With the commitment, Messer becomes the second highly regarded recruit to pledge to the Utes in the span of three weeks. Diana Rolniak, a 6-foot-4 forward-center ranked among the top 100 players in the country, was the first to commit. The two know each other, as they play on the same Amateur Athletic Union team, the Mile High Magic.

"These are two great commitments for the University of Utah," Bradley said. "They'll be great for the community. Not only are they great players, they're great students and great kids."

Messer has been billed as one of the best shooters in the West this summer and she brings the additional ability to handle the ball, which may lead to her playing some point guard as well.

Her commitment is good for the Utes because she was one of their prime targets, along with Rolniak. Messer chose Utah over Denver University, according to Bradley. With a year remaining in her prep career, Messer already holds a few school records, including best three-point shooting percentage in a season and a career.

"I've always had great teams, and I've had a lot of great players come through here," Bradley said. "Rachel's one of the best players I've ever had."

According to Bradley, the sticking point for Messer was the chance to play with a team that annually competed for conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.

tjones@sltrib.com