High school girls basketball: Huntley's Morgan Clausen commits to Brown

It didn’t take Morgan Clausen long to take a liking to Brown University. Two months ago, the Huntley senior girls basketball player hadn’t had any contact from the Ivy League school.

On Monday, she committed to play basketball for the Division I Bears after this season.

“It’s kind of crazy,” the 6-foot forward said Monday. “The first time we had any contact was in July. It hasn’t even been two months yet.”

Clausen visited the campus for two days in early August and said she knew it was the right place for her. She announced her commitment Monday via Twitter.

She said she had been in contact with 10 schools before her commitment and had received a lot of interest from Navy. Other schools included Manhattan College, Colorado College and Eastern Illinois.

Clausen averaged 9.9 points a game for Huntley as a junior. She played alongside Ali Andrews, who averaged 21.9 points and begins her freshman season at Illinois this fall. The pair helped lead Huntley to its third sectional title in four years.

Clausen is comfortable in the paint but said she has worked to develop a consistent 3-point shot. She prides herself on playing both inside and out, although she said she has to work on her ball handling.

Brown, located in Providence, Rhode Island, “has a city feel, while still having an at-home feel,” according to Clausen. Women’s basketball coach Sarah Behn is entering her third season in charge of the program after leading the Bears to their first winning record in four years last season.

There’s plenty to like academically, as well. Clausen carries a 4.2 GPA and is interested in biomedical sciences, although she has not decided what she wants to study in college. An Ivy League school will bring plenty of challenges.

“It’s a prestigious school, so the courses are going to be tough,” Clausen said. “Once I do get there, finding time to study before practice, that will be the biggest thing – trying to maintain high grades.”