Amoret Maxwell always knew she was destined to play for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds women’s basketball team. 

That’s why the Phoenix PHH Prep senior announced her verbal commitment to that college program Friday, just two days after receiving its offer. 

“The first college coach I ever met, was an assistant at Southern Utah, which was back when I first started playing. That was something that left an everlasting impression on me because that’s when I realized I wanted to play college basketball,” Maxwell said via text message. “This sort of feels like fate because who knew that one day I would be able to represent the T-Bird nation the same way that assistant coach was doing when I met her as a little girl.”

The 5-foot-10 shooting guard is No. 28 on The Republic’s Elite 50 high school girls basketball 2020-21 preseason player rankings.

Maxwell said that the recruiting process wasn’t always easy for her. But throughout it, she created a stronger bond with Southern Utah compared to other Division I schools like Adams State, New Mexico State, California Baptist, Pacific and Morgan State that expressed interest in her during the past few months.

Plus, PHH Prep head coach Milee Karre helped put her back on the Thunderbirds radar.

“One of my best friends committed there to play volleyball. It seemed like SUU was always relevant somehow, which led me to reaching out to my (PHH Prep) club coach, Milee Karre, to see if they would be interested in recruiting me,” Maxwell said. “As soon as they offered, I knew that was a place I was going to be able to call home. This sort of feels like ‘fate’ because who knew that one day I would be able to represent the T-Bird nation the same way that assistant coach was doing when I met her as a little girl.”

Maxwell transferred to PHH Prep from the two-time defending 5A champion Goodyear Millennium in May. 

She was one of the Lady Tigers’ third-leading scorer who produced 10.9 points, 2.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game last season.

In the Phoenix-based Nike Tournament of Champions youth girls club basketball Bubble Session I from Oct. 3-4, Maxwell averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2.5 assists through five games played.

Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at [email protected] or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.

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