Northwestern Women’s Basketball has its first recruit of the class of 2019 with a verbal commitment from three-star recruit Laya Hartman, according to a tweet from the high school junior:

Excited and blessed to announce my verbal commitment to Northwestern University where I will be continuing my academic and athletic career! #B1G #AGBTG pic.twitter.com/4sPB803Z1t

— Laya Hartman (@laya33h) April 11, 2018

Hartman, a 5-foot-11-inch guard from Okemos, Michigan, chose Northwestern over top programs including perennial powerhouse Tennessee and should be a key player for Northwestern in the years to come.

Hartman ranks just outside the espnW HoopGurlz Super 60 top recruits for the class of 2019 as the 13^th ranked guard in the country. (The 12^th ranked guard, Kemery Martin, is #56 overall.) Her scouting report refers to Hartman as an off-guard who is effective in an up-tempo offense, and a quick and agile defender who is active in passing lanes.

Hartman is a standout at Okemos High School, just outside of East Lansing, and the Detroit Free Press just named her an Honorable Mention All-State. Nearby Michigan State gave Hartman an offer before she started her ninth grade season.

Tennessee also recruited Hartman last year. Northwestern out-recruiting Tennessee, a consistent Final Four contender who has reached the NCAA tournament in every year of its existence, is quite impressive. Hartman’s commitment speaks to the recruiting prowess that Northwestern is gaining.

Hartman will join a crowded guard group in the fall of 2019 that should include Lindsey Pulliam, Jordan Hamilton and Sydney Wood all competing for significant minutes, among others. Northwestern should show a lot of three-guard looks in the coming years, and will have a deep bench. Hartman will likely not start right away but should see significant minutes for a Wildcats team that could lose only forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah after the 2018-19 season.