Louisville Signs Brown, Harris, Lester and Walker to 2022 Class

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville women's basketball head coach Jeff Walz and his staff announced that they have signed Jalyn Brown, Nyla Harris, Imani Lester and Zyanna Walker to their 2022 class.

Brown, a 6-foot guard from Baltimore, Md., Harris, a 6-foot-2 forward from Windermere, Fla., Lester, a 6-foot-3 forward from Raleigh, N.C. and Walker, a 5-foot-8 guard from Wichita, Kan., have signed National Letters of Intent with the Louisville women's basketball program.

Dan Olson's Collegiate Girls Basketball Report ranks the 2022 class fourth nationally and first in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Since taking over in 2007, Walz and his staff have signed 15 McDonald's All-Americans – with this year's honorees yet to be announced.

Jalyn Brown, 6-0, Guard, Baltimore, Md. (St. Frances Academy)

Jalyn Brown comes to Louisville from St. Frances Academy, the same high school that brought them Angel McCoughtry. She is a four-star prospect and is ranked No. 78 overall and the No. 12 ranked wing by espnW HoopGurlz. She is also ranked the fifth best player in Maryland by Prep Girls Hoops.

After spending her first two years at Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, Brown averaged 20.6 points and six rebounds as a junior at St. Frances, which played a condensed season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

What they are saying about Jalyn Brown

"Jalyn is an explosive wing that has the ability to knock down shots from beyond the 3-point line and get to the rim. I'm really excited for what Jalyn is going to bring to our team and our program, she has an outstanding personality and I'm excited to get her here on campus." – Louisville head coach Jeff Walz

"One of our favorite players to watch this year. She's a long wing player who attacks in transition, rebounds her position well, very creative offensively with a floater game, killer crossover and acceleration like a race car." - Kevin Lynch, Lead Evaluator Blue Star Report

"A long, very athletic, versatile wing with untapped potential. Attacks from perimeter, finishes under control. She will be a mismatch offensively and tough to defend. Jalyn will also be a force on the defensive end where she can guard multiple positions. Huge upside. One of the most athletic players in class." – Harry Elifson, Preferred Athlete Scouting Service

"May be the one player in the class of 2022 that has made the most meteoric rise in the rankings. Somewhat of an unknown prior to April 2021, Brown exploded onto the national circuit. An ultra-athletic forward with an offensive game to the arc, Brown is bouncy, plays at the rim, attacks the glass; Brown's basketball future is only going to get better." – Dan Olson, Collegiate Girls Basketball Report

Nyla Harris, 6-2, Forward, Windermere, Fla. (Lake Highland Prep)

Nyla Harris is a five-star prospect and is ranked No. 34 overall by espnw HoopGurlz and Prep Girls Hoops. espnW HoopGurlz also ranks Harris as the eighth best forward in the 2022 class. She was named the MaxPreps Player of the Year as a sophomore after averaging 11.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

She tallied 20 points, five rebounds and three blocks to lead Lake Highland Prep to a Florida 4A State Championship as a sophomore.

On Wednesday, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced that she was named to the 2022 Naismith High School Trophy Underclassmen Girls Watch List.

What they are saying about Nyla Harris

"She is a warrior, she is someone that is relentless going to the glass, she's on the floor, she does a lot of the dirty work that sometimes players don't like to do. She embraces contact and she can finish around the rim. She's continuing to work on extending her shooting range from 15 to 18 feet to the 3-point line." – Louisville head coach Jeff Walz

"An athletic wing player who disrupts the game defensively. One of the top rebounding guards in the country who runs the floor hard and finishes in transition. Nyla has great hands, catches everything and is a proven winner, one of Florida's top prospects" - Kevin Lynch, Lead Evaluator Blue Star Report

"Another athletic forward coming from the state of Florida. Can play from perimeter and also post. Runs the floor and also has great hands. Another versatile offensive and defensive force with many offensive tools that fit the Cardinal system." – Harry Elifson, Preferred Athlete Scouting Service

"An efficient front court prospect with versatility. Harris gives Louisville an efficient interior performer along with a face up threat to 16' with an ever-growing degree of consistency; Harris can run the floor like a guard, pound the glass and defend outside the block." – Dan Olson, Collegiate Girls Basketball Report

Imani Lester, 6-3, Forward, Raleigh, N.C. (North Raleigh Christian Academy)

Imani Lester is a four-star prospect and is ranked No.57 overall and the eighth best post player by espnW HoopGurlz. Lester has played varsity basketball since the seventh grade and reached 1,000 career points in her freshman season at North Raleigh Christian Academy. She was named to the NCISAA 4A All-State team and the TISAC Player of the Year in 2019.

