OSU women's commit Jaloni Cambridge named Gatorade National Player of the Year finalist
The highest-ranked Ohio State women's basketball recruit in the 2024 class, Jaloni Cambridge has been named one of three finalists to win the 2023-24 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award.
Guard Kennedy Smith of Rancho Cucamonga, California, and forward Joyce Edwards from Camden, South Carolina, are the two other finalists.
Cambridge has already earned honors as the top player in her state, first in Tennessee and then in Florida. She was named Gatorade Tennessee Girls Basketball Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons when she played for The Ensworth School in Nashville, then she transferred to Montverde Academy for her senior year and won the Florida edition of the award for the 2023-24 season.
The No. 3 recruit in the country from the class of 2024 according to ESPN, Cambridge averaged 20.4 points per game, 8.5 assists and 3.1 steals this year.
The 5-foot-6 point guard was also a finalist for the Naismith High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year award, which ultimately went to Sarah Strong of Grace Christian in North Carolina, and Cambridge has been named a McDonalds All-American.
As a highly regarded point guard, Jaloni will likely be a key asset in helping replace Jacy Sheldon, who is in her final season with the Buckeyes.
5⭐️ Jaloni Cambridge (no. 3 espnW 💯) has committed to Ohio State‼️ #GoBucks🌰@JaloniCambridge | @OhioStateWBB pic.twitter.com/Gph80SpkqN
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) December 29, 2023
Cambridge, who announced her commitment to Ohio State back on Dec. 29, will be joining her sister Kennedy Cambridge in 2024-25. Kennedy has yet to play a minute in an Ohio State jersey after transferring from Kentucky this past offseason, and coach Kevin McGuff has indicated this will be a redshirt season for the sophomore.
Jaloni Cambridge is one of five players from the class of 2024 who have announced their commitment to Ohio State women's basketball. Point guard Ava Watson (No. 51 in ESPN's class of 2024 rankings) and forwards Ella Hobbs (No. 92 in ESPN's class of 2024 rankings), Seini Hicks and Elsa Lemmila, are expected the join Jaloni in Columbus next season.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OSU commit Jaloni Cambridge named Gatorade Player of the Year finalist
