LONDON — North Laurel’s Mariella Claybrook made it official today, committing to play college basketball at Western Kentucky University.
Claybrook will enter the 2026-27 as one of the top players in the state while being considered as a Miss Basketball candidate as well.
“We’re incredibly excited for Mariella and her family,” North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan said. “Western Kentucky is getting an outstanding basketball player, but even more importantly, they’re getting an outstanding young woman. Mariella has worked relentlessly for this opportunity, and no one deserves it more.
“What makes Mariella so special is her versatility,” he added. “She can impact a game in so many different ways. She can score inside and out, defend multiple positions, rebound at a high level, protect the rim, and make plays for her teammates. There aren’t many players who can affect every aspect of the game the way she does.”
Claybrook guided North Laurel to a 49th District and 13th Region titles last season while leading the Lady Jaguars with an 18.2 scoring average and an 11.2 rebounding average.
“One of the things I admire most about Mariella is that she’s always been about winning,” Mahan said. “She has never been concerned with individual accolades or statistics. Her mindset has always been, ‘What can I do to help our team win?’ That’s a rare quality in today’s game, and it’s one of the biggest reasons she’s been such a successful leader for our program.
“She’s the type of player every coach wants because she’s willing to make the extra pass, take on the toughest defensive assignment, or do whatever the team needs on any given night,” he added. “Her teammates trust her because they know she puts the team’s success ahead of her own.
“Mariella’s impact goes far beyond the basketball court. She’s a tremendous teammate, a great student, and a person of high character,” Mahan continued. “She represents North Laurel the right way every single day, and I know she’ll do the same at Western Kentucky. We’re proud of everything Mariella has accomplished here, but I truly believe her best basketball is still ahead of her. The future is incredibly bright for her, and we’re excited to watch her continue to grow and succeed as a Hilltopper.”
