PHILADELPHIA – Mike McLaughlin, the head coach of the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team, announced the program's incoming class on Friday afternoon.
 
Four student-athletes—Jayah Curtis, Ava Jones, Madison Kocis, and Rachel Thatcher—from two states will be bringing their talents to University City next fall.
 
"This is a highly competitive group with a work ethic that's second to none. They truly love the game and are very invested in their development," said McLaughlin. "Coming from strong high school programs, they understand what it takes to compete and win. This class will continue to elevate the competitiveness of our program, and we're super excited to get them on campus."


Jayah Curtis
5-11 | G | Parsippany, N.J. | Montclair Immaculate Conception/Morris Catholic
 
High School: Played at Montclair Immaculate Conception for three seasons (2023-25) before attending Morris Catholic for her senior year (2026) … 2026 McDonald's All-American nominee … Essex County champion in 2023 and 2024 … State sectional champion and Non-Public B state champion in 2025 … Morris County and state sectional champion during her senior campaign … First-team all-conference, third-team all-state, and Jersey Sports Zone All-Zone selection in 2025 … All-Morris County Team and All-Non-Public Second Team honoree … Team captain at Morris Catholic.
 
Personal: Daughter of Olivia Morris … Will enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Why Penn?: "When I first visited Penn, it immediately felt like home. After speaking with Coach McLaughlin about not just basketball, but all that Penn has to offer, I grew excited just thinking about being a part of something amazing! I knew this was the place for me and I can't wait to start my journey here!"

Coach McLaughlin on Jayah: "Jayah's work ethic immediately stands out. She's a competitor who can score at all three levels—at the rim, in the mid-range, and from beyond the arc. We love her mindset and approach to the game, and we're really excited to see her in a Penn uniform."

 
Ava Jones
6-1 | F | Memphis, Tenn. | Hutchinson School
 
High School: Played at the Hutchinson School under head coach Thomas Jones … West Region champion during sophomore, junior, and senior seasons … Regional freshman of the year in 2023 … Five-time all-region honoree … First-team all-region selection in 2025 and 2026 … Region co-player of the year during her senior campaign … BCAT (Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee) all-state member in 2024 and 2026 … TSWA (Tennessee Sports Writers Association) all-state honoree … Received Commercial Appeal Player of the Year and all-metro laurels (2026) … Daily Memphian Player of the Year and all-metro selection … Music City Hoopfest All-Tournament Team selection … Named a BCAT Player of the Year finalist and earned all-star team laurels in 2026 … TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association) Miss Basketball finalist (2026) … Eclipsed the 1,000-point milestone during her junior year … Team captain … Averaged 18 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg, and 3 bpg in her senior season and was a top-five scorer in Memphis.
 
Personal: Daughter of Monica and Johnny Jones ... Will enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences. 

Why Penn?: "I chose Penn based off the coaches, the players already on the roster, and the way I meshed with my incoming freshman class. My AAU coach, Tom Insell, said 'make sure when you are going through the recruitment process that you pick a school based on the Coach'. After meeting the whole coaching staff, it was an easy decision considering the campus beauty, the tri-state location, and the academic standard Penn sets for its students."

Coach McLaughlin on Ava: "Ava gives us tremendous flexibility in the post with her ability to play multiple positions. She can score effectively around the rim, has a variety of post moves, and can also step out and knock down the three. That versatility makes her a really exciting addition to our frontcourt."

 
Madison Kocis
6-0 | G | Chatham, N.J. | Saint John Vianney
 
High School: Played at Saint John Vianney under Dawn Karpell … Non-Public A South sectional champion (2023) and Shore Conference champion in 2023 and 2024 … Throne National champion and KSA Christmas Invitational Orlando champion in 2026 … First-team all-state and all-non public selection … 2026 Jersey Sports Zone Miss Hoop Zone finalist … NJBCA Senior All-Star Game MVP (2026) … Two-time Coaches Choice Association first-team all-shore honoree … Shore Sports Insider first-team all-shore selection … Two-time Hoop Group first-team all-shore honoree … Named to Hoop Group's and Prep Girls Hoops' all-freshman teams … 2024 Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational All-Tournament Team member … Team captain … Scored 1,293 points and was ranked as the No. 2 player in New Jersey in 2026 … Averaged 13.2 ppg, 3.43 rpg, 2.4 apg, and is the all-time leader in 3-pointers made at Saint John Vianney with 172.
 
Personal: Daughter of Jamie and Chris Kocis ... Will enroll in the Wharton School of Business.
 
Why Penn?: "I chose Penn because of the opportunity to compete at the Division I level while also receiving an elite education. I love the atmosphere of the campus, team, and coaching staff!"

Coach McLaughlin on Madison: "Madison brings great size and versatility to her position, along with the ability to score both at the rim and from three. She has a high basketball IQ and comes from an outstanding high school program at St. John Vianney under Dawn Karpell. Competing on one of the top teams in the country has prepared her well—she's been battle-tested against elite competition."

 
Rachel Thatcher
5-8 | G | Haddon Township, N.J. | Paul VI
 
High School: Played for Orlando Hidalgo at Paul VI High School … 2025 South Jersey Non-Public sectional champion … 2026 McDonald's All-American nominee … Three-time South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament champion … Camden County Tournament champion and earned MVP honors (2026) … Selected to Jersey Sports Zone's All-Zone girls basketball team (2026) … Recognized as an all-Olympic Conference performer in 2026 … Team captain during junior and senior seasons … Averaged 12.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, and 5.2 apg in her final year at Paul VI.
 
Personal: Daughter of Patrice and Jay Thatcher … Will enroll in the Wharton School of Business.
 
Why Penn?: "I choose Penn because a standard of greatness is set within its women's basketball program and there are so many exceptional opportunities and resources that will prepare me for a world outside of basketball."
 
Coach McLaughlin on Rachel: "Rachel is the ultimate competitor and exactly the kind of player we want in our program. She has the winning intangibles that don't always show up in a stat sheet but impact everything. She elevates everyone around her and plays the game with tremendous spirit, passion, and effort. Rachel is simply a winning player."

 
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