Kennedy Basham, bluechip recruit and 6-foot-7 post, commits to Oregon Ducks over Arizona, Louisville, UCLA, others

6-foot-7 post Kennedy Basham poses in an Oregon Ducks uniform during her visit to campus. (Courtesy of Kennedy Basham)
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When 6-foot-7 post Kennedy Basham took a trip to Eugene to check out the University of Oregon this summer, she almost immediately felt a connection to the program.

But having met just three potential future teammates during her stay, she decided to make a return trip to meet the entire team before rushing to a college commitment.

Basham took that unofficial visit the first weekend of September and was pleasantly surprised to learn the entire women’s basketball team was planning to attend the Oregon-Fresno State football game together.

“I decided to go back for a football game,” she said. “I went for the first home football game. All of the girls went to a tailgate and we all went to the game together. I feel like when girls are all that close off the basketball court, it’s a big advantage on the court when they feel like family, feel like your sisters. It just makes the team that much better.”

That experienced sealed her bond with the program, and Monday afternoon she committed to Oregon over fellow finalists Arizona, Arizona State, Duke, Louisville and UCLA:

While the talented post was thrilled by the closeness of the Oregon players, she was equally enamored with the tight-knit coaching staff, led by coach Kelly Graves.

“I’m for sure super close with all of the coaches, but I have the strongest relationship with Kelly (Graves),” she said. “It’s really strong.”

Basham, who just missed the cut for Team USA’s U-16 last year, is rated the nation’s No. 44 overall prospect and No. 6 post.

She joins a recruiting class that already consists of five-star point guard Chance Gray, the second highest-rated pledge in program history (No. 7 overall), and elite wing Jennah Isai (No. 35 overall), who has been recruiting Basham since her commitment.

“We’re really close friends and are from the same town in Arizona,” Basham said. “I think she’ll be pretty excited that I’m coming to Oregon. She’s been recruiting me to come play.”

Both Isai and Basham live in Arizona and have played on various teams together growing up.

All three of Oregon’s current pledges project to be five-star prospects on ESPN by Signing Day, as the site drops its five-star cut list to 52 on the final version of its rankings.

-- Andrew Nemec | anemec@oregonian.com | @AndrewNemec

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