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Utah Announces Three New Utes On National Signing Day
11/13/2024 11:30 AM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah's women's basketball head coach Lynne Roberts announced the signing of three new Utes to the 2025-26 squad on National Signing Day. Utah will be adding Leonna Sneed, Avery Hjelmstad and Ella Todd to the Utes roster.
"What a great day to be a Ute," said head coach Lynne Roberts. "We have brought in three outstanding student-athletes that not only fit our program's culture perfectly, but that can absolutely be a dominating class moving forward. Ella [Todd], LA [Leonna Sneed], and Avery [Hjelmstad] are all incredible young women that were very highly and competitively recruited; and chose the University of Utah for all the right reasons: to play for a championship caliber program, to join their teammates who all put the work in to become elite, and to pursue their academic dreams in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. All three of these players come from incredible families whom we welcome to the Ute Family. We cannot wait to get them on campus this summer."
Sneed, a five star recruit and ranked No. 27 on ESPNw Top 100 comes to the Utes after a successful career at Karen Wagner High School in San Antonio. She is the highest ranked high school signee in the Lynne Roberts era at Utah.
Hjelmstad, a four star recruit and ranked No. 49 on ESPNw Top 100, joins Utah from Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, Oklahoma. Todd will join the Utes from Palatine, Illinois, where she's had an illustrious career at William Fremd High School.
Sneed was a three-time district MVP and recorded 1,000 career points and 500 assists. She averaged 20 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game. Hjelmstad was named First Team All-State in Oklahoma and was a 1,000 point scorer. Following her junior year she averaged 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. Hjelmstad shot 53-percent from the field and 45-percent from the three.
Todd was named a two-time all-state athlete and named conference player of the year. She averaged 16.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and breached 1,000 career points.
Quick Hits on Utah Women's Basketball's Signing Class
Leonna Sneed | 5-6 | Guard | San Antonio, Texas (Karen Wagner HS)
Five star recruit … ranked No. 27 on ESPNw Top 100 … Three year basketball letter winner … Three-time District MVP … Led her team to three undefeated district championships … Helped her team to the state finals … Set a career-high 52 points for a school scoring record … Breached 1,000 career points and 500 assists … Averaged 20.0, 7.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game
What Coach Roberts Says About Sneed: "LA can flat out play. She is a true point guard, looking to get her teammates going, but she can also score the ball at all three levels. Her explosiveness allows her to get by her defender; where she can score at the rim, hit the pull up, or knock down the three. She is a coach's kid and understands what it takes to win. She will be a dynamic player here at the U."
Avery Hjelmstad | 6-1 | Guard | Edmond, Okla. (Edmond Memorial HS)
Four star recruit … ranked No. 49 on ESPNw Top 100 … All-State First Team … All-Conference First Team … All-District First Team and MVP … All-Tulsa World First Team … All-Edmond Starting Five … 6A All-State Tournament First Team … Helped her team to three state tournament appearances … Surpassed 1,000 career points during her junior season … Competed in track and field in the high jump, 200, 400 and 800 … Was a state champion in track in 2023 and placed 4th in the Oklahoma State High Jump … averaged 16.3 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, 2.1 steals per game … shot 53 percent from the field, 45 percent from three … has a career high of 28 points
What Coach Roberts Says About Hjelmstad: "Avery is a dream fit for our system and program. She is arguably the best shooter in the 2025 class. At 6'1", her length and ability to stretch the floor will be a tough match up for our opponents. She can finish well around the basket and defend. Avery will have a tremendous career here."
Ella Todd| 6-0 | Guard | Palatine, Illinois (William Fremd HS)
Two-time All-State First Team selection … Three-time All-Conference First Team selection … Conference Player of the Year … All-Area Team Captain … Illinois Miss Basketball Nominee … Played flag football in high school and helped her team to a state championship title … averaged 16.3 points per game, 11 field goals per game, 4.5 rebounds, shoots 43 percent from three … has surpassed 1,000 career points
What Coach Roberts Says About Todd: "Ella is a perfect fit for our program. She is a long wing, who plays incredibly hard and backs down to no one. She is a competitor who can defend, shoot the three, and create shots for others. She is a coach's kid and has a great understanding for the game, and just simply wants to do what it takes to win."
