Arizona Women's Basketball

Arizona women’s hoops enhances rebounding, interior scoring & perimeter defense with Class of 2027 signees

Posted on
Share



Arizona media-relations provided information for this report

Arizona women’s basketball has signed four student-athletes to its 2027 recruiting class, head coach Becky Burke announced Wednesday.

Arizona’s 2027 signing class features three ESPN Top 100 prospects for the second consecutive year, continuing the program’s recruiting momentum with four highly regarded signees from California, Connecticut, Canada and New York.

The class includes guards Brieana Brown and Corinne Lomax and forwards Ashley Vande Ven and Celsy Colombo.

“This is a really exciting class for us because we were able to add size and athleticism at every position,” Burke said. “All four of these young ladies are highly ranked players who have competed and proven themselves to be amongst the best in the country at their respective positions.

“What we love most, is that they’re great fits for us here at Arizona. We want players who are coachable, competitive and of great character, and this group checks all of those boxes. We’re not just adding really talented basketball players, we’re adding great families to our Arizona family, and I think our fans are going to love getting to know and cheering for this group.”

Brieana Brown

6-0 | Guard | San Diego, Calif. | Francis Parker School

Brown is a four-star prospect and ESPN Top 100 recruit ranked No. 40 nationally and is regarded as the No. 1 wing in California.

A consistent double-double producer and Francis Parker team captain, Brown has helped lead the Lancers to two CIF championships, including a Division II title in 2024 and an Open Division championship in 2026. She earned championship MVP honors in both title runs, taking home Division II Championship MVP honors in 2024 and Open Division Championship MVP honors in 2026.

Brown has also won two Adidas 3SSB 17U championships with 7 Days, giving her four championship victories across her high school and club careers. She is a two-time First Team All-CIF selection and two-time first-team all-league honoree and was named San Diego Sports Association Athlete of the Month in January 2025.

“I chose Arizona because it felt like home,” Brown said. “I knew that this program would give me the opportunity to grow both as a player and a person and push me to succeed every day at a high level. I want to win, and I know this will be the place to do it.”

Corinne Lomax

6-1 | Guard | Watertown, Conn. | Tabor Academy

Lomax is a four-star prospect and ESPN Top 100 recruit ranked No. 65 nationally.

She was named the 2026 Independent School League MVP and earned All-NEPSAC AAA honors during her junior season. Lomax reached 1,000 career high school points in 2025 before surpassing 1,000 career rebounds in 2026.

She was selected to the 2026 Boston Herald All-Scholar Team and the Adidas 3SSB Girls Session II All-Session Team. Lomax is also a two-time All-Naugatuck Valley selection, earning the honor in 2023 and 2024.

“From my very first conversations with Coach Becky and Coach James (Ewing), I knew Arizona was somewhere special,” Lomax said. “When I stepped on campus in Tucson, I immediately felt a connection and knew it was a place I could call home. I love Coach Becky’s energy, passion and competitiveness, and I’m excited to be part of her vision to win big and help build something special. Bear Down!”

Ashley Vande Ven

6-3 | Forward | Vancouver, British Columbia | Crestwood Prep

Vande Ven is a four-star prospect and ESPN Top 100 recruit ranked No. 82 nationally.

Vande Ven has represented Team Canada in multiple international competitions, helping Canada earn a silver medal at the 2025 FIBA U16 AmeriCup before competing at the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup.

She captured a BC junior provincial championship in 2023 and a BC 3A senior provincial championship in 2024, earning Finals Player of the Game honors in both championship runs. Vande Ven was also named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2024 and again at the 2025 BC 4A championships.

She was named MVP of the 2024 CYBL All-Star Game and earned second-team all-star recognition at the 2025 BC 4A championships.

“I chose Arizona because I know this is a place where I will get the opportunity to grow and be pushed both on and off the court,” Vande Ven said. “I also believe that Coach Burke and the entire staff are building something special, and I want to be a part of it.”

Celsy Colombo

6-4 | Forward | Yorkshire, N.Y. | St. Mary’s of Lancaster

Colombo is a four-star prospect ranked No. 36 nationally and No. 11 among forwards by Prospects Nation. She is also ranked No. 38 nationally and No. 10 among power forwards by 247Sports and is the No. 2 prospect in New York’s Class of 2027 by both 247Sports and Prep Girls Hoops.

Colombo has been part of the USA Basketball pipeline, earning a spot as one of 22 finalists for the 2025 USA Women’s U16 National Team after being selected from 52 trials invitees. She returned to participate in the 2026 USA Women’s U17 National Team Trials after attending the program’s April minicamp.

A three-year Nike Girls EYBL player with Exodus NYC, Colombo earned 2025 Nike Girls EYBL 16U All-Tournament Second Team honors while ranking third in the division with 2.0 blocks per game. At the high school level, she earned New York Class A Fourth Team All-State honors at Pioneer in 2024-25 before being named First Team All-Catholic and First Team All-Western New York following her junior season at St. Mary’s.

Colombo enters her senior season just 60 points shy of 1,000 for her high school career.

