Autumn Hopson makes her commitment to TSU official. (Photo @PatriotPioneers)

Virginia girls standouts sign on the dotted line

While most had already given a verbal commitment, November 9th marked the early signing period for athletes to officially sign with the college of their choice. Around Northern Virginia on the girls basketball side, a lot of significant talent made it official where they would embark on college basketball careers.

Autumn Hopson makes her commitment to TSU official. (Photo @PatriotPioneers)
Autumn Hopson makes her commitment to TSU official. (Photo @PatriotPioneers)

Northern Region 6A Champion Oakton’s senior trio of Kailyn Fee (Richmond), Delaney Connolly (Loyola, MD) and Maddie Royle (American) all will play at the next level in 2017-2018. Fee improved last year as the season wore on, scoring in double figures her last six games and in the playoffs when the contests mattered most. Connolly averaged over 13 a game and the cerebral senior will major in pre-med for the Greyhounds next year. Royle averaged almost 15 a game last year, and will compete in the Patriot League next year up in northeast DC for the Eagles.

Joining Royle at American next year will be fellow Conference 5 standout Indeya Sanders (Herndon). Sanders averaged in double figures 11 times last year, including 22 in the Hornets’ upset victory over 6A South region champion Woodside in the state quarterfinals. Herndon lost a lot of seniors from last year’s talented team, but could be just as dangerous this year with Sanders.

Over in Conference 8, where the girls’ basketball talent is deep despite there only being five schools, guards Autumn Hopson (Patriot) and Megan Callahan (Stonewall Jackson) made their choices official. Hopson signed on the dotted line with Tennessee State, and the All-Conference 8 Second Team selection Callahan chose Robert Morris. Robert Morris coach Charlie Buscaglia was extremely complimentary of Callahan on the school’s website.

Finally, point guard Morgan Simpson from Madison signed with Christopher Newport, Chantilly’s Mary Clougherty signed with Lehigh, and forward Lyrissa Deans of Bishop Ireton with UNC-Charlotte. Deans averaged 15.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks last year, and leads an Ireton team in 2016-2017 that figures to be a fixture in novahoops.com’s team rankings.

Congrats to all these young ladies and their families.

–Chris Jollay