Class of 2025 four-star prospect per ESPN, Zhen Craft, has cut her list of potential schools to six programs. The 6-foot-2 wing from Forestville, Maryland will make her college decision between Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Craft tells 247Sports that her relationships with these schools led to them making it into her top-6.
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“For me, I’m a big relationship person. So, all of these schools have been talking to me since the beginning of my recruitment,” she said to 247Sports. “I’ve been with Team Takeover and my coach for so long and I want that in a college. Relationships are important for me since I’m going to be away from home.”
As of now, Craft plans on visiting each program on her list and she has already scheduled her first two stops. She will be visiting Florida on September 6-8, but this will come after she visits Georgia on June 20-22. All of her visits will be wrapped up by the winter as she she hopes to make her college decision by December.
“From now, until I make my decision, I want to see which schools continue to build that relationship with me,”she said. “I want to see their atmospheres, watch some practices and see their playing styles. I’m a pretty versatile player, but certain playstyles won’t fit everybody. Outside of that, I want to see aspects like where would I be living and if my parents can get there. I decided to stay on the East Coast with my recruitment just in case anything happens, my parents can get there rather quickly. Those are definitely factors.”
Craft will also consider the school’s education in her decision as she aims to earn an Architectural Design degree with a minor in Business or Engineering.
Craft broke down each of her finalists with 247Sports:
Georgia: “I love the coaching staff across the board. I love Coach Abrahamson, Aliyah, Isoken, all the assitant coaches and support staff. I went down there on an unofficial visit with my family and it was really good. We just spent a hour talking to the coaches, getting to know them and that’s something I didn’t really do with other schools. They’re also an all female staff, so they’ve been through the same patterns I’ve been through. It was a really cool experience and an eye-opening experience. They told me about themselves and were open with me which all the coaches have done.”
Florida: “They made my list from the relationship I’ve built with Coach Kelly. I love her personality and all the coaches personality across her staff. Her personality and vibe is very cool, calm and collected, but she also has the energy to push me. They’re also an all female staff. When I took my unofficial down there, I really liked it. So, hopefully, going on the official I’ll see some things I didn’t on the unofficial. It’s also Florida. Can you really complain about Florida?”
Florida State: “Florida State made my list from the history of the program and how far they made it in the tournament. I wasn’t really aware of Florida State until I continued watching them and started talking to them during the recruitment process. I really want to get down there to see how it is because I haven’t been down there before.”
Miami: “I really liked the old coaching staff, but even when Coach Katie retired they were still quick to pick up my recruitment and re-offer me. With them, they have a winning program and two years ago they did really good in the tournament which all these schools have. I’m not opposed to going in and building a legacy and taking that school to the top. It’s also Miami, so can you really hate the location. I really want to get down there since I haven’t been able to get there since they started recruiting me.”
Virginia: “I love the coaches. They’re a little bit closer, so I’ve been down there more than any other school which has really helped in this process. I have connections there like McNamara Alum, Yonta Vaughn. I talk to her a lot. I also have my old AAU teammate Hawa Doumbouya who just transferred there, I really love them both. They also have O (Olivia McGhee) from IMG Academy, Kymora (Johnson) and Paris (Clark). Those names alone is a great lineup that I would love to play with. I’ve known them and their style of play from playing against them and with them. It’s also close to home and I like the campus.”
Virginia Tech: “They just got a new staff, but I talked to all of these coaches before. I talked to Coach Duffy at Marquette, Coach Itoro from UNC, Coach Zoll from Penn State and then Coach Jen from Kentucky. All those schools were recruiting me, so when they all came together I knew it would be really good. I’ve talked to all of them for so long and I love their personalities and energy. I love Coach Duffy and Coach Zoll’s energy. They’re an all women staff too and just so full of energy when I talk to them. I really want to see this season how they turn it up and how they do in the tournament and regular season. Their education is really good as well.”
