STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford's Setsuko Ishiyama Director of Women's Basketball Tara VanDerveer announced the signings of three highly-touted prep standouts to National Letters of Intent on Thursday. Shay Ijiwoye (Phoenix, Ariz. Desert Vista), Harper Peterson (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney) and Kennedy Umeh (Columbia, Md./McDonogh School) will join the Cardinal ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
"We're excited to be able to welcome these young women to Stanford," VanDerveer said. "Shay, Harper and Kennedy are fabulous additions to our program who not only complement each other, but their varied skill sets fit in extremely well with the class ahead of them. They're hard-working, talented players and exceptional students with high character who will be a natural fit on The Farm. We cannot wait to have them with us next season and to aid in their growth and development over their four years."
The three are strong additions to a program which has won three national championships, been to 35 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, advanced to the Final Four in nine of the past 15 postseasons and the Elite Eight in 14 of the past 19, won at least 20 games for 22 straight years and claimed a combined 41 Pac-12 regular season and conference tournament championships.
Shay Ijiwoye
5-6 • Phoenix, Ariz. • Desert Vista
Shay Ijiwoye, a 5-foot-6 guard, is a four-star talent and the No. 44 prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100.
The only Arizona high school player in espnW's 2024 recruiting rankings, Ijiwoye averaged 13.3 points on 73 percent shooting, 2.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game last season for Desert Vista. The Thunder went 28-3, was ranked 18th in the country, didn't' lose at home and won the state championship. It was also invited to and made a run to the semifinals at the State Champions Invitational Tournament, which features teams that win their respective state championships.
"I chose Stanford because of the incredible combination of elite academics and championship basketball," Ijiwoye said of her choice. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be challenged in the classroom and to learn under a Hall of Fame head coach and elite coaching staff."
In mid-September, Ijiwoye was one of two Arizona high school basketball players invited to play at New York's Holcombe Rucker Park in Rucker Park's 4 Tha Culture Blacktop Battle Girls Tournament.
"Shay is a true point guard with all of the requisite skills required of the position," VanDerveer said. "She's strong, but crafty, can shoot, penetrate, and pass, and is a leader. We are very excited that she's coming to Stanford."
Harper Peterson
6-3 • Rocklin, Calif. • Whitney
A 6-foot-3 forward, Harper Peterson is another four-star prospect rated as the No. 84 player nationally.
During her three-year prep career at Whitney, she has appeared in 65 games, averaging 13.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
As a junior in 2022-23, Peterson averaged 13.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals in helping lead her team to a 19-12 record and Division II CIF State Girls Basketball Championship. A year prior she averaged 14.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists., 2.3 steals and 1.2 blocks to help the Wildcats to a 15-15 mark.
"I've wanted to go to Stanford since I was in the fifth grade because of the world-class academics, championship basketball tradition, and talented coaching staff and players," Peterson said. "I am excited to be able to continue having my family and friends support me at games."
"Harper is 6-foot-3 with a good handle and a willing and able passer," VanDerveer said. "She has a nice shot, especially from behind the arc, and is that stretch four type of player who can do so many different things for us."
Kennedy Umeh
6-4 • Columbia, Md. • McDonogh School
Another four-star talent is the 6-foot-2 Kennedy Umeh, who is the No. 40 overall player in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100.
A USA Basketball veteran, Umeh helped the United States to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary. Playing with current Cardinal Nunu Agara, she averaged 6.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 12.9 minutes over seven games, including a 10-point, 15-rebound double-double in the Round of 16 against Korea. Umeh was also one of 16 finalists for the 2021 USA Women's U16 National Team.
"As soon as I stepped onto the Stanford campus, I knew it was the place where my past, present and future would come together," Umeh said of her decision. "The relationships, opportunities, academics and athletics showed me that it was the place where I could become who I want to be."
Umeh and McDonogh have won two consecutive Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A championships, and she has twice been a Baltimore Sun All-Metro second-team selection.
Last season, she averaged 13.8 point and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor and as a sophomore she averaged 10 points and seven rebounds and led McDonogh in steals.
"Kennedy is a throwback post player," VanDerveer said. "She loves to play with her back to the basket. She's physical, powerful, and explosive, and I was impressed watching her play this summer."
