Aaliyah Chavez praises OU basketball on top recruit's visit during March Madness
NORMAN — A line of children formed to meet Aaliyah Chavez soon after the final buzzer echoed throughout Lloyd Noble Center.
Chavez, ranked by 247Sports as the top women's college basketball recruit in the 2025 class, was in attendance for OU's 81-58 win over Florida Gulf Coast in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon.
Sooners fans clamored for photos and autographs from the five-star guard, who was attending her first-ever OU women's basketball game.
“They have a great community here," Chavez said. "I wanted to just make sure I got to come and watch a live game because obviously OU is one of my top choices. I needed to see the fan base myself and but it was a really great experience today."
Chavez, along with her family, made the five-hour, 340-mile trip from her hometown of Lubbock, Texas, where she currently attends Monterey High School.
She was recently named Texas Girls Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 34.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.7 steals per game as a senior. The 5-foot-9 guard led Monterey to a 37-5 record en route to winning a Class 5A D2 state championship earlier this month.
OU turned up the charm to impress Chavez.
High-profile figures such as school president Joe Harroz, athletic director Joe Castiglione and athletes from various sports all made sure to approach Chavez with words of encouragement and support.
"Me and Coach Jennie (Baranczyk) definitely have a good relationship," Chavez said. "I also know some of the players because I played against them, so it was a great experience just meeting them and just the connection that we kind of had."
Chavez is set to announce her collegiate decision on Tuesday.
She has received nearly 30 offers from top programs, with OU and Texas emerging as the clear frontrunners in her recruitment.
As she looked on from section 107, Chavez was highly impressed by OU's 23-point win over FGCU on Saturday afternoon.
"They play very fast — and I like that — because I'm a fast player," Chavez said. "So that's great for me. They shoot a lot of shots and I like to shoot. So just talking to go to Coach Jennie, it's definitely something that we were looking forward to."
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Aaliyah Chavez praises OU women's basketball on recruiting visit
| 2d 8:21 PM ET ago |
-
Aaliyah Chavez, No. 1-ranked women's college basketball recruit, commits to Oklahoma
Aaliyah Chavez, the top ranked women's college basketball player in the nation, announced her college commitment Tuesday on ESPN's "SportsCenter."Yahoo Sports - 42m -
No. 1 women's basketball recruit Aaliyah Chavez to make college choice Tuesday on ESPN
The No. 1 women's college basketball recruit Aaliyah Chavez will make her college choice Texas and OU on Tuesday, live on ESPN.Yahoo Sports - 19h -
Chavez, top HS hoops recruit, to join OU women
Aaliyah Chavez, the No. 1 girls high school basketball recruit in the nation, is headed to Oklahoma.ESPN - 38m -
Hoops: Sooners land 2025 top overall recruit Aaliyah Chavez
On Monday, the Sooners beat Iowa and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in over a decade. Nearly 24 hours later, the Sooners landed the top overall recruit in the 2025 class. Aaliyah ...Yahoo Sports - 1h -
Aaliyah Chavez decision: Texas misses out to Oklahoma for nation's top basketball recruit
Aaliyah Chavez is a 5-foot-11 guard out of Lubbock who is rated by ESPN HoopGurlz as the No. 1 prep recruit in the Class of 2025.Yahoo Sports - 1h -
No. 1 women's basketball recruit Aaliyah Chavez picks Oklahoma over Texas
It came down to Texas and Oklahoma, but in the end No. 1 women's basketball recruit Aaliyah Chavez chose to take her talents to Norman.Yahoo Sports - 39m -
Aaliyah Chavez wins 2024-25 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year
Aaliyah Chavez, nation's top 2025 recruit, named 2024-25 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Aaliyah Chavez, No. 1 women's basketball recruit in class of 2025, has finalists ahead of March 25 commitment
Aaliyah Chavez will announce her commitment on Tuesday. The Lubbock native will choose between a list of six finalists, per her fatherCBS Sports - 1d -
Aaliyah Chavez, 'instant-impact' No. 1 women's basketball recruit in 2025 class, commits to Oklahoma Sooners
Chavez was down to her top six schools before making her announcement on TuesdayCBS Sports - 1h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Colby Covington: UFC 315 headliners Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena 'don't draw flies to sh*t'
Colby Covington sees Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena doing low numbers at UFC 315. Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) defends his welterweight title against Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Caitlin Clark sends message to JuJu Watkins after USC star's season-ending injury
JuJu Watkins received some support from Caitlin Clark on Tuesday after suffering a season-ending injury in the women's NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
St. Francis (PA) is moving from Division I to Division III in 2026
The first run to the NCAA Division I basketball tournament in more than 30 years by Saint Francis (Pa.) could also be its last. The school announced Tuesday it would move from Division I to ...Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Competition Committee is expected to propose moving kickoff touchbacks to the 35
The NFL's Competition Committee is likely to propose moving the spot of the touchback on kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Jayson Tatum injury update: Latest news on Boston Celtics star's status
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum suffered an ankle injury against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night. Here is what we know about his injury.Yahoo Sports - 22m
More in Sports
-
WNBA mock draft: Where does USC's Iriafen land after No. 1 Bueckers?
Azzi Fudd is returning to UConn, but Kiki Iriafen, Hailey Van Lith and Georgia Amoore have upped their stock ahead of April's WNBA draft.ESPN - 11m -
Chavez's unlikely route to top girls basketball prospect
The sought-after point guard reflects on a late start but quick rise in the game.ESPN - 12m -
Colby Covington: UFC 315 headliners Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena 'don't draw flies to sh*t'
Colby Covington sees Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena doing low numbers at UFC 315. Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) defends his welterweight title against Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Caitlin Clark sends message to JuJu Watkins after USC star's season-ending injury
JuJu Watkins received some support from Caitlin Clark on Tuesday after suffering a season-ending injury in the women's NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
St. Francis (PA) is moving from Division I to Division III in 2026
The first run to the NCAA Division I basketball tournament in more than 30 years by Saint Francis (Pa.) could also be its last. The school announced Tuesday it would move from Division I to ...Yahoo Sports - 18m