Top recruit Sarah Strong commits to UConn

The morning after a heartbreaking loss to Iowa at the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, UConn received some very good news.

Sarah Strong, a 6-foot-2 forward from North Carolina, announced her commitment to coach Geno Auriemma and the Huskies on Saturday. She was named the Naismith High School Player of the Year, selected as a McDonald's All-American and is ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the Class of 2024.

Strong also considered home-state programs Duke and North Carolina but opened her jacket to reveal a Huskies shirt as her choice, surrounded by teammates.

"I want to definitely get better and just grow as a person off the court, and I really want to be coached by (Auriemma)," Strong told ESPN.

She is the third No. 1 overall prospect to choose UConn in the past five seasons. One of them was star Paige Bueckers, who will return for the 2024-25 season.

Strong joins Allie Ziebell (No. 4 overall) and Morgan Cheli (No. 18) in a loaded recruiting class for UConn.

Strong's school, Grace Christian High School in Sanford, won its third consecutive North Carolina state championship after going undefeated in 2023-24. She averaged 21 points, 16.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.