Highly-recruited 2026 prospect Emily McDonald breaks down recruitment

Highly-recruited 2026 prospect Emily McDonald is still wide open but is forming relationships with several high-profile programs.

“Academics comes first,” McDonald said. “I’m very big on the academic side and possibly want to go to med school. I definitely want a staff and a team that’s going to help balance practice and stuff around my academics and take academics as seriously as I do. The other thing is player development, because I have aspirations of going pro one day.”

She recently took a visit to Wake Forest and told On3 that she hopes to take a few visits this fall around football games. She noted that Michigan State , North Carolina , Indiana , Virginia Tech , Miami and Boston College are all programs she’s talked to about coming on campus this fall.

McDonald also said that, in addition to those schools, Syracuse , Rhode Island , Rutgers , Purdue , Penn State , Villanova , Marquette , Princeton , Harvard and Columbia are all in contact with her often.

“I’d say I’m pretty unselfish,” McDonald said of her game. “I used to not score the ball at all and only pass, but now I’m getting more confident and having a good mix.”

McDonald talked to On3 about her experiences with several programs involved in her recruitment.

Michigan State

“I went to a camp there this summer. I really liked the coaching staff and all the players and the campus. I like the location because it’s not too far from home but it’s not too close. It’s a pretty good distance. I feel like I can relate to the coaching staff and I get good vibes from them.”

Miami

“I recently just started talking with them. I really like Florida. I’m thinking of going to a prep school in Florida, but it’s still up in the air.”

UNC

“UNC has always been my dream school. It was pretty exciting when Courtney Banghart first reached out. I was supposed to take a visit this summer, but I didn’t have time because I took a visit to Wake Forest, so that’ll happen in the fall.”

Virginia Tech

“I really like Virginia Tech. Clara Strack went there under Kenny Brooks, so I’m pretty familiar with the school. I like the coaching staff. I like how they came from a pretty good school already at Marquette . I really think they can make a difference at Virginia Tech and I’ve never been there, so hopefully I have a chance to get there.”

Indiana

“I have a lot of connections to Indiana. My head coach, Darren, his daughter Sydney [Fenn] goes there. And Shay Ciezski from my high school goes there. They both mentioned great things about Teri Moren and the coaching staff and the school. They’re definitely high up on my list. I really like the relationships I have with the coaches and I definitely want to take a visit there.”

Boston College

“My sister has a lot of doctor’s appointments in Boston, so location-wise, it’s a great spot for my family to get out to games. I’ve talked to them for like a year now and I really like the coaching staff. I feel like I can relate to the head coach really, really well. I still need to take a visit there, but I’m pretty excited about that school.”

Purdue

“That was the first high-major offer I ever got. It was nice to have them believe in me at such an early age. I really like the campus. I like the head coach, Katie Gearlds . I went to a camp, so I was able to meet the coaches and the players.”

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