EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon continues to add talent to its 2024-25 roster via the transfer portal, as the Ducks have signed Washington-transfer guard Ari Long, head women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves announced Friday.
Long, a 6-foot rising sophomore from Moreno Valley, Calif., was a four-star prospect and the nation’s 46th-ranked recruit in the 2023 recruiting class, according to espnW. She appeared in 17 games in her freshman campaign with the Huskies, averaging 4.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game while shooting 41.1 percent from the floor.
Long set season highs with 18 points and five rebounds in her second collegiate outing against N.C. Central, going 8-for-15 from the field, after dropping 10 points against Sacramento State in her UW debut.
She enjoyed a highly decorated prep career at Valley View High School, where she left as the program’s all-time leader with 3,084 points, 1,320 rebounds, 468 assists, 439 steals, 366 made 3-pointers and 216 blocks. Long led the Eagles to an 82-26 record in her four seasons, garnering four first-team all-Ivy League selections and two league MVP honors. Additionally, she was a 2023 McDonald’s All-America Game nominee and one of 50 players named to the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year watch list.
As a senior at Valley View, she amassed 1,021 points and led the state of California in scoring at 35.2 points a night. Long recorded a double-double in 28 of her last 29 contests and had scoring outputs of 61 (career high), 54 and 62 points.
Long will be a sophomore when the 2024-25 season begins and has three years of eligibility remaining.
Ari Long >> 6-0, Guard, Moreno Valley, Calif.
Spent the 2023-24 season at Washington, appearing in 17 games … Averaged 4.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 10.8 minutes a night while shooting 41.1 percent from the floor and 25.0 percent from the 3-point line … Twice scored in double figures, with a season-high 18 points and five rebounds coming against N.C. Central in her second collegiate game, going 8-for-15 from the floor … Dropped 10 points in her UW debut against Sacramento State on Nov. 6, 2023 … A four-year letterwinner at Valley View High School, she won two CIF SS Ivy League titles and was a three-time Ivy League MVP … Rated as four-star prospect and the No. 46 player in the 2023 recruiting class by espnW … Ranked as the fourth-highest prospect in the state of California and ninth true point guard in the country … Averaged 28.0 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 2.0 blocks per game in her high school career … Led the state of California in scoring her senior season at 35.2 points per game, scoring 1,021 points while shooting at a 47 percent clip … Registered a double-double in 28 of her last 29 games played, and produced games of 61 points (career high), 54 and 52 … Finished her career with 3,084 points, 1,320 rebounds, 468 assists, 439 steals, 366 made 3-pointers and 216 blocks – all school records … Led the Eagles to an 82-26 record in four years and was a four-time all-Ivy League first-team selection in addition to being a two-time all-state first-team pick … Received the 2023 Inland Empire Basketball Outstanding Performance Award and was a 2023 McDonald’s All-America Game nominee … One of 50 players selected to the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year watch list.
Graves on Long: Ari brings so much versatility to our backcourt. She is an elite 3-point shooter and possesses the ability to make quick, smart decisions. She really excels in the open court and has great vision to distribute to teammates. She can score, defend and rebound at a high level and her competitive motor runs high. Ari’s work ethic and passion will be a welcome addition to our team and she’ll be a great fit into our system and culture.
