Columbia, Mo.. – University of Missouri Women's Basketball head coach Robin Pingeton announced the addition of Grace Slaughter who signed her National Letter of Intent on Wednesday.
Slaughter is a 4-star recruit who is ranked 53rd overall by ESPNW. A native of Grain Valley, Missouri—she is one of two in-state signees in the 2023 signing class.
"We have loved developing a relationship with Grace and her family over the past few years and being witnesses to her success both on and off the court," said Coach Pingeton. "She is a tireless worker and her continual improvement speaks to her dedication to the process, her desire for greatness, and her commitment to the work it takes to get there. Grace is a three-level scorer with a high basketball IQ who can and will play multiple positions for us. Her accolades speak for themselves, but it is her humility that stands out the most. The sky is the limit for Grace, and we are excited to see what she accomplishes during her four years at Mizzou."
Slaughter, a 6-2 guard at Grain Valley High School, is a three-time MBCA All-State selection, a USA Basketball gold-medalist, and a two-time DiRenna Award Finalist for the Kansas City metro area. Not only does she hold the single game (45 points) and single season (656 points) scoring records at her high school, but she also became the all-time leading scorer as only a junior. During the 2021-2022 season, she averaged 31.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.2 steals and was named the Examiner Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the third consecutive year, along with a selection to the MBCA All-State team. As a sophomore, she was also named the Examiner Girls Basketball Player of the year after averaging 27.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.3 steals. Her 27.3 points per game made her the girls' basketball leading scorer in the Kansas City area. She was also named to both the All-Conference and All-District teams at the conclusion of her sophomore season, along with the MBCA Class 6A All-State team. During the summer of 2021, Grace competed for the U16 National Team in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Leon, Mexico. She averaged 8.3 points and 3.3 rebounds to help the USA to a 6-0 record and a gold medal. While her basketball accomplishments are many, she has also exceled in the classroom, earning a 4.0 GPA.
"I am excited to officially become a Mizzou Tiger, and I'm so thankful to the coaches for believing in me," said Slaughter. "I have loved getting to know my new basketball family and learning of the values we share. I can't wait to get to Columbia and become a part of something special!"
Miscellaneous
- Parents: Brian and Rebecca Slaughter
- Quote from Grace's parents: "We could not be more excited for our daughter's decision to join the Tiger Family, and we are proud of the hard work and commitment that has led to this day. We thank the coaches for their strong commitment to the program and for building character in their student-athletes. We are looking forward to what the future holds!"
- AAU Team: Missouri Phenom
- High School Coach: Randy Draper
- Quote from Coach Draper: "Grace is a special combination of talent, humility, and drive. Her work ethic has and will continue to separate her. Grace has wanted to play at the University of Missouri for a long time. This is great for Grace, her family, and the University of Missouri."
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