On the last day of the early signing period, Arkansas' women's basketball Coach Jimmy Dykes landed highly recruited forward-guard Aaliyah Wilson.
Wilson, 5-10 of Muskogee, Okla., picked the Razorbacks over more than 20 scholarship offers, including Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, LSU, Rutgers and Kansas. ESPN rates her a 5-star recruit, the No. 5 guard and No. 30 overall prospect in the nation.
In recent years, only junior Razorback forward Jessica Jackson, who was rated the No. 4 forward and No. 17 overall prospect, was rated higher as a high school senior by ESPN.
Dykes' passion for the program was a major reason for her taking an official visit to Fayetteville on Oct. 23-25 and signing with Arkansas.
"How passionate Coach Dykes is about the game," Wilson said. "I can't get pass that. Every time we talked and his plans for the future. ... It was unbelievable how passionate he is."
Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.9 steals a game as a junior and was named the Oklahoma Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
She also cited academics along with the people at Arkansas for her decision.
"The fans and the people in the state of Arkansas and the way they care about their student-athletes," said Wilson shortly after her signing. "I don't have words right now. I'm still nervous and excited from signing."
Dykes was thrilled to add Wilson to the program.
"Aaliyah Wilson is one of the top players in the entire country in the 2016 class, Dykes said. "She is an explosive attacking guard who is a very physical defender. She is a terrific rebounder and can score in multiple ways. She has a chance to be special."
Wilson joins guard Jailyn Mason, center Yasmeen Ratliff, forward Sydney Stout and forward Kiara William in the 2016 class.