Women’s Basketball Inks Trio of Top-100 Prospects on National Signing Day
11/12/2025 4:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou women's basketball has signed five recruits, including three top-100 prospects on National Signing Day, head coach Kellie Harper announced on Wednesday.
Natalya Hodge, Khloe Ford and Jada Maples headline the class in national rankings in addition to signees Cecilie Brandimore and Ellie Mueller.
Hodge, a four-star point guard out of Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, is ranked the No. 54 player in the class nationally by On3.
Ranked fifth among all point guards in the country, Hodge averaged 25.7 points per game as a junior in 2024-25.
"Natalya exemplifies toughness and is a relentless competitor," Harper said. "Her speed and high scoring ability fit our up-tempo offensive style, while also getting after it defensively. Natalya's passion for the game is contagious, and I know our fans will love watching her compete. We're thrilled to welcome a point guard whose fire and versatility perfectly fit our culture."
Tabbed the 5Star Preps Girls Player of the Year and a two-time finalist for the Class 4A Miss Basketball award, she has already scored over 2,000 points in her prep career.
Hodge chose Missouri over Florida State, Arizona, Baylor, Georgia Tech and Arizona State.
Ford, a four-star prospect out of Hoover High School in Birmingham, Alabama, is ranked No. 94 nationally in the Sportscenter NEXT 100 rankings.
"Khloe is a proven winner, coming from a powerhouse program at Hoover where she's already earned three state championships," Harper said. "Rebounding is a major priority for us, and she brings exactly that with her toughness and instincts on the boards. Her strong paint presence, paired with the ability to stretch the floor, makes her a perfect fit for our system."
A dynamic 6-foot-4 forward, Ford led Hoover to a 32-4 record and captured the program's fifth-straight state championship.
She chose Mizzou over Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, Arizona State, UCF and Pitt.
Maples, the third four-star signee in the class, is the No. 29 shooting guard in the country and the No. 95 overall prospect nationally out of Earle High School in Earle, Arkansas.
"Jada is a savvy defender with a natural ability to finish through contact, bringing high-level physicality on both ends of the floor," Harper said. "Her pace, length, and toughness are exactly what it takes to stand out in our league. Jada's self-discipline and competitive drive will make an immediate impact on our culture and program."
Tabbed the No. 2 player in the state, Maples led Earle to the Arkansas state championship game, where she poured in 31 points, 20 rebounds and seven steals.
Brandimore, a 6-foot-4 forward out of Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee, averaged 24.9 points, 13.6 rebounds and three blocks as a junior last year.
"Cecilie holds a special place in this class as our first 2026 commitment," Harper said. "From the moment we spoke, I knew she reflected the Mizzou DNA and culture we are building here. Her pace, versatility, and ability to stretch the floor make her a perfect fit for our system."
Brandimore earned First Team All-District honors following her 2024-25 season. She chose Mizzou over Minnesota, Belmont, UIC, Lipscomb, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Murray State, and UT Martin.
Mueller, a 6-foot-3 forward out of high school powerhouse Dowling Catholic in West Des Moines, Iowa, is ranked the No. 5 prospect in the state by Prep Hoops Iowa.
"Ellie has an uncommon basketball IQ that will elevate our program on every possession," Harper said. "Her decision-making and offensive efficiency, combined with her length, allow her to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Coming from a well-coached and accomplished program in Downing Catholic, Ellie is a tremendous addition to our locker room and program culture."
The signee is a two-time All-State selection following a first-team honor last year and was selected to the Central Iowa Metropolitan League Conference first team. A dynamic rebounder, she averaged 12.0 boards per game as a junior.
Mueller chose Mizzou over Kansas, Creighton, Minnesota and Iowa.
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