Powell picks Cowgirls

LARAMIE – Most high school athletes wouldn't describe the college recruiting process as "super fun."

But then most high school athletes aren't put together like Encampment's Paige Powell.

Armed with a maturity beyond her years and the help of family and coaches, the 6-foot Powell embraced her recruiting path and, at the end, came to a conclusion she'd known for a while – the University of Wyoming was the place for her.

Powell, who will be a senior this fall, committed to the Cowgirls on Monday night.

"Ever since I was a little kid, I've always wanted to play college basketball," Powell said Wednesday. "And then it started to become a reality and it was a fun ride. The coaches are just amazing.

"Even other coaches that were recruiting me were like, 'We can't say a bad word about the Wyoming staff.' I loved that and growing up a Cowgirls fans, putting on that jersey will be incredible."

Powell said she had scholarship offers from Utah State, Montana and Idaho on the table and had contact with Brigham Young and several Power 5 schools.

Setting a late July deadline for making a decision, Powell said she realized that opportunities were dwindling as programs continued to make offers to other players.

"There was a little bit of a timing pressure with teams giving out scholarships to make sure all their positions are filled," Powell said. "UW said that they really wanted me, but if everyone else accepts an offer before you, there might not be a scholarship left. It just felt right."

Powell becomes the second top in-state recruit to verbally commit to the Cowgirls in the last three months.

Lyman's McKinley Bradshaw committed back in late March, giving UW two of the top in-state recruits for the 2019 class.

UW has six seniors on this season's roster and has four scholarships available.

Powell – whose mother Brooke and father Cade graduated from UW – dominated Class 1A basketball this past season, averaging 12.7 points, 13.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and three blocks in leading the Lady Tigers to a third-place finish at the state tournament despite several injuries to the team. She led the state in rebounds and blocks while ranking second in assists.

Powell also averaged 12.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks as a sophomore when the Tigers won the 1A state title. As a freshman, Powell contributed 7.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and two blocks.

A three-year all-state selection in volleyball, Powell will bring a type of athleticism to the forward spot that the Cowgirls haven't had in a while.

Powell won the Class 1A state title in high jump and triple jump a month ago while placing second in long jump. As a sophomore, Powell won long jump and high jump and was second in triple jump.

Powell, who plays a traditional post position (she only attempted three 3-pointers last season), said she continues to work on her offensive game, but likes to play on the defensive end of the floor as much as the offensive side.

"It's the more aggressive side of things," Powell said. "You get to body people up and try and make them mad on defense. To be able to go one-on-one and try and take over games, I just love that.

"I'm starting to like scoring a lot more, but making someone frustrated on defense is so much fun. And if you can block a shot and convert it into points on the other end, I love that."

Now with the decision process over, Powell said she's excited to finish out both her summer AAU basketball schedule and her senior season at Encampment.

"As soon as I decided on Wyoming I called my dad and told him and as soon as I said that, there was this weight that was gone that I didn't even realize was there," Powell said. "I guess in the back of my mind there were a lot of things I was worrying about.

"Just being able to play the rest of the club season and next season without that hanging over me is just going to be so much fun. When the opportunity came to (be) able to play at Wyoming, that was something that I didn't want to let get away from me."