USA TODAY High School Sports Awards: Wisconsin guard Kamorea Arnold commits to University of Connecticut
As a third grader, Wisconsin's Germantown High School standout guard Kamorea Arnold adorned her bedroom walls with University of Connecticut women's basketball effects. She enthusiastically embraced the Husky's while declaring she would one day play for head coach Geno Auriemma.
The sophomore All-State performer's affinity for the program that has racked up 11 NCAA women's basketball national championships came full circle when she announced on the school's campus her commitment to UConn before family, friends, classmates and other well-wishers.
"Not too many people know, but as a little kid, that (Connecticut) was my dream school," Arnold said via the W7 Productions livestream. "I had (UConn) stickers all around my room. I was crazy with it. It was a school I always wanted to visit. Just walking through there and seeing all of that history was definitely an experience."
The stellar playmaker led Germantown to its first Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1 girls basketball crown in February, averaging 22.9 points per game to pair 6.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Arnold was also named to the 2021 USA Basketball Women's U16 National Team that competed in the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Santiago, Chile, over the summer.
She also was named the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards winner for girls basketball in Wisconsin and was an honoree in the national show.
The Warhawks dynamo, who was profiled by the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards in July, began the announcement ceremony by extending gratitude to all who have helped her along her journey.
"I want to thank my parents for all of the trips in and out of state, the crazy amount of money spent and their sacrifice of time for my visits with multiple college campuses," Arnold, who was extended dozens of scholarship offers, said. "I'm so thankful for my parents and their love, support and motivation to play the sport that I love."
Additionally, Arnold thanked her siblings for their guidance and the roles they played in her continual growth and development while also extending kudos to her coaches, teammates, Germantown High School and the greater Germantown community.
With regard to her decision, Arnold noted the connection she felt amid interaction with the Connecticut program.
"I felt super comfortable around all of the players and the coaching staff is really great, one of the best coaching staffs around," she said. "And, of course, I wanted to be a part of something great....something to build my game to the next level. It was a good time (to announce the commitment), before the season starts, so I could just play ball and not worry about all of that stuff."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Germantown High School (WI) guard Kamorea Arnold is committed to UConn
