Prized Hoop Recruit Poffenbarger Joining UConn Women Early

STORRS, CT – Prized recruit Saylor Poffenbarger is joining the University of Connecticut women's basketball team early.

Poffenbarger has graduated from high school and has enrolled in classes at UConn head coach Geno Auriemma announced Friday.

"I know Saylor's really excited. This is an unprecedented event for us for a lot of reasons, but this is an unprecedented year," Auriemma said. "Opportunities have presented themselves that weren’t available for the past. I'm excited for Saylor and her family that they wanted to take advantage of this opportunity and I can’t wait to coach her in practice and have her as part of the team."

A Class of 2021 signee, Poffenbarger will be eligible to participate in team activities and play this season after completing a medical quarantine. She is scheduled to arrive on campus this weekend, UConn officials said.

Poffenbarger was ranked as the No. 30 recruit in her class by ESPN's HoopGurlz Rankings. She is the 13th-ranked guard in the class.

The 6-foot-2 Middletown, Md., native won gold for USA Basketball at the 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. She averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists in the tournament.

Poffenbarger was named all-state first team in 2018 and 2019. She was also tabbed the conference player of the year in 2018 and 2019.

Poffenbarger will wear No. 4 at UConn.