Valparaiso University women’s basketball coach Tracey Dorow has announced the signing of Aliyah Isaac to a National Letter of Intent, during the Early Signing Period, to play for the Crusaders.

“Aliyah’s a really good kid,” Dorow said. “She’s a gym rat who simply loves to play basketball. When she came on her visit, she was more interested in spending a couple of hours in the gym than anything else. Aliyah is dedicated to making herself the best basketball player she can, and we are going to work with her so that she will be ready to make an immediate impact. She is also a very good student.”

Isaac is a 5-9 guard from Richton Park, Ill., and she attends Marian Catholic High School. She averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game over the summer for her AAU team, the Illinois XCitement.

“Aliyah is a lock-down defender and with Laura (Richards) graduating, we will be losing our most physical perimeter defender. Aliyah will not back down from her opponent ,” Dorow said. “She will put pressure on people and keep them in front of her. Aliyah also handles the ball well, and she should be a perfect fit in our offensive system.”

Isaac will enter Valpo as a freshman for the 2013-14 season.