TicketsCINCINNATI — University of Cincinnati women's basketball head coach Katrina Merriweather has announced the signing of five players on National Signing Day. The class is currently ranked No. 7 by ASGR Hoops, marking the highest-ranked class in program history.
Dee Alexander, Caliyah DeVillasee, Kali Barrett, Joya Crawford and Paige Whitted will suit up for the Bearcats as freshmen beginning in the 2025-26 campaign. For more information on each athlete, see the individual capsules below.
Dee Alexander | Guard | Cincinnati, Ohio (Purcell Marian)
The highest-ranked recruit in program history, coming in at No. 10 in the latest ESPN rankings… Five-star recruit by ESPNW – 96 Scouts Grade… Ranked the No. 1 player in Ohio by Prep Hoops … Named to Naismith Girls' High School Player of the Year Watch List... ESPNW No. 1 Top Playmakers in 2024… Earned gold medal with Team USA at 2023 FIBA U16 Championship... Competes for Purcell Marian, playing for Jamar Mosely… Has averaged 23.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals while shooting 60.4% from the field throughout her high school career… Two-time Ohio Ms. Basketball, only the seventh player in the award's history to win in back-to-back years… Two-time Max Preps Ohio Player of the Year… Max Preps Junior High School All-American Team in 2023... Three-time OHSAA State Champion (Division III 2022, Division II 2023, Division II 2024)… All-time leading scorer in Purcell Marian history… First athlete in her high school's history to earn Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year (2023-2024)… Three-time Miami Valley Conference Champion as well as three-time Miami Valley, District 16 and Ohio Division Player of The Year… Three-time All-State First Team Selection… Ms. OHSBCA Player of The Year… Two-time Cincinnati Enquirer Player of The Year... Two-time Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame Player of The Year… Two-time Buddy LaRosa's Female MVP… Plays for GUAA West Virginia Thunder under Scott Johnson and Anthony Epps… Guided team to 17u Championships in 2022 and 2024… Earned spots in several elite events, including Overtime Select, Under Armour Elite 24, Under Armour Next Future 60 and Jr. NBA Court of Leaders.
Caliyah DeVillasee | Point Guard | Owings Mills, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
Ranked the No. 1 player overall in Maryland according to Prep Hoops… Comes in at No. 55 in the 2025 class rankings by ESPN… Four-star recruit by ESPNW – 93 Scouts Grade… Plays for Our Lady of Good Counsel under Milton Kimbrough… Averaging 17.9 points, 3.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in her high school career… Maryland Gatorade Player of The Year Nominee in 2024… WCAC First-Team Selection in 2024… Washington Post All-Metro Honorable Mention… Named WCAC Second-Team Selection in 2023… Plays for Adidas 3SSB 17u - Elevate Elite under Bruno Corras… 16u Adidas 3SSB Champion in 2023… Named Adidas All-American in 2023 and 2024… Participated in Overtime Select in 2024… Was Top 10 assist leader for Adidas 3SSB in 2023.
Kali Barrett | Forward | Bradenton, Fla. (Cardinal Mooney)
Ranked No. 4 player in Florida according to Prep Hoops… Three-star recruit by ESPNW… Second all-time leading scorer and rebounder at Cardinal Mooney High School, playing for Marlon Williams… Averaging 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per game… Two-time FACA All-State honoree... Sarasota-Manatee Player of the Year in 2024… Helped lead Cardinal Mooney to three consecutive 3A Regional and District Championships, as well as three straight Florida 3A State Runner-Up finishes… Nominee for Sports Illustrated Florida Girl's Player of the Year in 2024… Three-time First-Team All-County selection… Plays for Adidas 3SSB – AEBL 17u… Earned Second Team All-Circuit honors in 2024… Named Second Team All-Defensive Team in 2023.
Joya Crawford | Guard | Dyersburg, Tenn. (Dyersburg)
Has scored 1,700+ points at Dyersburg High School, playing for Tim Strayhorn… Holds the Dyersburg record for most points in a game with 44... Averaging 20.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game in her high school career… Two-time Tennessee Offensive Player of The Year… 2024 TSSAA Class AAA State Championship, where she was named State Tournament MVP... 2024 All-State selection by Tennessee Sports Writers Association, Tennessee Basketball Coaches Association and BCAT… Tennessee Miss Basketball Finalist… District 13AAA Most Valuable Player… Three consecutive District 13AAA First-Team selections… Named Region 7AA Tournament MVP twice and earned spots on the Region 7AA All-Tournament Team in three consecutive years… TSSAA Class AAA All-Tournament Team in 2023.
Paige Whitted | Guard | Memphis, Tenn. (Briarcrest Christian Academy)
Shooting guard from Memphis, Tennessee… Competes for Briarcrest Christian Academy, playing for Lee Smith… Averaging 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals per game in her high school career.
