The good news coming out of Brooklyn (NY) on Saturday is that the Army West Point women basketball team scored an season opening win versus LIU, 68-47.

But the other good news is that the Black Knights also pulled down a top prospect in guard Gabrielle White to join their 2017 recruiting class.

Of course, GoBlackKnights.com spends little to no covering women’s basketball .... let alone the recruiting around the program. However, consider this our Sunday Special for women’s hoops.

GBK recently caught up with Gabrielle to discuss her commitment to West Point and her excitement surrounding her pledge to the academy and the basketball program.

“Yes, that is correct I am a class of 2017 women's basketball commit,” stated White, as she went on to describe her recruiting by the women’s basketball program, whereby she was back on campus for the Army-Lafayette football game a few weeks ago (10/15).

“I took my official in April and an unofficial the weekend when Army hosted Lafayette in football. My official visit to Army was the weekend of April 30th this year. I just took an unofficial visit on the weekend of the Lafayette game to meet the other commits in my class and they're awesome people.”

So, when exactly did the 5-foot-8, 145 pounder out of North Royalton High School in North Royalton, OH (a suburb of Cleveland) say yes to Army West Point?

When I was getting ready to head over to the barracks on the 2nd day of my visit, I told my mom I was sure West Point was it ... It was the place for me,” White explained. “The next day, Coach Magarity, the women's basketball head coach, invited my mom and me into his office for breakfast. It was then that I told him I'm committing to the West Point family. It was one of the best feelings I've experienced ... seeing that all my sacrifices and hard work had finally paid off.?

“ I'm really blessed and excited to have this opportunity,” added White, whose primary position is point guard. She also had offers from Miami University, Ball State, Valparaiso, Detroit, Cleveland State, Bowling Green and Youngstown State as well as taking an official visit to the Naval Academy (but received no offer before her commitment to West Point).

So, why West Point?

“I decided West Point because first, I knew I had a strong desire to serve my country,” White declared. “Growing up in a family with my dad, grandpas, and uncles in the military, I was raised with the understanding that those who sacrifice their lives for others are heroes. I love this country and I want to protect it. Also, the high-level education and leadership training sealed the deal for me. Although going to college on a basketball scholarship was my initial goal in middle school, I would have pursued attending the world's premier leadership institution regardless if I was given an offer or not. After shadowing a couple academic classes, I know I'm going to receive a top notch education. I feel that The Academy Instructors and the Corps of Cadets will help engineer me into the best version of myself to serve as an Army Officer.”

Off the court White maintains a 4.0 GPA and will be entering the academy as a direct admit.

On the court, she averaged 13.4 ppg; FG%: 51%; 3-point%: 38%; FT%: 75%; RPG: 4.5; SPG: 1.6 and APG: 1.5.

**To chat with other Army fans about this article, GBK’s analysis and more, please visit Maggie Dixon's Court - Women's Basketball or The 12th Knight message board**