It's been some kind of summer for Saylor Poffenbarger.
First the 6-foot-2 guard from Middletown High School (Maryland) won a gold medal as part of Team USA at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Chile.
On Wednesday, the No. 21 prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Super 60 for the 2021 class gave a verbal commitment to UConn.
"I've always dreamt of going to UConn," she said. "It was surreal when they started recruiting me."
Poffenbarger, 16, also considered Maryland, Oregon and Missouri (where her mother and high school coach, Amy Poffenbarger, formerly Amy Fordham, played).
As a sophomore last season at Middletown, Poffenbarger averaged 21.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
Poffenbarger said she has felt a connection with UConn coach Geno Auriemma since the recruiting process started. After talking with him Wednesday afternoon, she was ready to commit. She called him back that evening and made it official. Then, she got her nails done to celebrate.
"I feel it," she said. "I don't want to wait."
Since she was a kid, Poffenbarger has idolized UConn legend Maya Moore. Now she'll be following in her footsteps in Storrs, Connecticut.
"I was that little girl who was watching her play," Poffenbarger said. "Since I was 4 years old I've always said I want to go to UConn, I want to play at UConn, I want to win a national championship."