DePaul University Athletics
Women’s Basketball Dreaming Big on National Signing Day
11/11/2020 8:03:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
DePaul welcomes a trio of talented forwards to enhance guard-oriented attack
CHICAGO – DePaul's new athletic director Dwayne Peevy came to Lincoln Park with a simple but powerful mandate.
Dream Big.
That's exactly what coach Doug Bruno and his women's basketball program did on Wednesday during National Letter of Intent signing day as the guard-heavy Blue Demons welcomed a trio of talented forwards--sisters Aneesah and Nazlah Morrow and top West Virginia prospect 6-foot, 3-inch Kaitlyn Ammons.
Leading the way is one of the most promising recruits in recent years, 6-1 Aneesah Morrow who led Simeon to a 35-2 record and the girls basketball program's first state championship (Class 3A) last season.
Morrow averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks a game for the Public League champion and was an All-State First Team selection by the Associated Press, Champaign News-Gazette and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
After she eclipsed the 1,000-point career mark as a junior, MaxPreps ranked her as the No. 1 recruit in the state and No. 20 in the nation. Prospects Nation listed her at No. 45.
"The reason why I chose DePaul was because of its family atmosphere, winning tradition, great academics and being close to home," said Aneesah Morrow who hails from a total basketball family. Along with Nazlah, her brother Ed Morrow played at Marquette and sister Khalilah Morrow played at Harris-Stowe State University. Her mother Nafeesah and father Edward Morrow both played at Nebraska with mom averaging 20.2 points and 10.1 rebounds as a senior.
"Aneesah is a force inside who also brings great court vision, excellent overall guard skills and the propensity to knock down the three," said DePaul coach Doug Bruno. "The guard skills, vision and versatility will allow her to play all five positions on the floor."
And often alongside older sister Nazlah who is a sophomore at Miami Dade College and will join the Blue Demons after graduating from the junior college.
She is a 5-11 forward who led the Sharks to the semifinals of the state tournament last season averaging 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds a game. Nazlah was an All-Southern Conference First Team honoree and also selected to the NJCAA Top 50 All-Star Basketball Team.
The state tournament all-star continued her high-level academic prowess being named to the FSCAA All-Academic Team. In high school, she teamed with her younger sister to capture the 2018 Public League crown and was a city runner-up in 2019. She was in the top five academically of her graduating class.
"I am excited to come home to Chicago and play alongside my sister in a traditionally winning basketball program at DePaul," Nazlah said.
Bruno added: "Nazlah and Kaitlyn are both strong rebounding, interior post-up players with the versatility to also knock down the three-ball."
Ammons was a consensus All-State selection who averaged 16 points and nine rebounds in leading Morgantown High School to the state tournament. She was invited to the Team USA U16 trials in 2016 and is rated the No. 1 prospect in West Virginia by the World Exposure Report and a top 100 recruit nationally.
In addition, Ammons was recognized as the WBOY-TV Player of the Week last season and named to the West Virginia Sports News All Class First Team.
She comes from an athletic extended family as her cousin Nate Ammons plays football at the University of Charleston and another cousin Abbey Ammons plays softball at Fairmont State.
"I fell in love with DePaul," Ammons told West Virginia's MetroNews after making her commitment. "I literally did not want to leave on the last day of my visit (last fall). I was there for a weekend and told my parents, 'I don't want to go home'."
"I am so excited. I can't wait to put on a DePaul jersey. The feelings I am having right now are overwhelming. I have known I was going to commit all week and I have been itching to tell people. I couldn't wait.
"Coach Bruno was calling me multiple times every week. He was very involved and that is hard to find at a lot of schools. That was one of the main points why they seemed like the best fit."
Bruno appears to be infused with an early dose of holiday spirit.
"Tis the signing season of 'The Forward,'" he said. "We are very excited to welcome three excellent frontcourt players. Kaitlyn Ammons, Aneesah Morrow and Nazlah Morrow will all bring much needed frontline help to our 'DePaulBall' program.
"All three recruits come from winning high school and travel team programs. Kaitlyn led her Morgantown prep team coached by Jason White to the West Virginia state finals. Nazlah's Miami Dade Community College team has a longstanding tradition of success under legendary coach Susan Summons.
"Aneesah led coach Johnny Davenport's Simeon powerhouse to the school's first state championship last March and finished third in the Ms. Basketball competition as a junior with DePaul freshman Darrione Rogers (Lake Park West) coming in second.
"In addition to having great high school careers, all three signees were also standouts on the national travel circuit. Kaitlyn competed for the Philly Belles coached by Andrea Peterson while the Morrow sisters both played for Toi Baylor and her Baylor basketball program."
