For most coaches, signing day is another opportunity to welcome new players to their program. For WVU Women’s Basketball Head Coach Mark Kellogg, Wednesday came with something a little closer to home. Read more: Mark Kellogg’s daughter Kayli, other significant prospects sign with WVU Women’s Basketball.
His daughter, Kayli Kellogg, signed her National Letter of Intent to play for the Mountaineers, giving her the opportunity to stay in Morgantown and play for her father.
“Honestly, there hadn’t been much emotion for me at all until this morning, to be completely honest,” Kellogg said.
Kellogg talked about his drive into work Wednesday morning and how he normally spends that time listening to the radio. This time, he had something else on his mind.
A new dynamic
The moment of seeing his daughter officially sign with WVU meant a lot to him, especially after watching the work she put in to earn the opportunity.
“She’s not coming here because she’s Mark Kellogg’s daughter. She’s coming here because she’s earned the opportunity and worked really, really hard,” Kellogg said.
The two have had to find a way to separate basketball from family life during the recruiting process. Kellogg said his wife, Trisha, handled much of that process, while he and Kayli talked about what playing for WVU would look like.
He wanted her to understand their relationship would be different once she stepped on the court.
“Here’s what I see. This is Coach Kellogg now. And then when I’m dad, I’ll go home and talk to you as your dad,” Kellogg said.
Kayli is a 5’7 guard from Morgantown High School and a two-time first-team all-state selection. She helped lead the Mohigans to back-to-back state runner-up finishes as a freshman and sophomore.
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During her sophomore season, she averaged 21.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.8 steals per game. An injury kept her off the court during her junior season, but she returned to the Nike EYBL circuit over the summer. She is preparing for her senior season at Morgantown before joining the Mountaineers.
Kayli also plans to major in sport management at WVU.
WVU adds two more highly ranked prospects
Kayli was not the only player to sign with WVU on Wednesday. Chance Berry and Zya Small also joined the Mountaineers’ 2027 recruiting class.
Berry is a 5’10 guard from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, and is ranked No. 50 nationally in the SportsCenter NEXT 100 rankings. She is the No. 1 point guard in Canada’s 2027 class and has represented her country in international competition.
Kellogg called Berry an elite point guard who can play both on and off the ball.
Small is a 6’1 forward from Scranton, Pennsylvania, ranked No. 38 nationally. She averaged 15.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.4 steals per game as a junior at Friends’ Central.
She helped lead her team to a PAISAA championship and was one of 22 players invited to the USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team trials.
Kellogg said Small’s ability to shoot, attack the basket and defend will fit what WVU wants to do.
With all three players signing Wednesday, WVU Women’s Basketball added a mix of experience, versatility and local talent to its 2027 class. But for Kellogg, one of the day’s biggest moments came from getting to watch his daughter take the next step in her basketball career.
