AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State women’s basketball program and head coach Bill Fennelly announced Wednesday that three prep standouts have signed their letters of intent. The three players have signed to play for the Cyclones starting in 2015-16.

The 2015 class was ranked 15th nationally by ProspectsNation.com making it the highest-rated class in program history. Iowa State’s three-member class included the No. 1 player in Canada and two top-45 standouts.

“I am very excited about the three players we are adding to the Iowa State family,” Fennelly said. “My staff worked very hard to evaluate these kids and I could not be more pleased with our class. They and their families are great additions to Iowa State.”

Bridget Carleton, a 6-1 guard who hails from Chatham, Ontario, Canada, is a starter on Canada’s U18 Junior National team. Carleton was also a captain in Canada’s U16 and U17 squads. She earned first and second-team nods in 2013 and 2014 and earned first-team honors at the Canadian National Championship. At John McGregor Secondary school, Carleton has helped the Panthers to a current 27-2 record during her senior year, averaging 26.5 points, 10.0 rebounds 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals while shooting 51 percent from the field. Carleton is rated as the top 2015 prospect in Canada by Crown Scout Recruiting Service and is the Cyclones first player from Canada.

“Bridget is our first player from Canada and we could not be more excited,” Fennelly said. “She has all the tools needed to be a very good player in the Big 12. Bridget already has played at a high level as she has represented Canada in numerous international competitions.”

Meredith Burkhall, a 6-3 forward from Urbandale, Iowa, is a three-year starter at Roosevelt High School. Burkhall was named first-team all-conference her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons with the Rough Riders. In her junior year, she averaged 18.6 points and 9.6 rebounds. At Roosevelt, Burkhall is just eight points away from reaching the 1,000-point mark. Burkhall is also rated the top prospect out of the state of Iowa and is rated 45th nationally on ProspectsNation.com.

“Mere is the best player in our state,” Fennelly said. “She is long and athletic in the post where we need some added depth. Mere has good skills and hands and has a great upside. She has an infectious personality that I know our fans will love.”

T’Aire Starks (TeeTee), a 5-11 guard out of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is a two-time all-conference selection who averaged 9.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists her junior season in just 19 games played due to injury. Starks led Hopkins High School to back-to-back state championships her freshman and sophomore seasons with records of 30-2 and 31-1. Starks is rated the No. 39 prospect on ProspectsNation.com and is the top prospect in Minnesota according to 5 State Hoops.

“TeeTee is a winner! She comes out of a great high school program (Hopkins HS) and AAU program (North Tartan) so she has played a high level for a long time,” Fennelly said. “She is a great defender and can play any guard position. Her versatility and toughness will help our team.”

Kiel Moore, a national recruiting analyst for ProspectsNation.com com called Iowa State’s 2015 class one of the top in the country.

“With a three-player class of Bridget Carleton, Meredith Burkhall, and TeeTee Starks, Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and his staff have again landed one of the top-25 recruiting classes in the country,” said Keil Moore, a national recruiting analyst for ProspectsNation.com. “All three players have the ability to bring something different to the program while also being able to contribute early in their careers in their area of strength. There is talent, potential, and that little something special about this trio of prospects and it could be a fun four years in Ames with them on campus.”