Dream Big.
That's exactly what coach Doug Bruno and his women's basketball program did on Wednesday during National Letter of Intent signing day as the guard-heavy Blue Demons welcomed a trio of talented forwards--sisters Aneesah and Nazlah Morrow and top West Virginia prospect 6-foot, 3-inch Kaitlyn Ammons.
Leading the way is one of the most promising recruits in recent years, 6-1 Aneesah Morrow who led Simeon to a 35-2 record and the girls basketball program's first state championship (Class 3A) last season.
Morrow averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks a game for the Public League champion and was an All-State First Team selection by the Associated Press, Champaign News-Gazette and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
After she eclipsed the 1,000-point career mark as a junior, MaxPreps ranked her as the No. 1 recruit in the state and No. 20 in the nation. Prospects Nation listed her at No. 45.
"The reason why I chose DePaul was because of its family atmosphere, winning tradition, great academics and being close to home," said Aneesah Morrow who hails from a total basketball family. Along with Nazlah, her brother Ed Morrow played at Marquette and sister Khalilah Morrow played at Harris-Stowe State University. Her mother Nafeesah and father Edward Morrow both played at Nebraska with mom averaging 20.2 points and 10.1 rebounds as a senior.
"Aneesah is a force inside who also brings great court vision, excellent overall guard skills and the propensity to knock down the three," said DePaul coach Doug Bruno. "The guard skills, vision and versatility will allow her to play all five positions on the floor."
And often alongside older sister Nazlah who is a sophomore at Miami Dade College and will join the Blue Demons after graduating from the junior college.
She is a 5-11 forward who led the Sharks to the semifinals of the state tournament last season averaging 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds a game. Nazlah was an All-Southern Conference First Team honoree and also selected to the NJCAA Top 50 All-Star Basketball Team.
The state tournament all-star continued her high-level academic prowess being named to the FSCAA All-Academic Team. In high school, she teamed with her younger sister to capture the 2018 Public League crown and was a city runner-up in 2019. She was in the top five academically of her graduating class.
"I am excited to come home to Chicago and play alongside my sister in a traditionally winning basketball program at DePaul," Nazlah said.
Bruno added: "Nazlah and Kaitlyn are both strong rebounding, interior post-up players with the versatility to also knock down the three-ball."
Ammons was a consensus All-State selection who averaged 16 points and nine rebounds in leading Morgantown High School to the state tournament. She was invited to the Team USA U16 trials in 2016 and is rated the No. 1 prospect in West Virginia by the World Exposure Report and a top 100 recruit nationally.
In addition, Ammons was recognized as the WBOY-TV Player of the Week last season and named to the West Virginia Sports News All Class First Team.
She comes from an athletic extended family as her cousin Nate Ammons plays football at the University of Charleston and another cousin Abbey Ammons plays softball at Fairmont State.
"I fell in love with DePaul," Ammons told West Virginia's MetroNews after making her commitment. "I literally did not want to leave on the last day of my visit (last fall). I was there for a weekend and told my parents, 'I don't want to go home'."
"I am so excited. I can't wait to put on a DePaul jersey. The feelings I am having right now are overwhelming. I have known I was going to commit all week and I have been itching to tell people. I couldn't wait.
"Coach Bruno was calling me multiple times every week. He was very involved and that is hard to find at a lot of schools. That was one of the main points why they seemed like the best fit."
Bruno appears to be infused with an early dose of holiday spirit.
"Tis the signing season of 'The Forward,'" he said. "We are very excited to welcome three excellent frontcourt players. Kaitlyn Ammons, Aneesah Morrow and Nazlah Morrow will all bring much needed frontline help to our 'DePaulBall' program.
"All three recruits come from winning high school and travel team programs. Kaitlyn led her Morgantown prep team coached by Jason White to the West Virginia state finals. Nazlah's Miami Dade Community College team has a longstanding tradition of success under legendary coach Susan Summons.
"Aneesah led coach Johnny Davenport's Simeon powerhouse to the school's first state championship last March and finished third in the Ms. Basketball competition as a junior with DePaul freshman Darrione Rogers (Lake Park West) coming in second.
"In addition to having great high school careers, all three signees were also standouts on the national travel circuit. Kaitlyn competed for the Philly Belles coached by Andrea Peterson while the Morrow sisters both played for Toi Baylor and her Baylor basketball program."
Players Mentioned
G
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLFriday, March 06
Monday, March 02
Thursday, February 26
Thursday, February 26