BYU’s Amber Whiting Hits Recruiting Trail With First Scholarship Offer
May 24, 2022, 3:03 PM
BYU women's basketball coach Amber Whiting previously coached at Burley High in Idaho. (Photo courtesy of BYU)
(Photo courtesy of BYU)
PROVO, Utah – One of the big selling points for BYU to hire Amber Whiting is her potential on the recruiting trail.
Whiting boasts strong connections in the AAU circuit, having directed the Utah Hard Knox. She’s also the mother to one of the nation’s top 2023 recruits Amari Whiting, who is currently committed to Oregon. That has given Coach Whiting a front-row experience in big-time recruiting in women’s hoops.
Since being appointed to fill the shoes left behind by Jeff Judkins, Whiting has made recruiting a top priority.
“I want to start with recruiting. The relationships in recruiting are super, super important. And I feel like I can connect to players really well,” Whiting said in her introductory press conference held on Zoom.
Amber Whiting extends first scholarship offer as BYU head coach
Whiting gave a glimpse into the type of prospects she will be recruiting to BYU with her first scholarship offer. As head coach, the first athlete to land a BYU offer from Whiting was Ali’a Matavao.
Beyond thankful and blessed to have received an offer from BYU! Thank you @mamawhiting @byuwbb for this opportunity! #BYU #GoCougs 🐾 @NatWillBBall @LHSPats pic.twitter.com/OSuEJOx6sc
— Ali’a (@Aliamatavao) May 24, 2022
Matavao is a 6-foot forward that averaged 13.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.1 steals per game for Liberty High in Henderson, Nevada. Her play earned Matavao the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year award for Girls Basketball in the Silver State.
Ali’a Matavao is a teammate of Amari Whiting in the 3SSB circuit
Matavao is a teammate of Amari Whiting on the Natalie Williams Basketball Academy that competes in the Adidas 3 Stripes Select circuit.
CONGRATULATIONS ALI'A 🌟🙌🏽😜@Aliamatavao Nevada Gatorade POY
NWBA 17u 3SSB is going to be Fierce😈@exposurebball_ @PBRhoops pic.twitter.com/LwarjAZiyE— NatalieWilliams (@NatWillBBall) March 9, 2022
Along with her offer from BYU, Matavao also reports offers from Hawaii and Cal State Fullerton. BYU is her first offer from a Power Six program.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
