ANCHORAGE (May 8) – One of the top prep talents in Washington is headed north as Alaska Anchorage women's basketball coach Ryan McCarthy announced Wednesday that Kiara Stone has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Seawolves.

A 5-7 point guard from Tacoma, Stone was a News Tribune First Team All-Area selection and the South Puget Sound League North Division Defensive MVP as a junior in 2022-23, leading Bellarmine Prep to a 23-9 record and the 4A State Tournament quarterfinals. After averaging 15.7 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 steals in the regular season, she also captured WIAA All-State Tournament honors with a tourney-high 62 points in three games. Stone missed the majority of her senior season with an injury.

"Kiara is one of the best players to come out of the state of Washington this year," said McCarthy. "We are thrilled she chose UAA and think she has a very high ceiling in terms of the kind of career she can have here. Our past four-year point guards – Kiki Robertson, Yazmeen Goo and Nicole Pinkney – have all won championships and been instrumental in our success. Kiara is absolutely worthy of that company, and has the potential for a special career. She is a three-level scorer and has a natural feel for the game on both ends of the floor."

Stone is the fifth player to sign with the Seawolves this spring and the first high schooler, joining transfers Telia Graham (5-11, G/F, Minneapolis, Minn./Minnehaha Academy/Mineral Area [Mo.] College), Hedda Kohne (6-1, F/C, Lette, Germany/Otero [Colo.] JC), Noa Muranaka (G, 5-8, Toyama, Japan/Allen County [Kan.] CC) and Kenzie Sirowich (5-11, F, Seymour, Conn./SHS/Franklin Pierce).