Bruno Welcomes Five Recruits to DePaul
11/10/2021 6:06:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Blue Demons land talented class of 2022 on National Signing Day
CHICAGO – Coach Doug Bruno and his staff welcomed five new Blue Demons to the program on Wednesday, the opening of the National Letter of Intent signing period.
With the potential of four current DePaul women's basketball players moving on at the end of the season, these five recruits provide reinforcements to help sustain a national renowned college team that has competed in 17 of the last NCAA tournaments.
"We're very excited about the class of 2022 that features three high-quality guards, a strong inside player and a versatile hybrid player," Bruno said. "All five come from big-time winning high school programs and top-notch travel teams.
"They are the kinds of players that have made DePaul a big success over the years, and all five are excellent students who value community service."
Here's a rundown on Bruno's incoming Fab Five.
Zaria Hurstron, Decatur, Ga., Norcross High School, 6-0, G-F
Led powerful Norcross program to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances and one Sweet 16. She averaged 13 points, 8.5 rebounds and two steals a game and was All-Region First Team and also Gwinnet Country Tipoff Club All-Academic. Four-time winner of Norcross student-athlete award.
Bruno: "Zaria is an exceptionally long, athletic player with developing guard skills who fits our position-less 'DePaulBall style. She plays for coach Ashley Luke Clanton who was one of our best at DePaul and coached Mother McAuley to a state runner-up finish."
Madisen Wardell, Southfield, Michigan, Edison High School, 6-1, F
Starred on a perennial Top 25 national powerhouse and three-time state champion. The four-star recruit who averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds is ranked No. 5 in the state, the No. 21 forward nationally and No. 95 overall by ESPN's HoopGurlz.
Bruno: "Madisen will strengthen our inside game and is an excellent rebounder with the skills to stretch the floor. She can get up and down the court and starred on a nationally ranked team for coach Monique Brown."
Haley Walker, Burlington, Vermont, La Lumiere High School (La Porte, Ind.), 5-9, G
This two-time MVP led La Lumiere to the NEPSAC championship in 2019 and 2020. Walker is a complete all-around talent who averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. HoopGurlz three-star recruit is rated the No. 39 point guard in the nation.
Bruno: "Haley is an exceptionally athletic guard with great explosiveness who can also knock down the three-pointer. She is a very versatile backcourt performer who played for coach Matt Marvin."
Maeve McErlane, Drexel Hill, Pa., Academy of Notre Dame High School, 5-7, G
Second-team All-State selection, All-Delaware County First Teamer and nominee for Ms. Pennsylvania Basketball averaged 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.4 steals while shooting nearly 36 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Bruno: "Maeve is a throwback point guard whose game reminds me of ex-Cleveland Cavalier star Mark Price. She is a great leader, very unselfish, can score the ball and really has a nice feel for the game. She played for a high-quality program and coach Lauren Chomer."
Tara Daye, Newark, N.J., Blair Academy, 5-10, G
Second-team All-State selection as a sophomore while playing at University High before returning to the prep basketball power Blair Academy where she played as a freshman and a junior. Ex-Bulls player Luol Deng is a Blair alumnus. Daye averaged 16.5 points and 7.6 rebounds at University. Led Blair to the 2020 State Prep A title and was the NJJIAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, class president and valedictorian.
Bruno: "Tara is a quick, athletic combo guard who is also a lockdown defender with a good intermediate game. She starred for coach Batouly Camara who played her college ball at Connecticut."
With the potential of four current DePaul women's basketball players moving on at the end of the season, these five recruits provide reinforcements to help sustain a national renowned college team that has competed in 17 of the last NCAA tournaments.
"We're very excited about the class of 2022 that features three high-quality guards, a strong inside player and a versatile hybrid player," Bruno said. "All five come from big-time winning high school programs and top-notch travel teams.
"They are the kinds of players that have made DePaul a big success over the years, and all five are excellent students who value community service."
Here's a rundown on Bruno's incoming Fab Five.
Zaria Hurstron, Decatur, Ga., Norcross High School, 6-0, G-F
Led powerful Norcross program to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances and one Sweet 16. She averaged 13 points, 8.5 rebounds and two steals a game and was All-Region First Team and also Gwinnet Country Tipoff Club All-Academic. Four-time winner of Norcross student-athlete award.
Bruno: "Zaria is an exceptionally long, athletic player with developing guard skills who fits our position-less 'DePaulBall style. She plays for coach Ashley Luke Clanton who was one of our best at DePaul and coached Mother McAuley to a state runner-up finish."
Madisen Wardell, Southfield, Michigan, Edison High School, 6-1, F
Starred on a perennial Top 25 national powerhouse and three-time state champion. The four-star recruit who averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds is ranked No. 5 in the state, the No. 21 forward nationally and No. 95 overall by ESPN's HoopGurlz.
Bruno: "Madisen will strengthen our inside game and is an excellent rebounder with the skills to stretch the floor. She can get up and down the court and starred on a nationally ranked team for coach Monique Brown."
Haley Walker, Burlington, Vermont, La Lumiere High School (La Porte, Ind.), 5-9, G
This two-time MVP led La Lumiere to the NEPSAC championship in 2019 and 2020. Walker is a complete all-around talent who averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. HoopGurlz three-star recruit is rated the No. 39 point guard in the nation.
Bruno: "Haley is an exceptionally athletic guard with great explosiveness who can also knock down the three-pointer. She is a very versatile backcourt performer who played for coach Matt Marvin."
Maeve McErlane, Drexel Hill, Pa., Academy of Notre Dame High School, 5-7, G
Second-team All-State selection, All-Delaware County First Teamer and nominee for Ms. Pennsylvania Basketball averaged 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.4 steals while shooting nearly 36 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Bruno: "Maeve is a throwback point guard whose game reminds me of ex-Cleveland Cavalier star Mark Price. She is a great leader, very unselfish, can score the ball and really has a nice feel for the game. She played for a high-quality program and coach Lauren Chomer."
Tara Daye, Newark, N.J., Blair Academy, 5-10, G
Second-team All-State selection as a sophomore while playing at University High before returning to the prep basketball power Blair Academy where she played as a freshman and a junior. Ex-Bulls player Luol Deng is a Blair alumnus. Daye averaged 16.5 points and 7.6 rebounds at University. Led Blair to the 2020 State Prep A title and was the NJJIAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, class president and valedictorian.
Bruno: "Tara is a quick, athletic combo guard who is also a lockdown defender with a good intermediate game. She starred for coach Batouly Camara who played her college ball at Connecticut."
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