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As the early signing period comes to a close, UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma walks away as a winner yet again.
After not having any signees for the Class of 2018 just a week ago, Auriemma landed Christyn Williams - the No. 1 recruit in the class - and just added the No. 5 recruit for 2018 in 6-foot-4 inch forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
#UConn women's hoops scholarship grid, artistry by @tcf_15 pic.twitter.com/LOGXGMYCih
— TheUConnBlog (@TheUConnBlog) November 15, 2017
The Winder, Georgia native announced her decision Wednesday afternoon and signed her National Letter of Intent to make her commitment to Huskies official.
While Nelson-Ododa is skilled in the post, she can step out and hit outside shots and is known for defensive ability, using her tall frame and long wingspan to her advantage.
She is just getting back to basketball activities after fracturing her kneecap in January, but averaged 12 points per game at the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championships.
Williams and Nelson-Ododa’s signings marked the first time Auriemma has had two recruits in top five since the class of 2011, when Breanna Stewart (No. 1) and Moriah Jefferson (No. 2) came to Storrs and led the Huskies to four-straight national championships.
Williams, a 5-foot-11 point guard, committed to UConn last Friday, choosing the Huskies over South Carolina and bringing in a real husky dog to announce the decision.
— Launch Hoops (@LaunchHoops) November 10, 2017
The two-time Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year from Little Rock will be the third No. 1 recruit on the Huskies roster next season, joining Katie Lou Samuelson and Megan Walker. Williams is the fifth No. 1 recruit to come to UConn since 2010. Prior to her decision, Williams took her official visit to Storrs with Nelson-Ododa.
A dynamic scorer, Williams dropped 36 points in her first-ever high school game as a freshman, and averaged over 26 points and right rebounds as a junior last season. Like Nelson-Ododa and so many other current Huskies, Williams has experience with USA basketball, representing the stars and stripes at the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup in Italy and scoring 3.2 points per game as the team’s youngest player.