Natalie Kussow will make the short move to Minnesota to continue her basketball career at the collegiate level.
Kussow, a Class of 2026 prospect, committed to the Golden Gophers. She is currently in her senior season at Hartland Arrowhead High School in Wisconsin.
MORE: Top Illinois high school football team has game vs. Florida school canceled
The 5-foot-11 guard held offers from Michigan, Duke, Iowa and Purdue. But it was the Golden Gophers who made the biggest impression on her for her future.
"I'm incredibly excited and honored to announce my commitment to the University of Minnesota to further my academic and athletic career," Kussow posted on social media. "I would like to thank my family, friends, coaches and everyone who has supported me along the way."
Kussow was named the Gatorade 2024-25 Girls Basketball Player of the Year in Wisconsin. She posted almost 27 points per game with 10 rebounds, nearly four steals, three assists and a block.
She became the first girls basketball player from her high school to be named by Gatorade. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel named her player of the year for Southeast Wisconsin, as espnW ranks her as the No. 16 recruit in the country for the Class of 2026.
Erik Loose, the head coach of Muskego High School, called Kussow "a special player."
"She has a very high basketball IQ, great instincts and can score at all three levels," Loose said. "As much game-planning as possible may be able to limit her scoring - if you're lucky - but it's nearly impossible to prevent her from impacting the game in multiple ways."
Arrowhead won the 2024 girls state basketball championship in Wisconsin, falling in the WIAA Division I semifinals last year.
MORE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NEWS:
- Pair of eight-player teams collide in Iowa on NFHS
- Top high school wrestling prospect narrows down college choices
- Looking ahead to top Week 2 games in Iowa high school football