West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team and head coach
Kyle Cooper are excited to welcome two individuals to the program on National Signing Day. Katie Lucarelli (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Sophie Nichols (Ripley, W.Va.) made their commitments official by signing their National Letters of Intent this past week and will join the team on the Hilltop in the fall of 2024.
Katie Lucarelli | 5-7 | Combo Guard | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Baldwin High School | Western PA Bruins
Lucarelli is a 5-7 combo guard out of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and Baldwin High School. As a 3-year team captain and a 2-time All-Big 56 selection, she is the team's leading scorer and a highly efficient athlete for the Highlanders. Lucarelli also plays for the Western PA Bruins on the AAU circuit. Outside of athletics she has earned high academic honors and is a member of the school's National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Joe and Alisa Lucarelli and the younger sister of current Hilltopper women's basketball player,
Anna Lucarelli.
Coach Cooper's Thoughts…
"Katie is someone that we have considered family for a long time, and we couldn't be happier to make it official and know we'll be getting even more years with a Lucarelli on that court for us here on the Hilltop. She comes from a blue collar family, plays for highly competitive AAU and high school teams, and is just a flat out winner. Katie is a high motor, combo guard that is a high level defender that has the ability to play on or off the ball offensively; all while bringing a combination of athleticism, IQ, and skills that fits what we do as a program."
Sophie Nichols | 5-11 | Wing | Ripley, W.Va. | Ripley High School | WV Thunder
Nichols is a 5-11 wing out of Ripley, West Virginia, and Ripley High School. She is a 4-year team captain for the Vikings and enters her senior season with 1,050 career points, 317 points away from breaking the school's all-time record which has stood since 1985. As a junior she led RHS to a WVSSAC Class AAA Semifinal appearance, en route to earning her second First Team All-State selection. In the classroom she has posted a 3.8 cumulative GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society, Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, and the Main Street Teens Club. She is the daughter of Steve and Jennifer Nichols.
Coach Cooper's Thoughts…
"Sophie is truly one of the best shooters to come out of this class and possesses size, length, and athleticism at the wing that is hard to find at our level and we couldn't be happier knowing how much she is going to thrive in our style of play and within our family. Beyond her ability to shoot the basketball, she possesses an extremely high IQ and passion to compete that will afford her the opportunity to come in and impact immediately as a true freshman. It's tremendously rewarding for our coaching staff to land the caliber of recruit that Sophie is, especially knowing just how highly she was recruited, but what is more rewarding is to have her and her family trust us knowing the vision we have for her future here on the Hilltop."
