BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU women's basketball head coach Greg Collins and his staff have signed two Kentucky high school student-athletes. Mariella Claybrook and Claire Marshall will join the Lady Toppers for the 2027-28 season.
Claybrook is a 6-foot-2 forward from London, Kentucky and plays for North Laurel High School. Claybrook has led North Laurel to five district championships, four region championships, four State Tournaments and two Elite 8 appearances. She was named the 13th Region Player of the Year in 2026. She has earned All-Region honors twice in her career and All-District honors four times. As a junior, Claybrook averaged 18.2 points per game and 11.2 rebounds while shooting 55.6 percent from the field. She has scored over 1,000 career points.
On the AAU side, he played in the West Virginia Thunder program for coach Vez Smith.
"I'm thrilled to know Mariella is going to be a Lady Topper next season," said Collins. "She is absolutely one of the very top players in Kentucky. She's highly skilled, versatile, and an absolute competitor. She has consistently led North Laurel High School to the KHSAA State Tournament and performed great against the best competition in Kentucky. Mariella will shine in the lights of Diddle Arena!"
Marshall is a 6-foot-0 forward from Nicholasville, Kentucky and plays for West Jessamine High School. She has led West Jessamine to back-to-back district championships and helped the team win a region title for the first time in school history in 2026. Marshall was named All-Region as a freshman, sophomore and junior and has notched over 1,900 career points and 1,500 rebounds. As a junior, she averaged 13.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
On the AAU side, she also played in the West Virginia Thunder program for coach Scott Johnson.
"Claire is the ultimate teammate," said Collins. "She can score and she can rebound. She's one of the top players in Kentucky. Claire has had tremendous success and personal achievements at West Jessamine, but she never stops working and looking to grow. In her first ever State Tournament game, when her shots weren't falling, she grabbed 19 rebounds for her team, setting a tournament record. The bottom line is Claire is a winner!"
Lady Topper Legacy Club: If you are interested in making an impact with Lady Topper Basketball, consider joining the Lady Topper Legacy Club. The Lady Topper Legacy Club is an exclusive group of donors who give philanthropically in support of WKU Women's Basketball. Donations to the Lady Topper Legacy Club are used for a variety of things ranging from facility enhancements to charter flights to nutrition upgrades. All funds are spent at the discretion of the head women's basketball coach in order to enhance the program and the student-athlete experience. For more information, visit this link.
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on Lady Topper Hoops, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on X, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram, @WKU.WBB on TikTok and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
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