When new Northwestern State head women’s basketball coach Alan Frey announced Wednesday the signing of 11 newcomers as cornerstones of his first recruiting class, a very noteworthy incoming freshman with local ties was atop the list.
Stella Allison, whose father Dennis Allison is a Natchitoches native, wrapped up a sensational high school career last March by leading French Settlement to a state championship and earning Top 28 Marsh Madness MVP honors. She had originally committed to previous NSU coach Anna Nimz, but decommitted after Nimz took the North Alabama job and Allison received opportunities at other Division I programs including a walk-on offer from LSU.
But Frey reestablished a connection with her and she decided to come to Natchitoches, where her grandmother lives, to play for the Lady Demons.
The class for 2026-27 includes eight transfers and three high school signees.
Joining NSU for this season are KP Parr (Texas State), Karma Wynn (Wallace State CC), Becca Milon (Monmouth), Erica Carr (San Diego), Delora Pricop (Hutchinson CC), India McMahon (Nicholls), Chloe Donnell (South Alabama) and Yaly Ben Harush (Northeastern JC), as well as freshmen Val Montero, Chiara Pavitsits, and Allison.
“Integrating 11 new faces is always a journey,” Frey said. “But their chemistry and willingness to learn from our veterans has been outstanding. This group is actively helping us elevate our culture, and we can’t wait to get on the court and show our fans what they are capable of.”
Allison, a 5-8 guard, was All-State all four seasons for French Settlement High where as a senior she averaged 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals per game, which earned her All-State First Team and district MVP honors for the fourth straight year. She won Division II Non-Select championship game Outstanding Player honors and was subsequently named the Most Outstanding Player on the LHSAA All Tournament Team for all classifications.
She made the Livingston Parish Small School Fab Five all four seasons. Allison averaged 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals per game as a junior, 18 points and four assists per game as a sophomore, and 17 points per game as a freshman when she earned Livingston Parish first team recognition for the first time. She scored over 2,000 career points.
“Keeping local talent at home is a priority, so bringing in someone with such deep ties to Northwestern and Natchitoches was a massive win for both our program and me personally,” said Frey, a New Orleans native and longtime assistant coach at Tulane. “When we can sign an all-class MVP from the Louisiana State Championships, it sends a powerful message that the top kids in this state can excel right here. We couldn’t be happier to welcome Stella into the NSU women’s basketball family.”
Carr is a 6-3 junior center from Grand Prairie, Texas, transferring from San Diego, where she played 15 games in her two seasons. She helped her high school team to its first 6A State Championship appearance in Texas in 2024, and was a 2024 McDonald’s All-American nominee.
Donnell, a 5-8 sophomore guard out of Boerne, Texas, transferred from South Alabama after she led Boerne High to 118 wins in her four seasons, including three trips to the state semifinals. She was named All-State her final two seasons and all-district in all four
A 5-9 native of Tel Aviv, Israel, Ben Harush is a transfer from Northeastern Junior College who started her career at New Orleans, where she redshirted.
Nicholls transfer McMahon, is a 5-11 guard from Beaumont, Texas who also played for Angelina College, where she played in 58 games, starting 48 of them. She helped lead Hardin Jefferson High to 125 wins during her four seasons, including two state runner-up finishes.
Milon, 5-11 junior forward from Nepean, Ontario, Canada, is a Monmouth transfer. Frey coached there in her freshman season.
Montero, from Venezuela, is a 5-7 freshman guard who comes out of Southeastern Prep (Fla.) Academy after she competed for Venezuela at the AmeriCup South American qualifiers and other international competitions in the last few years.
The 5-4 Parr is a junior from Waco, Texas who has played for Wichita State and Texas State, where she led the Bobcats with 95 assists and was third in minutes played. She dished out a season-high eight assists against both UL Lafayette and Troy. At Wichita State, she played in all 32 games and was second in assists (61) and tied for tops on the Shockers in steals (36). She led Waco La Vega High to 105 wins in her last three seasons, including a pair of state titles, and also excelled in track and field, earning second place at the Texas State 4A in the 4×200 Relay and third at State as a triple jumper.
Pavitsits is a 5-11 swing player from Eisenstadt, Austria with international experience. Another European is Pricop, a 6-3 junior from Romania who has played in the USA for Vincennes and Hutchinson CC. At Vincennes as a freshman, she recorded 15.4 points and 11 rebounds per game on 49.2 percent shooting from the field, leading her team to the Region 24 semifinals. Her father coached the Romanian Olympic team.
Tulane transfer Wynn is a 5-4 guard from Birmingham who Frey connected with while recruiting for the Green Wave.