Nashville-area girls basketball duo commit to Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt landed two of the Nashville area's top high school girls basketball prospects for the Class of 2018 this past week.

Ensworth's Jordyn Cambridge and Riverdale's Brinae Alexander announced their commitments on their respective Twitter accounts at the same moment on Saturday morning.

"It was planned," Cambridge, a 5-foot-9 point guard. "We were on the phone and did it at the same time. 

"I've been playing basketball with her since the fourth grade."

Cambridge said her top three schools were Kentucky, North Carolina and Vanderbilt.

"I'm so excited because I've always wanted to play in the SEC," Cambridge said. "They have the best competition."

Playing close to home wasn't a requirement in Cambridge's college decision. She attended several home games this past season.

"The entire coaching staff is amazing," Cambridge said. "I really like the coaches and liked what they were saying to me. I watched how they are building the program and how they got better during the season.

"It was just a bonus that it is in my backyard."

Like Cambridge, Alexander liked the coaching staff. She said the school has what she wants as far as an education.

"The location of the school isn't too far from school either," said Alexander, who also considered Kentucky, North Carolina State and Missouri. "And it has a good medical school and I want to go into the medical field.

"I want to be a pharmacist."

Cambridge told Vanderbilt's coaching staff that she was committing on Tuesday. Alexander committed a couple days after. But they waited until Saturday to announce that decision.

Alexander said committing before July when the AAU summer season intensifies.

"It was a big weight off my shoulders," she said.

Cambridge helped lead Ensworth to the Division II-AA state championship this past season. She was a DII-AA Miss Basketball finalist. Alexander, a 5-10 forward, helped lead Riverdale to a Class AAA state championship and USA TODAY national championship.

Both Cambridge and Alexander are three-year starters for their teams.

Cambridge is the No. 22 prospect in the country for the Class of 2018 according to ESPN. Alexander is the No. 57 prospect.

Cambridge averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists for Ensworth in the regular season. Alexander averaged 12.6 points and 5.8 rebounds.

Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager@tennessean.com and 615-259-8089 on on Twitter @Kreager.