Three weeks after coaching UConn women’s basketball in the 2022 national championship game, Coach Geno Auriemma went to Alabama to watch an AAU basketball tournament. He was there to see Ashlynn Shade, a junior guard who had already committed to play for UConn. But it was a freshman from Baltimore, Kelis Fisher, who caught his attention.

“I was watching Ashlynn play, and Kelis was on the other team,” Coach Auriemma said. “She did some amazing things, and I was surprised because she was only a freshman. Then Kelis said, ‘I want to come to UConn,’ and she stuck with it. She’s tough, loyal, and perfect for our team.”

Six months later, Kelis attended UConn’s First Night event and accepted a scholarship offer from Auriemma. By her sophomore year, she officially committed to the Huskies, and last November, she signed her letter of intent. Now, Kelis is finishing her high school career at IMG Academy in Florida and will head to UConn in just four months.

“I’m ready to graduate and get to UConn,” Kelis said. “It’s my dream to win a championship and help my team however I can.”

Kelis, a 5-foot-9 guard ranked as the No. 27 player in her class by ESPN, showed UConn fans what to expect during a big game at Springfield College. She scored 27 points, making 8 of her 14 shots and going 11-for-12 on free throws. Her strong performance helped IMG dominate the game.

IMG’s coach, Frank Oliver Jr., said Kelis has improved a lot since joining IMG as a sophomore. “She’s worked hard and matured on the court. She’ll be ready for the challenges at UConn,” he said.

Kelis knew choosing UConn was the right decision for her. “It’s one of the best things I’ve done,” she said. “But it made people want to challenge me more, so I had to prove myself. I just kept working hard to get better.”

At UConn, Kelis plans to wear jersey No. 7—the same number she wore when she first started playing basketball at age seven. She’ll be the first UConn player to wear that number because the NCAA only recently allowed players to wear numbers from 6 to 9.

Coach Auriemma has high hopes for Kelis. “She’s fearless, a great rebounder for her size, and getting better at shooting. She has a chance to make a big impact on our team,” he said.

Before she heads to UConn, Kelis plans to enjoy her last days of high school, spend time with her family, and keep training. “I’m going to miss home, but I can’t wait for what’s next,” she said.

Kelis has been nominated to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game, and her coach believes she has a bright future ahead. “Kelis can go far—maybe even to the WNBA,” Coach Oliver said. “She just needs to keep working hard and chasing her dreams.”