{
  "id": 12398518,
  "title": "Natalie Heyer follows sisters into college basketball, commits to UND",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/natalie-heyer-follows-sisters-into-college-basketball-commits-to-und",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-06T14:39:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/natalie-heyer-follows-sisters-college-143900091.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 6, Natalie Heyer announced her commitment to the University of North Dakota (UND) for the Class of 2028. The 6-foot-1 forward from Chaska, Minnesota, had offers from Montana and Oregon, but it was her visits to Grand Forks that left her feeling at home. She expressed excitement about joining the Fighting Hawks, praising the coaching staff, players, and overall atmosphere as welcoming and comfortable. Heyer believes she fits well into head coach Dennis Hutter's system, which focuses on shooting threes, rebounding, and defending. Known for her versatility, she can score near the basket and from three-point range, rebound effectively, and guard multiple positions. Her on-court skills and connection with Hutter's culture were key factors in her decision. Beyond basketball, Heyer is also a volleyball player at Chaska High School, though basketball has been her primary focus. She aims to improve her three-point shooting and ball handling skills during her junior year. Heyer's parents both played college sports, with her dad playing football and her mom playing volleyball at St. Cloud State. Growing up, basketball was the sport she chose, influenced by her sisters' experiences in college. Mallory played 102 games for Minnesota, while Aubrey had an immediate impact at Bemidji State, leading the team in rebounds last season. Heyer credits her sisters for guiding her through the college recruitment process and helping her make the right choice.",
  "summary": "Oct. 6—GRAND FORKS — Natalie Heyer had help from two college basketball players while navigating her recruiting process: her older sisters, Mallory and Aubrey. Aubrey is a junior at Bemidji State, while Mallory will play for Oregon after three seasons at Minnesota. \"They were definitely a big help in the whole recruiting process from the beginning,\" Heyer said. \"They helped me answer any ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}