The Golden Eagles will add two freshmen to the roster next fall.
With just one basketball game in a two week stretch, Wednesday brought us the chance to ponder the future of Marquette women’s basketball. That’s because it was the start of the fall signing period for the Class of 2025, and new head coach Cara Consuegra had two recruits to announce as officially on board with the Golden Eagles.
Here’s what Consuegra had to say in a statement about both of her signees as a combo package:
“We are thrilled to welcome JJ and Kameron as the newest members of the Marquette women’s basketball family,” Consuegra said. “Both are winners on and off the court and we look forward to watching the impact the two of them have on our team and university over the next four years.”
Let’s touch on each of them individually.
Kam Herring
Here’s what the press release had to say about Herring:
Herring, a 6-1 guard, attends Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia. Herring averaged 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game in 2023-24, a season where the War Eagles went 24-6 overall and 14-0 in their region.
Herring was a state champion her freshman season in 2021-22 and received honorable mention honors by the GACA that same year. Herring, from Locust Grove, Georgia, plays AAU for Bouncenation FBC. She is a two-time best offensive player award winner at Woodward.
And here’s Consuegra’s quote:
“Kameron is a versatile guard who can shoot the three and go downhill,” Consuegra said. “She can play multiple positions with her length and her quick release will make it tough on defenses. She is a proven winner in the talent-rich area of Atlanta, and we can’t wait for her to get to Milwaukee.”
Herring was Cara Consuegra’s first post-hiring blitz commitment and her first high school prospect commitment after she made her pledge in late August. As you might have noticed, the 2024-25 Golden Eagles do not have any freshmen at all on the roster, which is the kind of thing that happens when you have a coaching change were the coach leaves for a new job. Consuegra got a little bit of a leg up in the operation here as Megan Duffy was recruiting Herring as far back as at least July of 2023.
JJ Barnes
Here’s what the press release had to say about Barnes:
Barnes, a 5-foot-8 guard from Racine, Wisconsin, averaged 20.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.0 steals during her junior season at The Prairie School. Barnes is a three-time conference player of the year and three-time Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 4 First-Team All-State selection.
The Prairie School has only lost seven games the last three seasons combined. The 2023-24 season ended in the WIAA Division 4 state semifinals. Barnes plays AAU for Wisconsin Playground Elite.
And here’s Consuegra’s quote:
“JJ is a combo guard who can impact the game in a lot of ways,” Consuegra said. “Her versatility and skillset make her a tough assignment for defenses, and she is a true three-level scorer with her toughness and tempo on the offensive end. We are very excited about her staying close to home and playing for us at Marquette.”
Barnes made her commitment to Marquette about two weeks after Herring. As was the case with Herring, Barnes was a player that the previous coaching staff was recruiting dating all the way back to 2021. That’s before she started high school, but hey, that’s what happens when you’re dealing with in-state prospects.
And now, the scholarship chart.
Barnes is technically Consuegra’s third high school commitment, as Se’Crette Carter committed to the Golden Eagles for the Class of 2026 not long after Herring pledged in late August. The signing of Herring and Barnes leaves Marquette with three possible open scholarship spots for 2025-26, but with no freshmen to rise to the status of sophomore, it’s possible that’s an intentional move by Consuegra and her staff. That might be a move to leave space open for the transfer portal next spring for this year’s freshmen looking for a fresh start, but MU does already project as having 12 players on scholarship. That’s kind of a lot for one rotation, so it’s possible that Consuegra and her staff are just going to kick the roster balance situation can down the road and make big moves in recruiting for 2026-27.