Avery Arije’s rapidly growing recruitment just got a very personal touch from inside the South Carolina program
The 2027 recruiting class has a name that blue-blood women’s basketball programs are racing to get in front of, and that name is Avery Arije. The 6-foot guard out of Crestwood Prep in Mississauga, Ontario has quietly become one of the most sought-after prospects in the country — and this week, she pulled back the curtain on the full scale of her recruitment, sharing a graphic featuring her top 20 offers and, perhaps more intriguingly, a top six of programs where interest runs deepest.
“My top 20(ish)!!” Arije wrote. “Thank you to every school that offered and put interest in me. I appreciate getting to know you all! I want to especially thank all the schools not listed above who offered me. I’m truly grateful for all the support and don’t take any of it for granted.”
The message is gracious and measured — exactly the kind of maturity you’d expect from a player who carries herself far beyond her years on and off the court.
The List Speaks for Itself
The 20 programs that have offered Arije read like a who’s who of elite women’s college basketball. Vanderbilt, Duke, LSU, Notre Dame, and Georgia Tech headline the first row alone. Kentucky, Louisville, Baylor, Maryland, and California follow, with UNC, TCU, Oklahoma, Stanford, and NC State rounding out the next tier. Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Harvard, and Washington complete the top 20. 247Sports currently logs 37 total offers for Arije — meaning the programs not named on the graphic are just as credentialed. That is an extraordinary volume of attention for a prospect still in the early stages of her high school career.
But it’s the “Top 6 Interest” section that tells the real story of where this recruitment is headed: UCLA, South Carolina, UConn, Texas, USC, and Tennessee. Those six programs represent some of the most decorated programs in women’s college basketball — and every one of them is signaling that Arije is a priority.
Gotti’s Canadian Connection
What makes South Carolina’s pursuit particularly compelling is the personal recruiting angle now in play. A current Gamecock — known to fans as “Gotti” — has taken it upon herself to recruit Arije directly, leaning on a key shared bond: both are Canadian. Crestwood Prep has a rich pipeline to the highest levels of women’s basketball, and Gotti knows that better than anyone. Arije’s own Crestwood Prep featured upperclassmen Agot Makeer, who went on to South Carolina, and Toby Fournier, who signed with Duke — meaning Arije has watched her school’s alumni scatter to powerhouses across the country. Having a fellow Canadian already thriving in Columbia makes South Carolina’s pitch uniquely authentic.
This is the kind of peer-to-peer recruiting that Dawn Staley’s program has mastered — letting trusted voices within the locker room do what no coaching staff visit can replicate.
Who Exactly Is Avery Arije?
For those just catching up, the hype is more than warranted. Arije is a true 6-foot lead guard who controls the game like a floor general. She has increased her scoring aggression and become a legitimate deep threat, with a strong frame, elite athleticism, an advanced skill base, and a mature presence that provides intangibles. This season, she’s averaging 21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals per game — numbers that would be impressive for a college junior, let alone a high schooler.
Scouts note that Arije has the skill to get downhill effectively attacking in either direction as a left-handed jump shooter who looks to attack first but has the ability to knock down open shots. Her athletic ability is viewed as extremely valuable on the defensive end as well.
ESPN has drawn a college comparison that should excite any program in her top six: Arije draws comparisons to Kiki Rice of UCLA and Tonie Morgan of Kentucky — smooth big guards who can operate out of ball screens to break down defenses, or square up and attack one-on-one to create advantages. Her projection extends beyond the college game.
That last line is the one that matters most. This isn’t just a recruiting battle for a great college player — it’s a battle for a prospect with genuine professional upside.
The Road Ahead
No decision is imminent, and with the 2027 class still well over a year from signing, Arije has plenty of time to take visits and let relationships develop. But the fact that South Carolina sits in her top six — bolstered by a player-to-player recruiting push from within the program itself — means the Gamecocks are very much in the driver’s seat for her attention.
Dawn Staley has built her dynasty on identifying talent early, building genuine relationships, and letting the results speak for themselves. With a Canadian pipeline already running through Columbia and a current player doing the recruiting work in real time, South Carolina has a compelling case to make.
For Arije, the process is just beginning. But the names lining up to chase her signature make one thing very clear: the world of women’s basketball already knows exactly who she is.
