Maisie Keyes verbally commits to University of Vermont (NCAA Division One)

Endeavour Ipswich Basketball Club and Copleston Basketball Academy star Maisie Keyes has verbally committed to the University of Vermont in NCAA Division One. The class of 2026 athletic guard has been heavily recruited by a number of D1 School’s and has chosen Vermont after a successful visit in August. Keyes joins a growing list of Copleston and Ipswich players heading to top schools in Division One.

Maisie was named to the WEABL All Second Team in 2025 on route to winning the National Championship with Copleston, and was a key contributor for Ipswich, helping them win the WNBL National Cup as a starter in her first year at the academy. Perhaps most notably, Maisie was also named MVP of the U18 National Championship game for Ipswich, meaning that she was a champion at all three age groups in her first season playing for the Suffolk programme.

Vermont, finished with a 21-13 record in 2024/2025, and play in the America East Conference. Maisie is expected to make an impact in her freshman year with the Catamounts.

The 5’11 guard, currently in her second year in Ipswich, joined the Suffolk programme from the Manchester Mystics. Maisie has had a major impact at both academy and club level. In her first year she helped her squads reach the national final of every competition they entered, winning the WNBL National Cup, WEABL and U18 Women’s National Championship.

Maisie becomes the seventh D1 scholarship athlete to come out of the Ipswich girls/women’s programme in the last five years, joining Esther Little (Gonzaga), Susannah Rafiu (Columbia) and Anya Mackenzie (Tarleton State/West Georgia), Christabel Osarobo (Gonzaga) and Olivia Forster (USC Upstate/Essex).

Maisie has just started her second year at Copleston Basketball Academy based in Ipswich and in partnership with Ipswich Basketball Club, one of the leading academies as part of the England Development Programme (EDP). In addition to her domestic success, Maisie was selected for the Hoopsfix All Star Classic and has already represented Great Britain at four European Championships (U16 in 2022 & 2023, and U18 in 2024 & 2025).

In 2025/2026, her final year with Copleston and Ipswich, Maisie has made her goals clear. “I want to finish this chapter of my basketball career the right way. Ipswich is and always will be a massive part of me now. I have made friends for life and have loved being part of the Ipswich and Copleston Basketball family. We want to go as far as we can in all competitions, and I’m excited to complete this chapter of my career in style”.

Endeavour Ipswich Basketball Club Ipswich Head Coach Nick Drane said “Maisie has quickly established herself as one of the best players to have ever played for this programme. Her commitment to excellence and her professionalism is at a level only a select few we have ever had, and this combined with her dedication to her academics and outstanding ability as a basketball player has led her to this opportunity. I would also like to acknowledge that Maise joined us as a very accomplished player, and massive credit must go to her previous club, Manchester Mystics, who laid the foundations for an amazing player”.

On signing for Vermont, Maisie had this to say “I am honoured to announce my commitment to the University of Vermont. Thank you Coach Kresge and staff for believing in me and allowing me to pursue my dream of playing basketball at the collegiate level. From the moment I spoke to the coaches at UVM I fell in love with everything the program had to offer, and this only grew when I got to visit at the start of August. It was like everything fell into place and I knew I wanted to be a part of such an amazing program”.

A message from Maisie: “My biggest thank you goes to my family. To my mum who always pushes me to be the best and to my dad who has always believed in me. You have proved time and time again how you will go the extra mile to ensure I get the best opportunities, giving me the biggest chance to reach my goals and now here we are! I will forever be grateful for all the sacrifices you have made for me and the time you have spent driving me round the country and flying all around Europe to watch me live out my dreams. To my brothers I am so lucky to have you all as role models, you have always supported me, and I am so lucky to be your younger sister. Mum, Dad, Tom, Dan, and Harry I am ready to make you all proud.

Thank you to Nick (Drane), you are so much more than a coach to me. Moving across the country to be a part of the Copleston/Ipswich Basketball family was the best decision I ever made, you have only been my coach for a year, but it feels more like 10. I am so thankful for all the time you have given me and all the skills you have taught me, I would not be the player I am today without you. But more importantly, thank you for always being there for me as a person. I am so lucky to have you in my corner, your unwavering support means the world to me. Thank you for everything you have done for me, this is all possible because of you. Harriet (Welham), thank you for all the lessons you have taught me this past year. I am incredibly lucky to be able to call you my coach but also my teammate. Tom (Kelly), you have always believed in me. From my worst games to my best games, you are always the first person to tell me how well I played, and that has meant so much to me this past season so thank you. And thank you Ipswich for being a home to me and thank you to my coaches for pushing me each day allowing me to chase my dreams! #IBCfam

Thank you to the teaching staff at Copleston, who have supported me as a student athlete. You go above and beyond and make the pressures of balancing basketball and studying as comfortable as possible for all of us in the academy.  And thank you to all the teachers before I made the decision to move to Ipswich.

Thank you Joe and Maggie Forber, the people who started this all. Throughout my time in Manchester and now in Ipswich you have continued to support me, guide me and care for me. From the young girl crying on the bench in Northants to where I am now it has been a heck of a journey, and I have you two to thank for that. I am forever grateful for everything you have done for me over the past 10 years, you are family to me, and you always will be.

And finally to my inspiration, Ellis Cooper. It is crazy to think the little girl you took under your wing, the one who could not do a left-hand layup is now all grown up and announcing her commitment to a D1 college. From the moment I first saw you play you have been my hero but now you are also my best friend. Thank you for making this little girl fall in love with basketball”.

Maisie, who is also an ambassador for Disability Sport, will be suiting up for Ipswich and Copleston this season, again playing across three age groups while completing her A-Level’s at Copleston Sixth Form.

Copleston Basketball Academy are holding open trials for the September 2026 intake. You can register your interest by emailing basketballacademy@copleston.suffolk.sch.uk