Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach Muffet McGraw was pleased to announce she received five National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2020-21 season. Bolstering the Fighting Irish lineup next fall will be Amirah Abdur-Rahim, Alli Campbell, Alasia Hayes, Natalija Marshall and Maddy Westbeld.
Together the five future Irish comprise the No. 3 ranked recruiting class, according to ESPN. It not only marks the highest recruiting ranking for the Irish in Coach’s McGraw tenure, but also ties the most commits as well.
In addition, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced those student-athletes on the 2020 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Girls High School Trophy Watch List. Campbell, Marshall and Westbeld were all recognized as top-50 player of the year candidates.
A 6-2 forward hailing from Marietta, Georgia. Abdur-Rahim attends St. Francis high school, where she averaged 12.8 points as a junior on 67 percent shooting in an injury shortened season. Before the injury, Abdur-Rahim was listed in the espnW HoopGurlz Super 60 for the 2020 class.
In 26 games over her sophomore season, Abdur-Rahim supplied 9.5 ppg on 55 percent shooting to go along with her 3.9 rebounds per game. She helped lead the Knights to a 26-5 record, reaching the semifinals of the 2018 GHSA State Tournament.
Abdur-Rahim also competed on the track team where she ran the 200, 400 and 800 meter relays, along with competing in the high jump and triple jump. She is the 11th of 13 children, with her brother Shareef taking his game all the way to the NBA.
“Adding a great defender in Amirah. She’s someone who can block shots and guard anybody on the floor, from point guard to center. She’ll help us in the press as well. She can run the floor and help us in transition. She’s also a three-point threat. We don’t have anyone like her.” – Coach McGraw
“She’s an athletic interior performer who brings a soft touch in the key. She’s quick in the paint, active on the glass and boasts superb mobility in an up-tempo game.”- Dan Olson of Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
A 5-11 shooting guard from Altoona, Pennsylvania, Campbell ranks 25th overall in her class and seventh at her position. Campbell attends Bellwood-Antis High where she has won two state championships with the Blue Devils, compiling an 80-11 record. She enters her senior year with 2,217 points and is currently on track to become the all-time leading scorer in Blair County history.
Campbell was the 2019 USA Today Pennsylvania Player of the Year along with 2019 Miss Pennsylvania Basketball. Just a year prior she was dubbed the 2018 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year. In her freshman season in 2017, she garnered Second Team 2A All-State honors. Campbell has also competed with the Philly Belles, most recently claiming the U17 Platinum title in Indianapolis.
“Alli is a great three-point shooter, which is something we are in need of. She is someone who can really score, not just from the perimeter, but also has a nice pull-up and can score around the basket. I’m really excited about her potential to stretch the defense.” – Coach McGraw
“Cerebral lead-guard handles who distributes well in the transition game. She’s a half-court manager with a combo-game. She can manufacture shots, creates off the dribble and can pull up and drain jumpers. She’s just a superb guard in the class of 2020.” – Dan Olson of Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
A 5-7 point guard from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Hayes is ranked No. 44 overall and 14th at her position. Hayes attends Riverdale High where she spearheaded the squad to the 2019 Class AAA state semifinals. Previously, she guided the Warriors to back-to-back Class AAA state titles her freshman and sophomore years.
Hayes averaged 13.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a junior, leading to USA Today Second Team All-Tennessee honors along with TSWA Class AAA All-State accolades.
“With Marta graduating, we have a need at the point guard position and we believe Alasia will be able to help fill the void, while also being able to play off the ball if needed. She’s a terrific defender, a pass-first point guard, and a playmaker who is great at making defenders pay for their mistakes. Alasia can get in the seams and attack the basket. She can also knock down open shots from the perimeter.” – Coach McGraw
“An athletic combo-guard who makes shots, rises on mid-range jumpers and delivers in the key. She can keep the defense honest with her three-point ability. She plays uptempo and scores in bunches in the transition game. She’s also a thief on defense and converts plays from turnovers.” – Dan Olson of Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
A 6-5 forward hailing from Queens, New York, Marshall is ranked 32nd overall in the 2020 class and eighth in her position. Marshall attends Christ the King where she has compiled an impressive 70-12 record over three years, including a 24-4 mark last season on their way to a New York State Federation championship. Marshall is also a two-time New York Catholic State champion, a two-time New York City champion and a two-time CHSAA Conference champion.
Marshall averaged 13.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.1 blocks in her junior campaign, which led to First Team All-New York State recognition. Marshall has also been All-New York City for three years running. Lastly, Marshall has also played on the Nike EYBL circuit with Exodus NYC.
“We are in desperate need of post players right now and Nat is a perfect fit for everything we do. She can run the floor, she can score with ease, she can defend and block shots, so she’ll help us in the press. We are really excited about gaining such a high quality post player.” – Coach McGraw
“An agile interior performer who brings a feathery touch in the paint with an emerging face-up game. She’s quick in the block and can alter shots defensively. She’s superb in the transition game – can really initiate the fast break.” – Dan Olson of Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
Up next is an all-too familiar last name to Irish fans in Maddy Westbeld, the younger sister to 2018 national champion Kathryn Westbeld. A 6-2 forward from Kettering, Ohio, Westbeld is the highest ranked recruit in the class, checking in at No. 23 overall and fifth at her position.
Westbeld attends Fairmont High, where she averaged 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds as a junior and 11.3 points and 11.1 boards as a sophomore. Last season, Westbeld led her squad in scoring, rebounds, assists, assists/turnover ratio, blocks and free-throw percentage. In addition, she also toppled her sister’s rebounding record for most in a game with 28, along with setting the Journey to the Tourney scoring record with 34 points.
For her play, Westbeld earned 2019 OPSWA Division I All-State Honorable Mention. Earlier in her prep career, Westbeld reeled in the following hardware: South West District Underclassmen Player of the Year, All-Greater Western Ohio Conference and All-Ohio.
“I think Maddy Westbeld is a Larry Bird type of player. She’s a 6-3 guard who can shoot, pass, rebound, take the ball off the rim and go coast-to-coast. She’s underrated from the national scouting services. She’s going to be a huge impact player for us.” – Coach McGraw
“I thought I was obsessed with basketball, but she takes it to another level. I’ve never seen someone who has the will to be the best she can be more than her.” – Kathryn Westbeld
“A skilled front court prospect who manufactures shots with deceptive quickness off the dribble. She’s physical to the rim and agile in an up-tempo game. She’s an elite front court jump shooter.” – Dan Olson of Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
