BREAKING IN!!! Buzz is building around USD as the leading contender to land both Alyssa Bartlett and Tori Schlagel if USD secure both, Carrie Eighmey might be the…see more
BREAKING IN!!! Buzz is building around USD as the leading contender to land both Alyssa Bartlett and Tori Schlagel — if USD secures both, Carrie Eighmey might be the game-changer South Dakota basketball needs
Excitement is swirling around the University of South Dakota’s women’s basketball program as momentum builds in their pursuit of two highly sought-after recruits
— Alyssa Bartlett and Tori Schlagel. Though both players have already verbally committed to the Coyotes, sources indicate that final confirmations are pending, and rival programs are making last-minute pushes to sway their decisions. However, with Coach Carrie Eighmey leading the charge, USD seems poised to seal the deal and potentially reshape its future.
Alyssa Bartlett, a dynamic 5’7” point guard from Iowa, is widely regarded for her court vision, leadership, and aggressive tempo. She has led her high school in assists and scoring, proving herself as a floor general with the poise to control big games. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Tori Schlagel brings a sharp-shooting presence as a 5’9” guard with a strong perimeter game and a high basketball IQ. Schlagel’s ability to score off the dribble or play within a system makes her an ideal backcourt partner to complement Bartlett’s playmaking.
If both players officially sign, it would mark a major recruiting win for Coach Eighmey in just her second year with the program. The former Nebraska-Kearney coach has already begun turning heads with her forward-thinking style and emphasis on player development. Securing Bartlett and Schlagel not only boosts the Coyotes’ immediate talent pool but also signals that USD is now a serious contender on the regional recruiting map.
More than just individual talent, Bartlett and Schlagel represent the culture Eighmey is trying to build — one based on toughness, versatility, and smart basketball. Their potential pairing could form the foundation of a new core that elevates USD in the Summit League and possibly into national mid-major relevance.
With Grace Larkins set to graduate soon and a reshuffling of key roles expected, these recruits could be stepping into starting roles early in their college careers. That prospect has excited Coyote fans and insiders alike, many of whom believe this could be a turning point for the program.
Should Eighmey finalize the commitments, it might just cement her status not only as a savvy recruiter but as the transformative figure South Dakota women’s basketball has been waiting for.
