Former Windsor girls basketball standout and 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year Ayanna Franks has a new collegiate home.

Franks, a 5-9 guard, has committed to play at UMass next season. She spent last season as a freshman at the University of Rhode Island, where she averaged 3.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in just over 10 minutes per game.

“I’m super excited to be joining UMass and incredibly grateful for this opportunity!” Franks said in a post on social media. “I can’t wait to get to work! See y’all soon!”

Ayanna Franks on UMass: pic.twitter.com/TpCWAwiT8H

— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) May 2, 2025

Franks was a star at Windsor, where she averaged 25.7 points, 13.1 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 2.4 assists last season and led the Warriors to a CCC tournament championship and an appearance in the Class L quarterfinals. She scored more than 2,000 points in her career.

In a story for The Courant last season, Windsor head coach Brittany Huggins said Franks wasn’t just the best player she’d coached so far in her career. “I think I might say she’s the best player I’ll ever coach,” Huggins said then.

“I am excited to watch Ayanna contribute and develop in the program,” UMass head coach Mike Leflar said. “She plays on and off the ball, she can shoot the three, and is explosive getting to the basket. Her skill level and athleticism will be a great fit as we continue to play faster and build our offense around our player’s strengths.

“I am thrilled Ayanna has three years to attack her on-court development and make the most of her time at UMass.”

Franks competed against UMass while with Rhode Island last season, but the Minutewomen will be moving to the Mid-American Conference in all sports next season.

Why Windsor’s Brittany Huggins says star guard Ayanna Franks ‘might be the best player I’ll ever coach’