OREM, Utah – Utah Valley women's basketball head coach Cathy Nixon has signed a trio of locally grown players consisting of Josie Williams (Roy, Utah), Madison Grange (Salt Lake City) and Emma Jones (Richfield, Utah) to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period.
 
"We're so excited to have these three girls join our Wolverine family," said Nixon, who enters her 23rd year at UVU. "It's always great to sign in-state players, who can have the support of their families and their homes nearby. We love all three of them as people and feel like they have tremendous potential that will help take our program to the next level."
 
Williams, a 6-5 center from Roy, Utah, enters her senior season at Roy High School considered one of the top post players among the high school ranks in Utah. A 2017 All-State Class 5A third team selection, Williams finished her junior year averaging 16.8 points per game on 51.3 percent shooting to go along with 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per contest.
 
"Josie is a post player who has the ability to not only be a low-block presence, but also will be able to stretch out defenses a little bit. I feel like in the long run she can be a very good player and make an impact for us, especially in the WAC, at her position," Nixon said.
 
One of two guards in this signing class, Grange will wrap up her career at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City in 2017-18. A 5-11 guard, Grange guided the Eagles to a UHSAA Class 4A State Championship trophy in their third straight trip to the title game. Grange garnered 2017 All-State Class 4A first team recognition as a junior, filling the stat sheet with 16.4 points, 5.1 boards, 2.4 assists and 2.5 steals per contest on the season.
 
"Madison's a player that has had a lot of success in Utah and is a versatile guard with an ability to score and shoot the three. She has a good mid-range game and finishes well at the basket. She prides herself on her defensive capabilities and is a really hard worker that I know will work to develop her game and raise her level of play at the Division I level," said Nixon.
 
Jones, a 5-11 guard from Richfield, Utah, begins her final season at Richfield High School. As a junior, Jones led all 3A players in three-pointers made and averaged 10.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game en route to earning All-State Class 3A second team honors. In addition, she helped lead the Wildcats to a 21-4 record and a UHSAA Class 3A State Championship title game berth last year.
 
"Emma comes from a smaller school, but has been an impact player over there in Richfield. She is a tremendous athlete with a huge upside. She does things offensively that I think at this level will allow her to separate herself from the pack. I feel like with her athleticism and work ethic that she'll also be a player that develops herself into a very good Division I player."

The Wolverines will welcome Grange, Jones and Williams for the 2018-19 season.