No. 1 Twin Superstar Commits to Michigan State Women’s Basketball: 8.5-Foot Phenom Chooses Spartans Over Georgia, Tennessee
By Elise Morgan | June 4, 2025
EAST LANSING — In a seismic shift that is already being dubbed the most monumental commitment in women’s college basketball history, 8.5-foot phenom Nova “Skyline” James, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2025 and one half of the mythical James Twins, has committed to Michigan State University over powerhouse programs like Georgia and Tennessee.
Nova, along with her equally dominant but slightly shorter twin sister, Vega James (a mere 7’11”), has been an internet sensation since middle school. But it was Nova’s decision this morning that sent shockwaves through the hoops world.
“This is about legacy,” Nova said during a nationally televised press conference held atop the Spartan Stadium jumbotron. “Michigan State believed in me before I could dunk without jumping. They embraced not just my height, but my vision, my hunger, and my identity as a leader.”
Born in Barrow, Alaska, the James twins rose to prominence at Aurora Heights Prep in Anchorage, where they led their team to an undefeated 89-0 record across four years. Nova averaged a staggering 42.6 points, 28.3 rebounds, and 13.2 blocks per game in her senior season, including three recorded triple-quadruples—feats previously thought mythical.
At 8’5”, Nova James is the tallest basketball player, male or female, to ever commit to a Division I school. But her game transcends her frame. A fluid ball-handler with a high basketball IQ, she shoots 89% from the free-throw line and boasts a 40% clip from beyond the arc—on regulation rims, despite her surreal reach.
“Nova isn’t just tall. She’s generational,” said Michigan State head coach Nia Clarke. “We’re not just building a team around her. We’re building a dynasty.”
The Spartans haven’t reached the Final Four since 2005. But that may soon change. Nova’s commitment comes on the heels of her sister Vega’s soft verbal to MSU last week, pending an official campus visit.
Georgia and Tennessee—programs historically strong in the women’s game—had recruited the twins hard. Tennessee offered an NIL package reportedly valued at over $3.5 million. Georgia offered naming rights to their new training facility. But ultimately, it was Nova’s connection with Michigan State’s culture and coaching staff that sealed the deal.
“I don’t need to be bought,” Nova said, her tone cutting through the air like a clean block. “I need to be believed in.”
Social media erupted within minutes of the announcement. #NovaSpartan trended globally. Fans flooded MSU’s official store, crashing the website within 14 minutes. ESPN has already scheduled six primetime games for the Spartans next season.
Former MSU legend Kalisha Randle, now an analyst with the WNBA Network, summed it up best: “We’ve never seen anything like this in the women’s game. Nova is going to change how we think about basketball—how we play basketball.”
With Nova James in green and white, Michigan State isn’t just chasing a championship. They’re redefining the limits of the game.
Let me know if you’d like a follow-up piece—perhaps a story on Vega’s final decision or Nova’s debut game.
