Prep Charter’s Copper chooses Rutgers

Kahleah Copper's senior classmates at Prep Charter cheered Monday morning after watching Copper, one of the area's premier high school basketball players, sign a national letter of intent to play for Rutgers next season.

ESPN.com says Copper's signing coupled with last season's recruits could make the Scarlet Knights a national-championship contender her freshman season.

The website ranks the 6-foot-2 Copper 17th in the nation in the 2012 recruiting class.

Currently just shy of 1,400 points for her high school career, Copper led the Huskies to a 25-3 record and the Public League championship last season. They reached the quarterfinals of the PIAA state playoffs before falling to Archbishop Wood.

"I want to go all the way to the state championship this season," said Copper, who wants to be a criminal-justice major at Rutgers.

"Kahleah learned to fit right in when she came to Prep Charter last year," Huskies coach Paul Rieser said. "I'm very excited for her and her teammates."

Copper chose Rutgers over DePaul, St. John, and Syracuse because it would make it easier for family and friends to see her play. Her mother Leticia learned she had breast cancer when Kahleah was a sophomore at Girard College. Under the circumstances, Kahleah decided to be closer to her home and her mother.

In addition to leading the Huskies in scoring and rebounding last season, Copper averaged 3.5 blocked shots and 2.2 assists a game.

"I can score, but I like to work without the ball, too," Copper said. "I think I see the floor very well."

Contact staff writer Don Beideman at 267-815-0733 or dbeideman@phillynews.com.