The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1535358
JUNE/JULY 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 37 2025 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Incoming Freshmen MCKENZIE MATHURIN 5-10, GUARD Background: The Broken Arrow, Okla., native was the first- ever player to sign out of the state with the Wolverines, and she leads the way as the No. 39 overall re- cruit in the country. Mathurin led Bro- ken Arrow to a 26-3 record during her senior season before the year came to an end with a 64-47 loss in the Class 6A state semifinals. She earned Vype Magazine Miss Basketball Oklahoma as well as first-team all-state honors, averaging 22.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game as a senior. During her junior campaign, she averaged 21.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.3 assists per game. Mathurin also played in the AAU ranks for Team Trae Young. "Mathurin is a shooter with a scorer's men- tality who moves well without the ball and has the ability to post up and play at the guard or forward spot with her strong build," ESPN's Shane Laflin said. Kim Barnes Arico says: "Kenzie is just go- ing to add more depth and another layer to our already strong guard group who will be returning next year. She is a really dynamic guard who can score at all three levels, can handle the point guard position and can play off the ball. She shoots the ball extremely well, has great pace to her game, can finish going to the basket and has a super high IQ. She is a great leader and will be able to come in and contribute with our returning class." CIARA BYARS 6-2, FORWARD Background: Byars, ESPN's No. 67 overall prospect, was ranked as highly as No. 37 overall before suffer- ing an injury in Janu- ary 2024, pushing her down the board a bit. However, the Paris, Ky., native averaged 14.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for George Rogers Clark High prior to her injury, and was a member of the varsity team starting in seventh grade, leading her team in scoring in all four seasons in high school. Byars also played in the AAU ranks, suiting up for Kentucky Premier on the EYBL circuit. Her sister, Brianna Byars, plays at Cincinnati. "Byars is a long and strong forward … she can shoot from the perimeter and makes strong drives to the rim. She has a blue-collar glue-like presence on her teams," ESPN's Laf- lin said. KBA says: "We are super excited about the versatility, size and athleticism that Ciara has. She can play multiple positions, which is something we really need. She can score with her back to the basket, but she can also be that face-up decision-maker who can put it on the floor. She has a nose for the basket- ball with a tremendous ability to rebound. She really is a student of the game with a basketball IQ that is off the charts. She has a toughness and an edge that is perfect for our program." JESSICA FIELDS 6-1, FORWARD Background: Fields, the sister of New York Jets quarterback a n d fo r m e r O h i o State Buckeye Justin Fields, is the No. 97 player in the 2025 class, according to ESPN. She averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds for Ken- nesaw (Ga.) Mount Paran Christian last season. Fields eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career as a ju- nior, and made back to back GHSA All-State second team during her junior and senior seasons, and was the Class AA Player of the Year in 2023. She was named the Region 5A Division 1 Player of the Year as a senior. Fields was a two-sport athlete in high school, also making her mark on the volleyball team. She helped her teams win three state champion- ships in each sport. "Fields operates in and around the paint," ESPN's Laflin said. "She really emerged this summer as she attacked the offensive glass and embraced the activity level needed de- fensively to be effective." KBA says: "Jess is going to bring another level of athleticism to our program. She is a game changer with what she can do on the basketball court. Her shot-blocking ability is tremendous, and she really has a knack to rebound the ball. She finishes so well around the rim with incredible bounce. She is ter- rific at drawing fouls and getting to the free- throw line. Her feel for the game is next-level and her motor is special. She is someone who will make an impact for us on both sides of the floor." Incoming Transfers KENDALL DUDLEY 6-2, SO., WING Background: Dudley is a familiar face, hav- ing played her fresh- man season at a Big Ten school with UCLA. Dur- ing her first collegiate campaign, she averaged 12.4 minutes per game with 1.9 points, 2.3 re- bounds and 0.8 assists and started one game for the Big Ten Tour- nament champions. The Virginia native and Sidwell Friends (D.C.) School alum was the first- ever female high school player to commit live on ESPNU in April 2023. KBA says: "Kendall was arguably one of the best players coming out of high school last year, being named a McDonald's All-American. She played with Olivia [Olson] with USA Basketball, played with Syla [Swords] in last year's All-Amer- ica game. She gives us that positionless player who can grab a rebound and lead the break. She can face up and knock down threes. She can take you off the bounce and is a phenomenal cutter. She does a little bit of everything and her versatility is exactly what we are looking for." ASHLEY SOFILKANICH 6-3, JR., FORWARD Background: Sofil- kanich spent the last two seasons at Buck- nell and was the Patriot League Player of the Year this past season, averaging 19.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest. She was named USBWA National Player of the Week on Jan. 28 after scoring 44 points against Colgate on Jan. 22, tying her for the eighth-most points scored by a women's player this season. Sofilkanich is a two-time Patriot League all-defensive team member and was on the all-rookie team in 2023-24 after averaging 12.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. KBA says: "Ashley is coming off a phenom- enal year where she did nearly everything for her team. She had a 40-point game, she gets double-doubles, she was the Patriot League Player of the Year. She gives us more depth in the post position, which is something we really need. She has the ability to score around the rim in a variety of ways with her length, giving us something we didn't have last year. I think she is just scratching the surface of what she can do and can't wait to see how she continues to grow as a player in our program." ❏