comes back a better shooter, imo her alone made ucla scarier. Lastly, just wondering , who in your opinion is the most talented team in the country. I think I mentioned rotation because I like to look at the top 8. Most teams struggle playing 10, if you play 6 or 7 you probably lack depth. So I always wonder about a teams best 8 or 9 players. Just my random thought process. Anyhow Ucla has Betts, baby Betts, Dugalic, Gardener, Kneepkens, Jacques, CLW, Kiki Rice. I think Betts, Kneepkens, and Rice are all top 10 in the country at their respective positions.

 

[ERWUC65]

I've decided this calls for some delusional thinking. Maybe Heckel has committed and coach Ralph had to cancel Daley's visit. Yeah, that's it. All's well.

No so delusional. Heckel and Blakes would be the dynamic duo. Since Heckel has not declared and after a lengthy discussion with Geno about PT, he might have talked to Shea about her going to Vandy. Better there than a traditional foe.

 

[Bone Dog]

I like Kneepkens at UCLA. It's a good choice for her. UCLA still lacks that one go-to player who can carry the team in the toughest games. It could be Betts, though it's a difficult role for a non-ball handling big, since they depend on someone else to get them the ball. Kiki is not that player, nor is Gardiner or Dugalic. I had hoped it would be Jaquez, but that seems not to have developed. I don't see Leger-Walker doing it. Will Kneepkens take on that role? That would be a game-changer for UCLA's hopes.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Everybody continues to focus on Paige not being around next season, and she will certainly be missed. But the 2 players most responsible for the beat down of UCLA in the national semifinals were Sarah and Azzi who will be back. Furthermore, Sarah will be a strong (pun intended) contender for NPOY next season. Finally, with all due respect to Cori Close, Geno’s coaching is worth an extra 10 points or so in a FF game.

I get that. However, Paige's impact is being significantly downplayed. Who was the first team AA/Wade Trophy winner in 2025 that was at the top of the scouting report? It wasn't Kaitlyn Chen. It wasn't even Sarah (or Azzi).

Sarah Strong being a contender for NPOY in 25-26 doesn't mean that she didn't benefit from Paige's on-court presence in 24-25. I don't doubt that she will be a strong (no pun intended) contender for NPOY along with Betts (who would be my preseason pick) and maybe Latson, but she will also be in the same position that Paige was in this season--the top of the scouting report.

UCLA got steamrolled by UConn last season. We all saw it. However, that doesn't mean they'd get steamrolled again if they were to meet this upcoming season. Each season takes on its own identity, and I'd bet that UCLA won't look at what happened against UConn last season, throw up their arms, and declare, "what's the point of trying? We're just going to lose since we lost to them in 24-25". Best believe that having the bullseye on your back will bring out the best in everyone else.

 

[YoDore]

No so delusional. Heckel and Blakes would be the dynamic duo. Since Heckel has not declared and after a lengthy discussion with Geno about PT, he might have talked to Shea about her going to Vandy. Better there than a traditional foe.

Heckel visited Vandy last week before going to Notre Dame, Michigan State and UConn. I'm assuming UConn is a done deal. Thus the delusional scenario I posted above.

 

[Bone Dog]

Heckel played 16+ mins/game at USC. If she wants more PT, she's going to be disappointed at UConn, at least in her first year. If that's not what made her leave USC, then what is it she might want?

 

[ERWUC65]

Heckel played 16+ mins/game at USC. If she wants more PT, she's going to be disappointed at UConn, at least in her first year. If that's not what made her leave USC, then what is it she might want?

Better coaching, closer to home, all possibilities but for a dynamic personality like Kaleigh, first and foremost it would have to be PT. Realistically she would be a nice to have at UConn, but she has to see the competition at guard, both now and who it might be from the commits in '26 and '27. I could see her at Vandy with Blakes (Batman and Robin) where she get the coaching and PT and only be a short plane ride from home. I also see Geno advising her, perhaps even in a discussion with Shea, about her options. And, should getting a good education be a criteria, Vanderbilt is certainly one of the best.

 

[uconnbill]

Heckel played 16+ mins/game at USC. If she wants more PT, she's going to be disappointed at UConn, at least in her first year. If that's not what made her leave USC, then what is it she might want?

You have no idea nor do any of us. She is a gritty player who has a lot of talent. She would be welcomed here