Four-star Brazilian forward Taissa Queiroz announced her six finalists and commitment date ahead of taking her final two official visits. Queiroz, ranked No. 72 by ESPN HoopGurls, told On3 Talia Goodman on Sunday that she is down to Kansas State, Utah, North Carolina, Washington, Colorado, and Gonzaga for her eventual landing spot.
Queiroz followed an outstanding junior campaign for Cardinal Newman High School (Santa Rosa, Calif.) with a breakout weekend at the Nike Nationals at the end of July. A 2023 Brazilian U19 national team member, Queiroz, produced a double-double (15.5 points and 11.2 rebounds) for the season for Cardinal Newman and was named to the all-California sixth team by MaxPreps.
WBB Recruiting: Brazilian Forward Announces 6 Finalists And Sets Commitment Date
The 6-1 forward is physically imposing with an inside-outside skillset. She has a high motor, is long, and possesses good athleticism. She is an outstanding rebounder and a good finisher around the rim.
“As an international student, it’s very difficult to be far from home,” Queiroz told On3. “All the colleges in my top six have special ways to take care of their players’ mental health and everything. I’m looking for how the community will support me in and outside of basketball, because sometimes I’m going to have a bad day where I’m homesick or something and I’m looking for how they’ll help me with that.”
Exmining Quieroz’s 6 Finalists
Queiroz has already visited four of her finalists: Kansas State, Wahington, Gonzaga, and Utah. She has upcoming visits to Colorado (Aug. 28-30) and UNC (Sept. 6-8). She plans to make a commitment the last week of September.
Here is a look at her six finalists and thoughts about each school, per Goodman.
Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State is coming off its best season in over two years. KSU went 26-8 and was ranked as high as No. 2 in the country. However, the Wildcats finished third in the Big 12 with a 12-5 record and were ousted in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Kansas State finished No. 19 in the country last year, marking the third straight season that the Wildcats have finished in the top 25. The Wildcats have made it to the NCAA tournament in two of their previous three seasons. They are 190-135 in 10 years under head coach Jeff Mittie, reaching the NCAA Tournament five times.
Kansas State has been recruiting Quieroz for over a year. She officially visited the Manhatten (KS) campus in mid-June.
“It’s the same thing. They’re really nuce. I like all the coaches – Coach [Jeff] Mittie, Coach Stacie [Gregorio]. They’ve all been talking to me since last year, June or July. It’s been really good and I really like K-State because they have a lot of support for the girls. They have a special program to develop you as a player and outside of it. Coach Mittie is like a family. He always tries to do everything for the girls and it’s been good talking to the girls too. They say such good things about K-State.”
Washington Huskies
Washington has missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the last seven seasons. But, the Huskies have finished with a winning record in the previous two seasons, posting a 16-15 record, including being ranked as high as No. 23 in the country. The Huskies are 42-46 overall under fourth-year head coach Tina Langley.
Washington is headed into its first season in the Big Ten. Quieroz visited Washington’s campus (Aug. 8-10). Langley and her staff has been recruiting among the longest of any school.
“It’s been really good. I really like the coaches, the whole staff and the girls. They’re all really nice. They support each other like a family. It was a really good experience to be there and see everything. I saw practice, had a photoshoot and everything. They explained how they run practice and all of the academics stuff. It was really good. Washington has been involved in my recruitment process since the first games I had here in the US, so I have a great connection with the coaches. They really support the girls, not just in basketball but academic stuff too.”
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Gonzaga has been one of the top programs in the nation over the last 20 years. The Bulldogs posted a program record 32 wins compared to four losses. The Bulldogs made the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season, reaching the Sweet 16 for the fourth time ever. They have made the tournament in 15 of the last 20 campaigns.
Gonzaga is 265-63 in 10 seasons under head coach Lisa Fortier. The Bulldogs have not won fewer than 19 games during the past decade and have made the NCAA Tournament eight times. They have also claimed eight WAC regular-season crowns and five tournament titles.
“It was my first official visit and a little bit far, but I really like the coaches. Coach Lisa [Fortier], she’s such a nice woman. All the coaches have such good things to say. Coach Lisa really takes care of all her players and her players say the same thing. She’s like a mom and so are her assistant coaches. It looks like a really nice place and I’m looking forward to learning more.”
Utah Utes
Utah has had its ups and downs under coach Lynn Roberts, who is 162-115 in nine seasons in Salt Lake City. The Utes reached the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year in 2023-24, finishing with a 23-11 record and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Roberts has led the Utes to one PAC-12 regular season title (2022-23).
Quieroz visited Utah at the end of June. This season will be the Utes’ first season in the Big 12.
“Utah was really good too. The girls are really nice. They always try to be the best and we have had good connections, talking with each other. The coaches always try to help me and talk to me parents. The visit was really good. I saw the campus. It’s really huge. We also had a bit of an open gym which was really good, to see a little of their style of play.”
Colorado Buffaloes
Queiroz will make the trek to Boulder for the second time later this week (Aug. 28-30), though this time is an official visit. She went on a visit when she first came to the US.
Colorado has experienced the most success over the last three seasons in over 20 years. The Buffaloes have won 20 games and made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons, reaching the Sweet 16 in the previous two campaigns. They have posted five straight winning seasons and are 143-103 under ninth-year head coach JR Payne.
Colorado will return to the Big 12 this season, the conference they left following the 2011 season.
“I went on a visit when I first came to the US, so I know the campus and everything. Now I’m looking forward to learning more about their coaches and how they work with their players – not just for basketball, but academics too and as a person. It was the first campus I ever saw in the US and I was really impressed. It’s really big and in front of mountains, so it was really nice.”
North Carolina Tar Heels
Courtney Banghart has done an excellent job since taking over for Sylvia Hatchell. Banghort has led the Tar Heels to three straight 20-win seasons and four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament. She has posted five straight winning seasons and is 96-56 in her five seasons with the Tar Heels.
UNC has recently joined the fray. She will be on the Chapel Hill campus (Sept. 6-8).
“North Carolina is kind of new, but I’ve talked to a few of the coaches and we’re all looking forward to building ths relationship. I really like the program. I really like how Coach[Courtney] Banghart has her players play in their system. It’s also Michael Jordan’s college, so it’ll be nice to have an official visit there.”