Dee Alexander, Caliyah DeVillasee, Kali Barrett, Joya Crawford and Paige Whitted will suit up for the Bearcats as freshmen beginning in the 2025-26 campaign. For more information on each athlete, see the individual capsules below.
Dee Alexander | Guard | Cincinnati, Ohio (Purcell Marian)
The highest-ranked recruit in program history, coming in at No. 10 in the latest ESPN rankings… Five-star recruit by ESPNW – 96 Scouts Grade… Ranked the No. 1 player in Ohio by Prep Hoops … Named to Naismith Girls' High School Player of the Year Watch List... ESPNW No. 1 Top Playmakers in 2024… Earned gold medal with Team USA at 2023 FIBA U16 Championship... Competes for Purcell Marian, playing for Jamar Mosely… Has averaged 23.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals while shooting 60.4% from the field throughout her high school career… Two-time Ohio Ms. Basketball, only the seventh player in the award's history to win in back-to-back years… Two-time Max Preps Ohio Player of the Year… Max Preps Junior High School All-American Team in 2023... Three-time OHSAA State Champion (Division III 2022, Division II 2023, Division II 2024)… All-time leading scorer in Purcell Marian history… First athlete in her high school's history to earn Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year (2023-2024)… Three-time Miami Valley Conference Champion as well as three-time Miami Valley, District 16 and Ohio Division Player of The Year… Three-time All-State First Team Selection… Ms. OHSBCA Player of The Year… Two-time Cincinnati Enquirer Player of The Year... Two-time Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame Player of The Year… Two-time Buddy LaRosa's Female MVP… Plays for GUAA West Virginia Thunder under Scott Johnson and Anthony Epps… Guided team to 17u Championships in 2022 and 2024… Earned spots in several elite events, including Overtime Select, Under Armour Elite 24, Under Armour Next Future 60 and Jr. NBA Court of Leaders.
Caliyah DeVillasee | Point Guard | Owings Mills, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
Ranked the No. 1 player overall in Maryland according to Prep Hoops… Comes in at No. 55 in the 2025 class rankings by ESPN… Four-star recruit by ESPNW – 93 Scouts Grade… Plays for Our Lady of Good Counsel under Milton Kimbrough… Averaging 17.9 points, 3.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in her high school career… Maryland Gatorade Player of The Year Nominee in 2024… WCAC First-Team Selection in 2024… Washington Post All-Metro Honorable Mention… Named WCAC Second-Team Selection in 2023… Plays for Adidas 3SSB 17u - Elevate Elite under Bruno Corras… 16u Adidas 3SSB Champion in 2023… Named Adidas All-American in 2023 and 2024… Participated in Overtime Select in 2024… Was Top 10 assist leader for Adidas 3SSB in 2023.
Kali Barrett | Forward | Bradenton, Fla. (Cardinal Mooney)
Ranked No. 4 player in Florida according to Prep Hoops… Three-star recruit by ESPNW… Second all-time leading scorer and rebounder at Cardinal Mooney High School, playing for Marlon Williams… Averaging 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per game… Two-time FACA All-State honoree... Sarasota-Manatee Player of the Year in 2024… Helped lead Cardinal Mooney to three consecutive 3A Regional and District Championships, as well as three straight Florida 3A State Runner-Up finishes… Nominee for Sports Illustrated Florida Girl's Player of the Year in 2024… Three-time First-Team All-County selection… Plays for Adidas 3SSB – AEBL 17u… Earned Second Team All-Circuit honors in 2024… Named Second Team All-Defensive Team in 2023.
Joya Crawford | Guard | Dyersburg, Tenn. (Dyersburg)
Has scored 1,700+ points at Dyersburg High School, playing for Tim Strayhorn… Holds the Dyersburg record for most points in a game with 44... Averaging 20.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game in her high school career… Two-time Tennessee Offensive Player of The Year… 2024 TSSAA Class AAA State Championship, where she was named State Tournament MVP... 2024 All-State selection by Tennessee Sports Writers Association, Tennessee Basketball Coaches Association and BCAT… Tennessee Miss Basketball Finalist… District 13AAA Most Valuable Player… Three consecutive District 13AAA First-Team selections… Named Region 7AA Tournament MVP twice and earned spots on the Region 7AA All-Tournament Team in three consecutive years… TSSAA Class AAA All-Tournament Team in 2023.
Paige Whitted | Guard | Memphis, Tenn. (Briarcrest Christian Academy)
Shooting guard from Memphis, Tennessee… Competes for Briarcrest Christian Academy, playing for Lee Smith… Averaging 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals per game in her high school career.