Olivia Nelson-Ododa, a 6-foot-4 post player and the No. 5 prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100, announced on Wednesday that she is signing with Connecticut.

"They have a legendary program," Nelson-Ododa said. "And I felt like I could really get a balance of athletics and academics."

That news about Connecticut having a down year on the recruiting trail is so last week.

The Huskies, who started the early signing period without a commitment, are walking away with one of the top classes in the country. In addition to Nelson-Ododa's commitment, No. 1 prospect Christyn Williams announced on Friday that she has signed with UConn.

In Nelson-Ododa, UConn is getting a quick and versatile post player who can impact a game with her offense and defense. She can stretch her defender to the arc or score with a soft touch at the rim. Her long wingspan and uncanny leaping ability make her a dreaded defender.

Nelson-Ododa averaged a team-high 12.0 points and 9.4 rebounds and won a bronze medal with Williams and Team USA at the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship in Zaragoza, Spain. She said she has not yet shared her news with her future classmate but watched when Williams announced her choice by trotting out a real Husky. The two made their official visits to the UConn campus together.

"I'm really excited to play with her," Nelson-Ododa said of Williams. "Over the past year I've gotten to know her better."

Nelson-Ododa, who also was considering Duke, South Carolina, Florida State and Georgia, said she spent the last few weeks analyzing her visits and the programs she was considering with input from her parents. She called coach Geno Auriemma Monday night to tell him that she had arrived at a decision. She had him on speaker phone with her mom, Heather, and dad, Alonzo, a former player at Huntington University and the Kenyan national team, listening in.

"He was really excited about it," Nelson-Ododa said of Auriemma. "That was the fun part about it. He just didn't see it coming."

In addition to getting to know Williams better, Nelson-Ododa said she returned home from her trip to Storrs impressed with the UConn program, the family atmosphere and winning culture. She's also a big fan of the players already on the roster.

"I just really felt comfortable with everybody," she said. "It was great getting to know the coaches and the team."

The senior at Georgia's Winder-Barrow High School has been sidelined since January after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured kneecap and a torn medial patellofemoral. She has been cleared for contact and is hoping to return to the floor soon. At UConn, she plans to pursue a degree in the medical field.

"The plan," she said, "is to go in and work hard."