Three Hopkins Basketball Players Commit on National Signing Day

Three of Hopkins High School’s top girls basketball players signed to play at the collegiate level on Wednesday.

Guard Nia Coffey signed with Northwestern University. Forward Erin O’Toole signed with the University of North Dakota. And Guard Mikaala Shackelford signed with the University of Illinois.

The scholarships the three received are worth a combined $100,000 per year.

“These are three student athletes that have made our department very, very proud,” said Hopkins Activity Director Dan Johnson. “They’ve made our school proud with their academic prowess. … And athletically, of course, they’ve been a part of a couple state championship teams and multiple conference championship teams and section championship teams. And we’re hoping for big things from all of them this year.”

Erin O’Toole said the moment was an incredible one after all the hard work she’d put in. O’Toole played a key role on a team that won two consecutive state championships. But she said signing day was particularly special because she wasn’t always a standout player.

"Oh my god, it's amazing," O'Toole said. "I went from being the fat, chubby kid that no one wanted to right now. It's amazing."

The students aren’t just great athletes. Each has a GPA of 3.5 or greater. Coffey will study mechanical engineering. O’Toole hasn’t settled on a major but plans on studying something in the field of computer science or forensic science. And Shackelford will study kinesiology.

“I’d just really like to thank my family and all my coaches and all the people that have supported me all the way,” Shackelford said.

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