Hazen’s Airashay Rogers Signs With UW Basketball

Wearing a purple Huskies sweatshirt, Hazen’s star girls basketball player Airashay Rogers signed on with the University of Washington Women’s Basketball program Monday.

“It’s been two years since we had a Division one athlete,” said Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Ed Crow. “We’re really excited that Airashay will go to a PAC 12 school.”

Rogers said she had other offers, but decided on UW because it was close to home and she wanted her parents to be able to attend her games.

“This is just a better opportunity for me,” said Rogers, who plans to study Business and Marketing at the UW.

Girls basketball coach Jeff Bernhardt describes Rogers as a pass-first player who knows how to score.

“She’s awesome as a player, and even better as a person,” he said.

Rogers is Bernhardt’s second player to sign with a division one school during his coaching career. He had one student sign with Oregon State when he coached at Shorewood High School, but none during his five years at Hazen. Until now.

Division one signings are an uncommon event at Hazen. One student signed with Westpoint for football; the other signed with Arkansas, Little Rock for soccer, Crow said. None signed in the 2010-2011 school year.

Although rare, the school may see more signings this year.

“We have some pretty talented baseball players,” he said.