Lester averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks, four assists and two steals per game as a junior. She helped lead North Raleigh Christian Academy to the N.C. Independent School Athletic Association 4A state championship game and led the team with 16 points. Her father Avie Lester played at NC State and is the head coach at North Raleigh Christian Academy.

What they are saying about Imani Lester

"Imani is a 6-foot-3 post player who brings us size, but also has the ability to step outside and knock down a perimeter jump shot. Her ability to pass the basketball really stood out to me. She has a very high I.Q. and a willingness to continue to work to get better. She's someone our fans are really going to enjoy." – Louisville head coach Jeff Walz

"She has a big strong frame and moves as well as any forward in the country. Excellent timing on shot blocking and mobile enough to finish at the other end. Uses strength inside and finishes with both hands. Her anticipation and IQ really show out as she reads the defense and finishes lobs." - Kevin Lynch, Lead Evaluator Blue Star Report

"Strong versatile pro-body power forward. Great hands and feet, scores with ease around basket. Can step away from basket and attack from perimeter. Rebounds both ends. Fits the Louisville style for inside, outside player. One of the top players in country." – Harry Elifson, Preferred Athlete Scouting Service

"Perhaps the most skilled front court prospect in the class of 2022. Lester combines a face up game with range to the arc complemented by a productive interior game, a consistent scorer in the block with an arsenal of moves." – Dan Olson, Collegiate Girls Basketball Report

"Imani has elevated the NRCA basketball team with not only her skills, but her ability to bring belief that we can win every game. She will graduate as the school's all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, steals and assists." – Avie Lester, North Raleigh Christian Academy head coach and father

Zyanna Walker, 5-8, Guard, Wichita, Kan. (Wichita Heights)

Zyanna Walker is a four-star prospect and is ranked as high as No. 15 by Prep Girls Hoops. espnW HoopGurlz ranked her No. 38 overall and the No.10 guard in the class. Considered the top girls basketball player in Wichita, Walker averaged more than 20 points per game before tearing her ACL in her sophomore season. After a year of rehab, she tore her meniscus in the same leg, which forced her to miss her junior season.

Walker was named Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Class 6A Second Team All-State as a sophomore.

On Wednesday, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced that she was named to the 2022 Naismith High School Trophy Underclassmen Girls Watch List.

What they are saying about Zyanna Walker

"Z is going to come in here and be able to play multiple positions. I can see her playing the one, two or the three. She's a guard that can shoot the three and get to the rim. She's not afraid of contact and embraces it. We're excited to add her for next season." – Louisville head coach Jeff Walz

"A dynamic guard who can do it all. She is strong and athletic, with a good handle and feel for the game. Penetrates and creates, finds open players, has a very good mid-range stop-and-pop game. Very hard to defend in one on one situations." - Kevin Lynch, Lead Evaluator Blue Star Report

"Athletic scoring combo guard with scoring from all three levels. Creates, finishes with flare. Handles, creates for others. Has been one of the top players in 2022 for many years." – Harry Elifson, Preferred Athlete Scouting Service

"A skilled combo-guard with an effortless delivery, Walker plays with a confident persona, armed with a consistent jump shot. Slowed by injury over the past two years, Walker is better than her #119 national ranking by the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. Prior to injury, Walker was among one of the Top-25 prospects in her class. Who better than Jeff Walz to be the gambler on a player held out from injury over the past two seasons." – Dan Olson, Collegiate Girls Basketball Report

"This game doesn't come easy for Zyanna and that is a testament to her work ethic. She is unique in all ways – her love for the game, her humble nature, her loyalty to those she loves. Zyanna Walker is in the gym countless hours and social media would never know. Wichita has downplayed her talent for years while she has been one of the top players in the country, she says nothing… she works. Zyanna has played for the same coaches since she was in fourth grade, while most of those years we have challenged her talents. She stayed, she changed, and she's worked. Adversity has not conquered her, and she deserves every bit of her dreams." - Samantha Soyez Hicks, Kansas United Coaches

For the latest on Louisville women's basketball, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Twitter account at @UofLWBB or on Facebook at facebook.com/UofLWBB.

University of Louisville Athletics

Louisville Signs Brown, Harris, Lester and Walker to 2022 Class

Related News

Related Videos