When Corinne Lomax has her mind made up on the basketball court, she's practically unstoppable. She found a similar resolve in her college decision this week.
The four-star wing and Tabor standout committed to Arizona during her official visit this past weekend, announcing her decision on Thursday morning. Lomax originally had four official visits lined up over a month span, with the Wildcats being her first. That was all it took to seal a commitment.
Lomax, our second-ranked prospect in New England, chose Arizona among 20 total offers and over schools like Georgia, Texas A&M and Penn State (her other planned visits).
"It moved pretty fast. But I went on the visit, we got in on Friday, and then on Sunday, I did commit on the visit," she told New England Basketball Journal. "I just really liked Arizona. It felt like home when I was there. I didn't feel like I needed to go on any more visits."
PROSPECT WATCH:Â Here's what makes Lomax a premier player
Lomax said she was floored by the energy that flowed through all of Arizona athletics, not just football. The Watertown, Conn., native marveled at the crowd for a preseason volleyball game happening that weekend and is excited to feel that hype on the court. The Wildcats averaged 5,885 fans at home games last season, good for second in the Big 12 and far more than any non-UConn New England school.
"It was important for me because it makes you want to work hard towards something," she said. "Being able to play for thousands of fans every single night, regardless of who you're playing, I think is something that I wanted to look forward to, and I really had that."
Lomax received her Arizona offer after the Atlantic City Showcase in May, where she caught the eyes of the staff while they were watching another recruit play. From her first call, with head coach Becky Burke, Lomax sensed a different energy — "I sat up, I was taking notes, I was really excited about it," Lomax remarked — and Burke's fire reminded her of her Mass Rivals AAU coach, Ushearnda Stroud.
"Coach Becky, she's very passionate about what she does and what she sees for her future (and) what she sees for me," she said. "I think she's really gonna push me to be uncomfortable in a good way. Some people might see me as quiet or laid-back, but I think I need to go to a school that's gonna push me to be uncomfortable, show a little more emotion and things like that."
Lomax also appreciated that Burke, contrary to the trends in college basketball, seems to cherish freshmen. The Wildcats have already recruited four players in the 2027 high school class. Lomax referenced Burke's quote about planning to play three freshmen on the court at all times during the upcoming season.
"I can see myself fitting into the program as a big guard, and just developing there, and I feel like they're going to help prepare me for that next level," she said.
Lomax is ESPN's 65th-ranked player nationally. She logged a massive breakout junior year at Tabor, averaging a double-double, and continued to impress with Rivals in her final grassroots season. Lomax believes she's a much-improved mid-range and 3-point shooter, pairing the growth with her unteachable athletic gifts. She says her confidence is sky-high.
"This year I knew I had something to prove. Coming into a bigger role, you know, (I) took a pretty big jump, and I think my confidence has definitely grown," she said. "I realized that when I step onto the court, I have to have that mindset that I'm the best player on the court, and that's something that I live with every game."
