Cooper girls basketball star Haylee Noel announced on Tuesday afternoon her commitment to the University of South Florida.
She chose the Bulls from 25 offers, her first coming from Arkansas during the summer after her seventh grade season. She was originally offered by USF in July 2025.
"Basketball has such a huge part of my life, and from the moment I fell in love with the game, I knew I wanted to continue playing at the collegiate level. The early mornings, late nights, long practices, the wins, the losses, the friendships I've made have all been a special part of my journey," Noel said in a video posted to Instagram.
Ever since she stepped onto the varsity court in 2021, Noel has been one of the top players in the Ninth Region and the state.
She was a key player as Cooper made history as the first girls team to win four straight regional titles and played in the state semifinals in 2022 and 2024.
She is the two-time defending Ninth Region Player of the Year and enters her senior season with 1,685 career points and 782 rebounds. Her career-high of 42 points came in a 69-63 win over district rival Ryle on Jan. 15, 2026.
Noel will be the face of Cooper basketball season as the Jaguars embark on the season with their third head coach in as many seasons, looking to reclaim the Ninth Region title. She is also a serious candidate for this year's Miss Basketball award, an honor not won by a Northern Kentucky girls since Ryle Maddie Scherr did so in 2020.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cooper girls basketball star Haylee Noel commits to South Florida