“I chose the University of Arizona for many reasons, but the biggest being the coaching staff,” Colombo said. “Coach James and Coach Burke have been there through every high and low since seventh grade. I’ve attended every UB camp, and they’ve gotten to see my growth both on and off the court. When I went on my visit, every coach welcomed me and all the girls took me in. I could see myself fitting perfectly into the system, and I know that with the coaching staff and the opportunities they provide, I can continue to grow and reach my full potential. From the coaches, to the players, to the atmosphere, everything felt right. I knew I was home.”

The four signees will join the Wildcats beginning with the 2027-28 season.

They give Burke an impressive combination of size and versatility on both sides of the court.

  • Brieana Brown: Perimeter scoring, rebounding and leadership ability.
  • Celsy Colombo: Interior scoring, rebounding and rim protection.
  • Corinne Lomax: Athleticism, perimeter defense, rebounding and transition play.
  • Ashley Vande Ven: International experience, shooting, rebounding and frontcourt versatility.

The big picture is that Burke is continuing to build through high school recruiting rather than relying exclusively on the transfer portal.

Arizona’s 2026 recruiting class is No. 10 nationally in ESPN’s rankings and is the second-highest rated class in the Big 12 (Baylor is at No. 5).

Biggest takeaway: Arizona is recruiting length and versatility. Having a 6-foot-4 forward in Colombo, a physical 6-foot wing in Lomax, internationally experienced 6-foot-2 forward in Vande Ven and a proven double-double producer and winner in Brown gives Burke several different lineup combinations to develop.

More info on each recruit:

Celsy Colombo

Position: Forward/Power Forward

    Height: 6-foot-4

    Hometown: Yorkshire, N.Y.

    High School: St. Mary’s High School, Lancaster, N.Y.

    Club: Exodus NYC (Nike EYBL)

    Recruiting status: Four-star, Arizona signee

    High school production (junior season):

    • 10.7 points per game
    • 7.7 rebounds per game
    • 1.2 steals per game
    • 2.2 blocked shots per game
    • 58% shooting on two-pointers
    • 30% from three-point range
    • 73% free-throw shooting
      Recruiting background:
    • Ranked No. 38 nationally by 247Sports.
    • Ranked No. 53 by Rivals.
    • Ranked No. 36 by Prospects Nation.
    • ESPN assigned her a scouting grade of 91.
    • A finalist for the 2025 USA Basketball U16 National Team.
    • Participated in the 2026 U17 national team trials.
      Colombo chose Arizona over programs including Syracuse, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, DePaul and NC State.

    What she brings: Colombo has the size to play inside, rebound and protect the basket. She also has the ability to step outside and shoot, giving Burke a potentially versatile frontcourt player.

    Corinne Lomax

    Position: Wing

      Height: 6-foot

      Hometown: Watertown, Conn.

      High School: Tabor Academy, Marion, Mass.

      Previous School: Holy Cross, Waterbury, Conn.

      Club: Lady Rivals (Adidas 3SSB)

      Recruiting status: Four-star, Arizona commitment

      Some places just feel different!

      @corinne_lo34 knew Arizona was the place for her. https://t.co/b5cUDRFiDn— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaWBB) November 11, 2026

      High school production (junior season):

      • 15.5 points per game
      • 10.4 rebounds per game
      • 2.7 steals per game
      • Reached 1,000 career points.
        Recruiting background:
      • Ranked No. 65 nationally by ESPN.
      • Ranked No. 11 among wings by ESPN.
      • Four-star prospect according to ESPN and Prospects Nation.
      • One of only two players averaging a double-double during the first session of the Adidas 3SSB circuit.
        Lomax attracted interest from Boston College, Memphis, Miami, Wisconsin, Georgia, Texas A&M and Penn State, among others.

      What she brings: Lomax is an athletic, physical wing who can rebound, defend multiple positions and contribute offensively. Her ability to attack the basket and play with a high motor makes her an interesting addition to Arizona’s perimeter rotation.

      Ashley Vande Ven

      Position: Forward

        Height: 6-foot-2

        Hometown: Langley, British Columbia, Canada

        High School: Crestwood Preparatory College, Toronto, Ontario

        National Team: Canada

        Recruiting status: Four-star, Arizona commitment

        International production:

        2025 FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup

        • 8.2 points per game
        • 5.2 rebounds per game
        • 2.2 assists per game
        • 2.2 steals per game
        • 68.3% field-goal shooting
        • 40% three-point shooting
          She helped Canada win a silver medal and earned second-team all-tournament recognition.

        2026 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup

        • 10.6 points per game
        • 7.4 rebounds per game
        • 0.9 assists per game
        • 0.7 steals per game
        • 1.0 blocked shot per game
          Canada finished fourth in the tournament. Vande Ven led the Canadian team in rebounding and blocked shots.

        Recruiting background:

        • Ranked No. 82 in ESPN’s SC Next 100.
        • ESPN scouting grade of 92.
        • Four-star prospect according to Prospects Nation.
        • Listed in Prospects Nation’s Elite 150.
        • Has Canadian and American national eligibility according to FIBA.
          She attended Crestwood Prep in Toronto, a program that has also produced prominent players Aaliyah Edwards and Toby Fournier.

        What she brings: Vande Ven is a skilled forward who can stretch the floor with her outside shooting. Her international experience, rebounding and defensive versatility are particularly attractive qualities.

        print
        Print Friendly, PDF & Email
        Related Items:, , , , , ,

        Recommended for you

        Comments
        To Top