Nejari Crooks didn’t wait long to jump on her offer from the Penn State women’s volleyball program, as the 6-foot-1 right-side hitter from High Point, North Carolina, verbally committed to the Nittany Lions Sunday evening, the first day Division I coaches were permitted to contact 2027 prospects.
Crooks announced the news on her Instagram account early Monday morning.
“I am extremely overjoyed and blessed to announce my verbal commitment to further my academic and athletic career at Penn State University!” Crooks said. “First of all, thank you, God, for your guidance and protection over me and my family. Thank you for all the blessings that you have given me and for keeping me grounded in you throughout all my years.
“Thank you so much to my parents who have done countless things like coach and support me through my volleyball career. None of this would be possible without them, and I am forever grateful.
“Thank you so much to my teammates and friends who have been amazing to know and play with along my journey! Finally, thank you to Coach Katie, Coach Brian, Coach Megan, and Coach Mike for giving me an amazing opportunity and for making my dream a reality! WE ARE!!”
Crooks is a rising junior at Wesleyan Christian Academy and also represents Triad Elite Volleyball Club. Crooks, who’s left-handed, is the No. 11 overall prospect and the No. 1 RS in the 2027 cycle, according to Prep Dig’s latest rankings update. She attended Penn State’s talent-rich 8 Star Camp II on June 11 at Rec Hall and last year’s 7 Star Camp.
Crooks, who was born during the latter half of Penn State volleyball’s 2007-10 championship run, was in the crowd on November 29, 2024 for the Nittany Lions’ 3-1 win over Nebraska to clinch a share of the Big Ten title. The atmosphere at Rec Hall that night was unforgettable, and likely stuck in the back of Crooks’ head as she was weighing her college options.
Crooks recently secured a USA volleyball roster spot for the 2025 NORCECA U19 Pan-American Cup June 24-28 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, alongside fellow 2027 Penn State commit Taylor Harrington. The team will train in Chicago, Illinois, June 20-22 before heading north of the border to begin tournament play. The U.S. U19 team won gold at that event in 2022 and 2023. Crooks, Harrington, and the U.S. will face Venezuela on June 24 at 3 p.m. ET in their first match.
Crooks, a regular participant in USA volleyball’s quarterly NTDP training series, will wear No. 2 for her junior national team competitive debut. Both of Crooks’ parents played volleyball for the Jamaican senior national team. Nejari was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country prior to picking the Nittany Lions, who are coming off their eighth NCAA national championship in 2024.
Last cycle, Texas setter Danielle Whitmire became the first member of Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class on June 16, 2024, then California outside hitter Finley Krystkowiak joined her in committing to the Nittany Lions the next day. Several weeks later, Haley Burgdorf and Kendall Northern jumped on board, too. Crooks is an excellent athlete, touching over 10’3″ by the halfway point of her high school career. It will be exciting to see how she continues to develop her game prior to arriving at Penn State.