FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (April 14, 2021) – The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks made one more addition to their 2021-22 roster on Wednesday, the first day of the spring and summer's National Letter of Intent signing period.
NAU head coach
Loree Payne announced Natalie Greenwood, a 6-2 forward from Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club, Texas, signed her NLI as the fourth newcomer to the Lumberjacks in the fall.
"We have some recruiting connections out in Texas and got some information that we should take a look at this kid," Payne said. "She's kind of a late developer; she didn't start playing basketball until not very many years ago. The kid has so much potential and so much upside."
Previously focusing on softball during her youth athletic career, Greenwood began to focus on basketball in eighth grade. Payne said she feels Greenwood will fit well into NAU's system, and the Big Sky Conference as a whole, given her ability to play the stretch forward spot as well as going inside to post up.
Greenwood started her high school career at Westlake Academy in Westlake, Texas. Averaging 5.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks across 29 games, Greenwood helped the Blacksmiths win a Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship state title while earning all-district and all-state tournament honors. Greenwood's numbers remained similar during her sophomore season, with Westlake winning another TCAF state title.
As a junior, Greenwood took a step forward during the first half of her season. While averaging 12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks, Greenwood also set the school record for three-pointers in a game at six.
Transferring to a larger school for the second semester of her junior season, Greenwood moved to Byron Nelson to play for the Bobcats in Class 6A of the University Interscholastic League. With Greenwood just about five years into consistent play on the court, Payne said she looks forward to helping develop the forward.
"When you have a player who hasn't been as developed and didn't start playing basketball when she was 4 or 5 years old, it just makes a coach that values player development so excited," Payne said. "You can have a player come in here and you know that she is going to continue to get better and better. There's no limit to how good she can be once we get her in the gym and get working with her, doing some individuals and getting her into our system."
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