Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Women's Basketball Signs Three To Class of `08
February 13, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2004
Princeton, N.J. - Three high school seniors committed early decision to Princeton, setting the pace for another exceptional class of women's basketball recruits. The group includes Meagan Cowher, a 6'1" swing player from Fox Chapel High School in Pittsburgh, Pa.; Ali Prichard, a 5'11" shooting guard from Apple Valley, Minn.; and Ariel Rogers, a 5'11" forward from Evanston, Ill.
All three incoming freshmen desired to play for a growing program and found an exact match in Princeton. Cowher, a 1,000-point scorer at Fox Chapel, said, "the coaches were personable, the players were well-rounded and focused, and the program itself was climbing upward while claiming a new identity. Having a chance to be a part of that journey was very appealing."
Cowher is ranked by All-Star Girls' Report as one of the best wings/forwards in the nation and is a Pittsburgh Post Gazette North Fab Five Selection. She was the Coca-Cola Freshman Basketball Player of the Year for Western Pennsylvania and was named to the all-section first team in her first three years so far. Cowher's father is Steelers coach Bill Cowher. Joining Cowher is shooting guard Prichard, who has played varsity basketball at Apple Valley High School since she was in the eighth grade and has accumulated over 1,000 career points. She was named all-conference as a freshman, sophomore and junior. A Miss Basketball top 25 finalist in Minnesota, Prichard also excelled with her AAU program that was state champion in 2000 and a national tournament participant in 2000 and 2003. She was one of just six players nominated for MVP of the under-17 division in her state.
Like Cowher, a major reason Prichard chose Princeton was the program's recent growth and attitude towards the future.
"The challenge of being part of building a successful team is very appealing to me," Prichard says. "I know the coaches will push me to grow as a person and as a player. I am smiling right now just thinking about what the next four years will bring."
Rogers, who leads Evanston High School in points, rebounds and blocked shots, agreed.
"I felt Coach Barron's determination and immediately wanted to be a part of a program with a coach who speaks so passionately about the future," Rogers says.
Rogers was named a 2003-04 Chicagoland Area Top 50 Player by the Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Tribune and was a member of the Illinois Hustle AAU team that was runner-up for the 2003 national championship.