CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami women's basketball head coach Tricia Cullop announces the signing of Zoe Coleman and Portia Chopping to the Hurricanes' 2027 recruiting class.

Zoe Coleman | Guard | Pickerington, Ohio
A native of Pickerington, Ohio, Coleman joins the Hurricanes from Pickerington Central High School as a nationally ranked prospect, checking in at No. 81 in the ESPN SportsCenter NEXT Top 100 rankings.

A three-time All-State selection, Coleman has established herself as one of Ohio's premier high school players, earning First Team All-State recognition following her junior campaign in 2026. She was also named Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) Player of the Year, First Team All-OCC and First Team Central Ohio while serving as a team captain for the Tigers.

During her sophomore season in 2025, Coleman helped guide Pickerington Central to a state championship. As a freshman in 2024, she collected Third Team All-State, Second Team All-OCC and District 11 Honorable Mention recognition.

Coleman has also competed against elite competition on the national travel basketball circuit. From seventh through ninth grade, she played for West Virginia Thunder on the Under Armour Association circuit, helping the program capture a UAA championship. She later joined Phenom United on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, competing throughout her sophomore and junior seasons.

Her individual accolades include First Team honors at the ABCD Adidas Girls Basketball Camp and participation in the Adidas All-American Camp. Coleman has also received multiple nominations for the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards.

"Zoe Coleman embodies everything we strive to build here at Lady Phenom—unmatched work ethic, an elite basketball IQ, and a relentless competitive spirit on both ends of the floor," said Richard Jeter, founder and CEO of Lady Phenom United Basketball. "Watching her growth, commitment, and leadership has been incredible, and the University of Miami is getting an absolute gamechanger who will thrive at the highest level."

Pickerington Central head coach Johnathan Hedgepeth echoed those sentiments, emphasizing Coleman's leadership, character and competitive mentality.

"Zoe Coleman represents the very best of what Pickerington Central basketball is all about—exceptional character, an unwavering work ethic, high-level basketball IQ, and a competitive drive that sets her apart," Hedgepeth said. "Her dedication to improving her game, commitment to her teammates, and leadership both on and off the court have made her an outstanding representative of our program. The University of Miami is getting an incredibly talented player and an even better person. We are excited to watch Zoe continue to grow, compete, and make her mark at the next level. The Hurricanes are getting a special one."

Coach Cullop on Coleman:
"We are thrilled to welcome Zoe to the Miami family! Zoe is an explosive combo guard who brings tremendous quickness, scoring ability, and competitiveness to our backcourt. Her ability to shoot the basketball at a high level really stands out, but what excites us just as much is her versatility. She can create her own shot, make plays for her teammates, and impact the game on both ends of the floor. Zoe comes from a winning program and understands what it takes to compete at a championship level. We love her confidence, her energy, and the way she plays the game. We can't wait to see her in a Miami uniform!"

Portia Chopping | Guard | Hobart, Tasmania
A native of Hobart, Tasmania, Chopping joins Miami following an accomplished amateur basketball career in Australia, highlighted by appearances at the Australian Championships, and experience competing in the NBL1.

A five-time Tasmanian representative at the Australian Championships, Chopping served as captain of both the under-16 and under-18 teams. She also earned vice-captain honors with the under-20 squad while competing as a younger aged player.

Her performances earned her invitations to the Australian National Performance Camp in 2024 and 2025, a development opportunity that serves as a selection pathway for Australia's junior national teams.

In 2025, Chopping was one of just five Australian women's basketball players selected to attend the Nike All Asia Camp, further highlighting her standing among the country's emerging talent.

Chopping also gained valuable experience competing with the Hobart Chargers in the NBL1, starting every game during the 2025 season and averaging 10 points per contest. Her performances earned her the team's Most Improved Player Award.

Additionally, Chopping received the 2025 Basketball Tasmania Gold Class Award in recognition of her accomplishments.

Coach Cullop on Chopping:
"We couldn't be more excited to welcome Portia to the Miami family! Portia is a long, versatile guard who brings a unique combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ to our program. Her court vision and ability to make plays for others are exceptional, and we love how comfortable she is playing at a fast pace. She can push the ball in transition, knock down shots from the perimeter, and create opportunities for her teammates. Her length and versatility will also give us a lot of options on both ends of the floor. Portia has already gained valuable experience competing against high-level competition in Australia, and we believe her best basketball is still ahead of her. We're thrilled she's going to be a Hurricane!"

Coleman and Chopping will join the Hurricanes for the 2027-28 season.