Maryland women’s basketball signs the nation’s fourth-best 2018 recruiting class

The Maryland women’s basketball team secured the nation’s fourth-best 2018 recruiting class on Wednesday, per a release.

The class, consisting of three players who are ranked in ESPN’s top-35, includes the nation’s No. 3 overall player, 6-foot-5 forward Shakira Austin.

Austin, an Upper Marlboro native, is the country’s second-best forward. She averaged 18 points and 12.3 rebounds per game at Colonial Forge High School in Virginia last season.

[Read more: Leaders are emerging for Maryland women’s basketball after the team lost its top scorers]

The class also includes point guard Taylor Mikesell and post player Olivia Owens, the No. 32 and No. 33 players in ESPN’s top-100, respectively.

Mikesell, from Massillon, Ohio, was the No. 9 point guard in the nation after averaging 22.5 points for Jackson High School last season. Owens is the fifth-best post player, according to ESPN, averaging 20.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game for Niskayuna High School in New York last season.

This is Frese’s 12^th top-10 recruiting class at Maryland.