Utes signing day: Red Rocks add top recruit Avery Neff, hoops get 4-star Jaxon Johnson

SALT LAKE CITY — On the first day of the early signing day period for collegiate sports that aren't football, the University of Utah had several prospective athletes sign their name to the National Letter of Intent to officially welcome them as future newcomers on campus for the next academic season.

It's a busy day, but one that adds to the ever-changing rosters of the respective sports each plays. Here's a look at who signed with Utah Wednesday.

Men's basketball

A week after committing to Utah in the Alta High gym over BYU, Stanford and USC, four-star forward Jaxon Johnson made the commitment official Wednesday when he signed with the Runnin' Utes, giving head coach Craig Smith one of his biggest high school recruits in his tenure with the Utes.

"We are thrilled to announce the signing of Jaxon Johnson, he's truly a special addition to our program," Smith said in a statement. "One of the things that excites us most about Jaxon is his track record as a proven winner. His dedication, winning mentality and exceptional shooting skills are attributes that will undoubtedly contribute to our team's success.

"Jaxon also has a deep-rooted connection to our university. His family is a Ute family through and through. His parents are proud Utah alums, and Jaxon himself grew up wearing Utah red. We can't wait for Jaxon to join the Runnin' Utes and see the impact he will make in our program."

Though Johnson signed with Utah, he won't join the program until the 2026-27 season because he plans to serve a two-year church mission first.

The 6-foot-8, 190-pound small forward averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for Alta last season, while also spending time on the Adidas basketball circuit with the Utah Prospects AAU team where he helped his team win the Adidas National 3SSB Championship; Johnson was named MVP in the win.

Women's basketball

Lynne Roberts added three names to the roster Wednesday in what she described to media as a "common thread" of them all being able to "shoot the three, they all can score off the dribble, and they all are good passers, and they're all fiercely competitive."

Brooke Walker, 6-foot guard, Andover, Kansas

Walker comes to Utah as an ESPN top 100 recruit after being named to the Kansas All-State 5A first team in 2022 and 2023. She averaged 16 points, 2.8 assists and 4.3 steals per game and was a finalist for the Kansas Girls 5A Player of the Year award in both 2022 and 2023.

"Brooke is a scoring combo guard that can really shoot and score at all three levels," Roberts said. "She will be great in our pick-and-roll offense. She's a tremendous competitor and, simply put, Brooke is a winner. She will be able to step in immediately and contribute."

Grace Foster, 6-foot-2 guard, Perth, Australia

Foster joins Utah after a career in the WABL and NBL1 leagues in Australia, where she helped the Willetton Tigers to a champions and a Tigers rookie of the year honor. She averaged 7 points, 2.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds with the Tigers.

"Grace can play all three perimeter positions and comes to us with a lot of experience having played in the professional ranks in Australia against older competition," Roberts said. "She can really shoot the three, pass, and has a very high basketball IQ. Her versatility will be an immediate asset to us."

Kylie Ray, 6-foot-2 guard, La Crescenta, California

Ray is a three time Pacific League MVP out of La Crescenta, California, where she also competed in track and field.

"Kylie has some of the best vision and passing ability I've seen in a long time," Roberts said. "She is a true point guard, and has the ability to push tempo, shoot the three, and create for others. Kylie plays hard and with a competitive edge that we love. She has the un-coachable ability to make those around her better."

Gymnastics

The Red Rocks signed three new gymnasts Wednesday, including the nation's top recruit and hometown talent in Bingham High's Avery Neff, and two other five-star gymnasts that make up three of the top 15 recruits in the country.

"I am extremely grateful for our staff and their efforts in assembling this 2025 freshman class," head coach Tom Farden said in a statement. "We are beyond excited about signing one of the finest classes in the history of Utah gymnastics. These exceptional athletes come from standout clubs across North America and have the potential to make an immediate impact on our program.

"We are so excited to welcome these young women and their families to our Red Rock community."

Avery Neff, Olympus Gymnastics, South Jordan, Utah

Neff comes to Utah as the No. 1 recruit in the country as a seven-time national champion. Earlier this year, Neff won three national titles in the all-around, beam and floor as part of the Level 10 national championships. She was also a Nastia Liukin Cup champion on floor and vault, while claiming a co-championship in the all-around at the 2023 Nastia Liukin Cup.

"Avery is hailed as the No. 1 recruit in the country, and we believe she can step in as an all-arounder in her first meet with us," Farden said. "Her fierce competitive drive and remarkable achievements will bode well for her during her career as a hometown Ute. She has all the attributes it takes to be one of the very best in the NCAA."

Zoe Johnson, Sonshine Gymnastics, Durham, North Carolina

Johnson, the eighth-highest rated recruit in the country, is the 2022 national champion on uneven bars in the Level 10 national championship, where she also finished fourth in the all-around in 2022 and 2023. She is also a seven-time Region 8 champion and 15-time North Carolina state champion.

"Zoe is the complete package, and what really stands out is her personal motivation to continue upgrading her difficulty on every event," Farden said. "She has the ability to compete on all four events, and we can't wait to see her outgoing personality shine in the gym and community."

Clara Raposo, East York Gymnastics, Toronto, Canada

As a five-time Canadian National Team member, Raposo joins Utah as the 11th-highest rated recruit in North America after being named an alternated for Team Canada for the 2023 World Championships and Pan American Games. She was recently named the beam champion at the Elite Canada competition, where she also placed fourth in the all-around.

"Clara has the talent and international style that Utah fans will love," Farden said. "She is a natural on the performance events (beam and floor), but we see her as a strong option on all four events. We are excited to support Clara in her 2024 Olympic run with Team Canada and look forward to bringing her international competition experience to Salt Lake City next fall."

Volleyball

The Utes volleyball team is still in competition, but on Wednesday signed in-state prospect Levanialii Key-Powell, the daughter of Utah football defensive end coach Lewis Powell, for the 2024 season. In her senior season at Bingham High, Key-Powell had 515 kills, 222 digs and had a hitting percentage of .321.

"We could not be more excited to have Vani join the Utah volleyball family," head coach Beth Launiere said. "She is a great athlete and competitor that knows how to win. She has excelled at every level and every sport she has played, and has tremendous untapped potential."

Related topics