As women’s college basketball continues to gain prominence, NBA star Trae Young believes rising talent Aaliyah Chavez is poised to become the sport’s next big name.
On Tuesday, Chavez announced her commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners. The 5-foot-11 guard led Lubbock Monterey High School to a Texas state championship, solidifying her status as the top-rated women’s basketball recruit in the nation.
Following her commitment, Young—who played for the Sooners during the 2017-18 season—showered Chavez with praise and shared a bold prediction about her future. According to Young, Chavez has the potential to follow in the footsteps of college basketball superstars like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and JuJu Watkins.
“Aaliyah’s the next Paige Bueckers, the next JuJu Watkins, the next Caitlin Clark of college basketball,” Young said, as reported by brwsports. “It’s gonna be exciting this season in Norman, Oklahoma now.”
The Atlanta Hawks guard also expressed his full support for Chavez as she begins her collegiate career, stating that he’ll be cheering her on.
Young’s statement sparked mixed reactions from fans. Some agreed with his high praise, believing Chavez has the skills to become a college basketball sensation. Others were more skeptical, arguing that stars like Clark, Bueckers, and Watkins are in a league of their own.
However, Chavez’s high school stats back up Young’s claim. During her senior year, she averaged an impressive 34.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.7 steals per game. Over her entire high school career, she totaled 4,796 points, 1,279 rebounds, and 771 assists, according to ESPN.
As she heads to Oklahoma, all eyes will be on Chavez to see if she can live up to the lofty expectations and cement herself as the next major star in women’s college basketball.
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