UCLA transfer Zania Socka-Nguemen commits to Indiana

  • Apr 12, 2025 8:57 pm
 

UCLA forward Zania Socka-Nguemen announced her commitment to Indiana women’s basketball on Saturday evening.

A top 30 prospect nationally out of high school, the Silver Springs, Maryland, native played in 16 games last season as a freshman for the Bruins and averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per game. UCLA finished 34-3 and lost to UConn in the Final Four.

She scored a season-high eight points in a 91-61 win at Wisconsin on February 26.

The 6-foot-3 Socka-Nguemen has three seasons of eligibility remaining. She is the third transfer portal addition for IU women’s basketball this spring, joining Chloe Spreen and Phoenix Stotijn.

Socka-Nguemen was a 2024 McDonald’s All-American and attended Sidwell Friends High School in Washington, D.C. She was a recruiting target for the Hoosiers as a high school prospect but ultimately chose UCLA.

Here is her bio from UCLA when the program announced her signing in the fall of 2023:

Zania “Big Z” Socka ranks 26th in the 2024 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings, according to espnW.

“Zania Socka might understand the mission of our program better than anyone in the class,” said UCLA coach Cori Close. “The reason she was so committed to UCLA was because of our commitment to service in the community – she already has a foundation for women in West Africa, how impressive is that for someone at 17 years old?”

The five-star forward is an athletic wing, comfortable with the ball in her hands and who can finish on both sides of the basket. She is a multi-positional big that moves her feet and looks to protect the rim on the defensive end, impacting the game with her length and effort.

“Big Z is an elite rebounder, great screener, amazing defender,” said Close. “What makes her such a great fit for us is her commitment and work ethic to get better day by day, her true desire to use her platform to make an impact on others, and she’s an elite teammate. Big Z is going to be one of those people who makes your team go from really good individuals to a great team.”

The 6-foot-3 Socka played club basketball in the 2023 Nike Girls EYBL circuit with Dudley for Team Durant 17U, averaging 14 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 16 games tracked by Synergy Sports.

Category: Women's Basketball

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