Women's Basketball | 6/17/2024 3:34:00 PM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Coach Heather Macy and staff added two top-notch local freshmen to the 2024-25 recruiting class for Barry Women's Basketball for the upcoming season.

"When we came to the 305, we said when we would only recruit top local talent, because good players want to play with other good players," Macy said. "I think in these two, we definitely got it."

The Bucs welcome two of the top-10 high school players in Dade County in guard Kaliyah Morales and post Unique Horton. Morales was ranked the fourth-best player in Miami-Dade County by Miami High School Basketball. Horton was ranked seventh.

Morales, a 5-9 guard, from powerhouse Miami Country Day School where she played under coach Ochiel Swaby, is a three-time state champion with the Spartans. As a senior, she averaged 10.0 points, 4.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals as MCD went 22-8 and won the 3A state title. She shot 45.7 percent from the floor and 71.7 percent from the line. Over her four years, the Spartans went 90-27.

"I'm so thrilled Kaliyah made the choice to stay in the Shores and chase a National Title with us," Macy said. "She's exactly the type of guard we look for with length, IQ and a total winner. When Kaliyah said yes, our program elevated immediately."

"I chose Barry because of how welcoming my visit was," Morales said. "I loved the campus, location, and the broadcasting program. I connected with Coach Macy from our first conversation, and nothing has changed since. I'm excited to get on campus and play!"

Horton, a 6-3 post, played for coach Ben Drummer at Somerset Academy for three seasons, before following the coach to Southridge High for her senior year. She helped lead the Spartans to a 20-7 mark and the regional semi-finals. As a senior, she averaged 9.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. She shot 56.0 percent from the floor. 

"Another great local win for our program," Macy said. "Unique's ability to protect the rim is going to be a game changer. She is a competitor with fire, and we cannot wait to watch her grow, get stronger, and help us play for titles."

"I chose Barry because the campus immediately felt like home to me," Horton said. "From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the welcoming atmosphere."

The two players join the early signees to form a strong freshman cohort for the Bucs. Early signees 5–8 international point guard Kornelia Ignerska from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Georgia and 6-0 wing Zoë Adams from Ravenscroft High in North Carolina both had excellent senior seasons. Ignerska led the Eagles to a 17-10 mark, averaging five points and five assists. She shot 83 percent from the line and 39 percent from the floor. Adams averaged a team-best 15.3 points per game for the 19-9 Ravens. She chipped in 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.3 steals while shooting 43 percent from the floor.

Early Signees - Ignerska and Adams