Oregon State University’s women’s basketball program received a major boost this week as Berkley Jones, a four-star recruit from Eagle, Idaho, announced her commitment to the Beavers. The announcement came on Monday and marks the first verbal pledge from the Class of 2027, a group that already promises to reshape the team’s future.
A Class Built on Diversity and Depth
Jones, who ranked No. 67 in the SportsCenter Next 100 national rankings, narrowed her choices to Oregon State, BYU, Kansas, Stanford and Oregon before ultimately deciding on the Pac-12 school. Her decision reflects not only the program’s growing appeal but also the coaching staff’s ability to compete with traditional Power Five powers for top talent.
At Eagle High School, Jones averaged 22.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists while guiding the team to the Idaho 6A state championship. She earned Idaho’s 2025-26 Girls Basketball Athlete of the Year honors and was a two-time first-team all-state selection. She also holds the school’s single-game scoring record with 42 points and shoots 60% from the floor and 47% from three-point range.
The Beavers’ incoming class will also feature Taylor Young, the 5A scoring champion from Central Point, Oregon, who led Crater High to a state title with a record 85 points. Additional signees include Maggie Warpus, a 6-foot-2 forward from New York who captured Class B Player of the Year, and Ashley Uusitalo, a Washington native who set her school’s three-point record with 133 makes and was named league MVP.
International additions add further depth: French forward Genesia Mayele and Ukrainian post player Mariia Ignatchenko join the roster, while Northern California wing Evelini Smith, a top-30 prospect, brings a versatile skill set highlighted by strong shooting percentages on both ends of the floor.
Coach Scott Rueck has long emphasized building through high-school pipelines, and the latest commitments underscore the effectiveness of that strategy. By weaving together elite local talent, cross-country standouts and global prospects, Oregon State aims to maintain its competitive edge in the Pac-12 and beyond.