Who is Aaliyah Chavez? Top-ranked women’s basketball recruit with six-school shortlist
Top 2025 women’s basketball recruit Aaliyah Chavez has narrowed her college choices down to six after the 5-foot-11 point guard was called the best player an opposing coach ever saw.
Aaliyah Chavez, the crown jewel of the Class of 2025 in women’s basketball, has narrowed down the focus on a long list of prospective colleges to just six.
The coveted recruit, known for her electrifying play and court vision, is considering offers from Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, UCLA, South Carolina, and LSU. The college basketball world is buzzing as these top-tier programs vie for the chance to land the 5-foot-11 Lubbock, Texas, native point guard.
South Carolina and LSU are titans in the SEC, each clinching National Championships in the last two seasons and showcasing their dominant presence by their success rate in signing five-star talent. In the fiercely competitive Big 12, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech all vie for supremacy, each program demonstrating its prowess on the national stage.
UCLA is a unique choice in Chavez’s selection process. It is the lone school representing the Pac-12 from out West, adding a geographical twist to her wide-ranging options. Should she make that decision, all eyes would be on an in-state rival featuring herself and Juju Watkins, the top-rated player in 2023 who also dominated in style.
Chavez gets her shot off with the precision and ease of a seasoned pro, and her high school stats prove it. Averaging 37.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.5 steals per game at Monterey High School in Texas, Chavez has earned the prestigious Texas Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
The award recognizes America’s top high school athletes for on-court achievements, earning high grades in the classroom, and being a community member. This past season, the crafty guard spearheaded her team to an impressive 31-6 record and a berth in the 5A regional quarterfinals.
Her dominant performances last season also earned her a spot as a finalist for the Naismith Girls Basketball National Player of the Year Award. Chavez’s accolades don’t stop there; she was honored as a Naismith Trophy All-American and recognized as the Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 5A/6A Girls Basketball Athlete of the Year.
Chavez isn’t just breaking records; she’s smashing them with style and flair thanks to her sharpshooting abilities. The high school baller once hit an astounding 13 three-pointers in a single game, placing her 21st all-time in the NFHS [National Federation of State High School] record book. She also drained 187 three-pointers in a season, claiming the top spot in NFHS history. Over her career, she sunk 445 threes, ranking 12th all-time.
Her ability to light up the scoreboard inside the arc is equally impressive, with a personal best of 57 points in a single game. She racked up 1,324 points during a single season, landing her 11th all-time in the record books. Over her career, Chavez compiled 3,345 points, placing her 30th in the NFHS history books.
Chavez put on a clinic, scoring 24 points as the No. 1 Lady Plainsmen steamrolled Abilene High 79-25. Abilene coach Brenda Andress was left in awe after coaching against the offensive standout, marveling at the young phenom’s advanced skill set following the game.
“I have been coaching 20 years now and have seen and coached against some pretty good guards, several who have had standout careers in the WNBA, and she is the best I have seen,” said Andress. “She is also a phenomenal passer, rebounder and defender.”
“She can go right or left equally, she can shoot lights out from the 3-point line, she has a pull-up jumper,” she continued. “I studied her shot chart to try to find a weak spot and there wasn’t one.”
