Northwestern University Athletics
Women's Basketball Inks Three on National Signing Day
11/8/2023 5:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Incoming first years include Xamiya Walton (Chicago, Ill.), Tayla Thomas (East Orange, N.J.) and Claire Keswick (Wrentham, Mass.).
"We're really excited about this year's class; all three are great, unselfish student-athletes," McKeown said on the group, "This class reminds me of some of the greatest classes that we've had at Northwestern, and I think they're all going to have a big impact on our program."
Xamiya Walton | Chicago, IL | Butler College Prep
No. 50 Recruit in the Class of 2024 (by ESPN HoopGurlz)
High School: Four year varsity player and captain…Averaged 23.3 PPG…Career high of 50 points…Over 2,000 total points in her first three years…Averaged 5.1 assists…Averaged 4.3 rebounds…Averaged 5 steals a game…Highest ranked recruit in Illinois in her class, 50th nationally…Associated Press First Team All-State as a freshman, sophomore and junior…Noble Conference player of the year as a sophomore and junior…First team all conference as a freshman, sophomore and junior…IHSA 2A 3-point champion…Holds IHSA record for most 3-pointers in one game with 15…Led her school to the most wins in school history in one season with 30…Led her school to their first state title…Hillcrest Holiday Classic Tournament MVP in 2021
AAU: Played for Illinois X-CITEMENT and Mac Irvin Lady Fire…First team all tournament at Run for the Roses 17u in 2022
Personal: Born Feb. 8, 2006…Daughter of Xaver and Quiana Walton…Dad played football at Western Illinois…Intends to major in journalism at Northwestern…First Illinois high school athlete with an NIL deal (sponsored by Shoot-A-Way)
Why Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because the school has everything! The academics, a beautiful campus, and I also want to major in sports journalism - there is no university that can compete with Medill School of Journalism. As it relates to basketball, I felt my abilities really fit very well here. The opportunity for me to help Northwestern Women's Basketball in the way that Veronica Burton did is a challenge that I value and I am ready for."
McKeown on Walton: "Xamiya is one of the most highly-recruited guards in the country and we're so excited that she decided to stay home and be a Wildcat. She has deep range and the ability to get to the rim. She can run a team and score in a lot of different ways."
It's official ??@MyMyBuckets is a Wildcat ?? pic.twitter.com/doaiVvCkqc
— Northwestern Women's Basketball (@nuwbball) November 8, 2023
Tayla Thomas | East Orange, NJ | IMG Academy
No. 56 Recruit in the Class of 2024 (by ESPN HoopGurlz)
High School: Three year varsity player…2022 co-captain…Averaged 8 PPG and 6 rebounds in 2021…Averaged 18 PPG and 16 rebounds in 2022…Averaged 4 PPG and 6 rebounds in 2023…Ranked by ESPN Girls Basketball in the Top-50 both sophomore and junior years.
AAU: Played for Essence-Nike as co-captain in 2023
Personal: Born Nov. 27, 2006 in Belleville, NJ…Daughter of Earl and Sabratha Thomas…Dad played basketball at Skidmore College…Brother Randy plays basketball at NJCU…Brother Nick plays football at Boston College…Intends to study business and marketing at Northwestern.
Why Northwestern: "When I narrowed it down, I decided to attend because of the combination of good basketball and great academics offered at Northwestern."
McKeown on Thomas: "Tayla comes from one of the most dominant programs in high school sports. She went through a thorough recruiting process and has the opportunity to make a really powerful impact in the Big Ten."
It's official ??@TaylaThomas18 is a Wildcat ?? pic.twitter.com/SR61Y3khS3
— Northwestern Women's Basketball (@nuwbball) November 8, 2023
Claire Keswick | Wrentham, MA | Tabor Academy
High School: Four-year varsity player…Captain senior year…Averaged 8.4 PPG, 1.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 steals in her junior season…Led team with a 0.44 3FG% and a 0.82 FT% in the 2022-23 season...Averaged 6.8 PPG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal her sophomore season...NEPSAC AA All-Star…2021-22 23-2 and NEPSAC AA New England Champions…Played varsity volleyball for two years as a setter.
AAU: Four-year player for Bay State Jaguars (GUAA)...Finished second of 32 teams in 2022 16U Under Armour League
Personal: Born March 10, 2005, in Newton, Mass…Daughter of Greg and Kristen Keswick…Mom played basketball and volleyball at Amherst College…High Honors freshman and junior year…Honors sophomore year…Participated in a Shot for Life, fundraising for cancer research…Led Zoom youth basketball clinics during the pandemic…Intends to major in economics at Northwestern.
Why Northwestern: "As soon as I set foot on campus, I knew I was home; the basketball team felt like a family and I was blown away by the academic and athletic facilities. With its abundance of resources and opportunities, Northwestern is everything I ever dreamed of, and I can't imagine a better place to grow as a student and an athlete. I am so excited to be a Wildcat!"
McKeown on Keswick: "Claire is a great student-athlete and had her choice of a lot of schools. In addition to being one of the premier shooters in high school basketball, she is smart and tough. The minute she walks on the court, she has a presence."
It's official ??@ClaireKeswick is a Wildcat ?? pic.twitter.com/bRRvMGgLZC
— Northwestern Women's Basketball (@nuwbball) November 8, 2023
