Signing Day SuccessSigning Day Success
Women's Basketball

Signing Day Success

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford's Setsuko Ishiyama Director of Women's Basketball Tara VanDerveer announced the signings of four highly-touted prep standouts to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. Elena Bosgana (Athens, Greece/American Community School of Athens), Brooke Demetre (Foothill Ranch, Calif./Mater Dei), Jzaniya Harriel (Sacramento, Calif./Antelope) and Kiki Iriafen (Porter Ranch, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) will join the Cardinal ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.
 
Stanford's class is again one of the nation's strongest, collectively rated No. 6 by espnW HoopGurlz.
 
"We are really excited about this whole class and thrilled to welcome them to Stanford," commented VanDerveer. "One key attribute we saw in all of them was speed, and we think the four of them complement each other's playing styles very well. I know that Elena, Brooke, Jzaniya and Kiki have successful futures ahead of them and we cannot wait to see them on the court at Maples!"
 
The four are strong additions to a program which has won a pair of national championships, been to 32 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, advanced to the Final Four in seven of the past 12 tournaments and the Elite Eight in 12 of the past 16, won at least 20 games for 19 straight years and claimed a combined 36 Pac-12 regular season and conference championships.

Elena Bosgana
6-2 • Athens, Greece • American Community School of AthensConsidered to be one of the best players in Europe, Elena Bosgana has experience playing for the Greek national team. She averaged 19.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists in seven games at last year's FIBA U16 European Women's Championship while being named to the All-Star team.

Bosgana becomes Stanford's first player from Europe and only the fifth from outside the United States, following the foosteps of Alanna Smith ('19), Mikaela Brewer ('20) and current players, Alyssa Jerome and Agnes Emma-Nnopu.

"Besides just the world class education and amazing life opportunities Stanford offers, I really felt an amazing connection with the coaching staff and players. The love and support I've received has been tremendous. I can't wait for the future!" said Bosgana.
 
"Really excited to welcome our first player from Europe," said VanDerveer. "Elena is a player that can attack the basket really well from the wing with a scorer's mentality, also knocking down the three. She can get up and down the court with speed and I think she will fit well into our system."

Brooke Demetre
6-3 • Foothill Ranch, Calif. • Mater DeiBrooke Demetre, a 6-3 guard, is Stanford's highest rated signee in the Class of 2021, checking in at No. 11 in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100.

A five-star prospect, Demetre averaged 12.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists and was named the John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year last year for the CIF-SS Open Division. Known as a versatile player than can finish both in the paint and behind-the-arc, Demetre led Mater Dei to the Southern Section Open Division title as a junior and was nominated for Los Angeles Player of the Year by USA Today, while being named the California Girl's Basketball Sophomore of the Year in 2019.

"Stanford has always been a dream school. I chose to go there because of the amazing academics and high level basketball it provides, and I'm counting the days til I get join the team!" said Demetre.
 
Yesterday she was named to the 50-person watch list for the 2021 Naismith Trophy Girls' High School Player of the Year.
 
"Brooke is an outstanding high post shooter," said VanDerveer. "She does everything you want at her position at the highest level and has a high basketball IQ. We love her versatility and ability to play inside-out, and her strength as a rebounder makes her someone I'm very excited to see at Stanford."

Jzaniya Harriel
5-10 • Sacramento, Calif. • AntelopeA four-star guard from Sacramento, Jzaniya Harriel has risen throughout her career as an athletic, offensive-minded threat in the backcourt. Helping to bring two section titles to Antelope High School, Harriel averaged 25.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a junior and has already eclipsed the 2,000 point mark.
 
"I'm super excited to join this prestigious program, where I know I'll be able to get the best of both worlds both athletically and academically," said Harriel.

The three-time Capital Valley Conference MVP and All-Metro Player of the Year becomes the first Sacramento-area player to sign with the Cardinal since Sara James in 2010.
  
"It's very clear that Jzaniya is someone that is passionate about the sport of basketball," said VanDerveer. "Every time I call her, she's in the gym. We love her speed and athletic scoring ability and also believe she has what it takes to be a top defender."

Kiki Iriafen
6-3 • Porter Ranch, Calif. • Harvard-WestlakeAnother California product, Kiki Iriafen is rated as the 19th-best player in the class and has proven herself as an athletic front-court performer, finishing efficiently on offense while providing a strong defensive presence in the paint. 

Only picking up basketball before high school, she opened her prep career averaging a double-double as a freshman, with over 17 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, and has never looked back, registering 23.3 points and 15 rebounds as a junior, leading Harvard-Westlake to the Mission League title and CIF Southern Section Division 1 crown. Iriafen was named the CIF Division 1 and Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year.
 
"I chose Stanford because I know I'll earn a great education that will take me anywhere in life, and I'll be a part of one of the most world-renowned basketball programs, led by amazing coaches. It truly is the best of both worlds," said Iriafen.

Iriafen is on the Naismith Trophy watch list along with Demetre.
  
"Very excited to have Kiki coming to Stanford," said VanDerveer. "She's an aggressive rebounder and scorer down low, and similar to the other three in this class, can get up and down the court really well. On defense, she's a high energy shot blocker and will be a valued addition to the team."