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock exclusive video content, news and information, schedules, rosters, stats, and access to buy and manage tickets. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along during the 2024-25 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
"What a great day to be a Ute," said head coach Lynne Roberts. "We have brought in three outstanding student-athletes that not only fit our program's culture perfectly, but that can absolutely be a dominating class moving forward. Ella [Todd], LA [Leonna Sneed], and Avery [Hjelmstad] are all incredible young women that were very highly and competitively recruited; and chose the University of Utah for all the right reasons: to play for a championship caliber program, to join their teammates who all put the work in to become elite, and to pursue their academic dreams in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. All three of these players come from incredible families whom we welcome to the Ute Family. We cannot wait to get them on campus this summer."
Sneed, a five star recruit and ranked No. 27 on ESPNw Top 100 comes to the Utes after a successful career at Karen Wagner High School in San Antonio. She is the highest ranked high school signee in the Lynne Roberts era at Utah.
Hjelmstad, a four star recruit and ranked No. 49 on ESPNw Top 100, joins Utah from Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, Oklahoma. Todd will join the Utes from Palatine, Illinois, where she's had an illustrious career at William Fremd High School.
Sneed was a three-time district MVP and recorded 1,000 career points and 500 assists. She averaged 20 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game. Hjelmstad was named First Team All-State in Oklahoma and was a 1,000 point scorer. Following her junior year she averaged 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. Hjelmstad shot 53-percent from the field and 45-percent from the three.
Todd was named a two-time all-state athlete and named conference player of the year. She averaged 16.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and breached 1,000 career points.
Quick Hits on Utah Women's Basketball's Signing Class
Leonna Sneed | 5-6 | Guard | San Antonio, Texas (Karen Wagner HS)
Five star recruit … ranked No. 27 on ESPNw Top 100 … Three year basketball letter winner … Three-time District MVP … Led her team to three undefeated district championships … Helped her team to the state finals … Set a career-high 52 points for a school scoring record … Breached 1,000 career points and 500 assists … Averaged 20.0, 7.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game
What Coach Roberts Says About Sneed: "LA can flat out play. She is a true point guard, looking to get her teammates going, but she can also score the ball at all three levels. Her explosiveness allows her to get by her defender; where she can score at the rim, hit the pull up, or knock down the three. She is a coach's kid and understands what it takes to win. She will be a dynamic player here at the U."
Avery Hjelmstad | 6-1 | Guard | Edmond, Okla. (Edmond Memorial HS)
Four star recruit … ranked No. 49 on ESPNw Top 100 … All-State First Team … All-Conference First Team … All-District First Team and MVP … All-Tulsa World First Team … All-Edmond Starting Five … 6A All-State Tournament First Team … Helped her team to three state tournament appearances … Surpassed 1,000 career points during her junior season … Competed in track and field in the high jump, 200, 400 and 800 … Was a state champion in track in 2023 and placed 4th in the Oklahoma State High Jump … averaged 16.3 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, 2.1 steals per game … shot 53 percent from the field, 45 percent from three … has a career high of 28 points
What Coach Roberts Says About Hjelmstad: "Avery is a dream fit for our system and program. She is arguably the best shooter in the 2025 class. At 6'1", her length and ability to stretch the floor will be a tough match up for our opponents. She can finish well around the basket and defend. Avery will have a tremendous career here."
Ella Todd| 6-0 | Guard | Palatine, Illinois (William Fremd HS)
Two-time All-State First Team selection … Three-time All-Conference First Team selection … Conference Player of the Year … All-Area Team Captain … Illinois Miss Basketball Nominee … Played flag football in high school and helped her team to a state championship title … averaged 16.3 points per game, 11 field goals per game, 4.5 rebounds, shoots 43 percent from three … has surpassed 1,000 career points
What Coach Roberts Says About Todd: "Ella is a perfect fit for our program. She is a long wing, who plays incredibly hard and backs down to no one. She is a competitor who can defend, shoot the three, and create shots for others. She is a coach's kid and has a great understanding for the game, and just simply wants to do what it takes to win."
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock exclusive video content, news and information, schedules, rosters, stats, and access to buy and manage tickets. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along during the 2024-25 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
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