Auburn Riverside senior forward Kathleen “Kat” Cooper has made a verbal commitment to play basketball for Boston College of the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.

Cooper said she immediately made her decision to attend the prestigious school after returning from last weekend’s campus visit at Chestnut Hill, Mass.

“It was probably the most amazing thing ever, just the history there,” Cooper said of BC, a private Roman Catholic Jesuit research university. “As soon as I came back home, I knew I wanted to go there. I love the coaches and thought that going there would be the best opportunity for my future goals, which are playing pro with the WNBA or overseas.

“And I loved the team. The girls are a lot like Auburn Riverside.”

Cooper, a 6-foot small forward, said she initially had scheduled campus recruiting visits to Iowa State, Gonzaga and Oregon State.

“But I called them and cancelled,” she said. “I think I made the best decision academic and basketball wise.”

Cooper was instrumental in the Ravens’ state 4A title run last season, earning selections as a South Puget Sound League North 4A first-team all-star as well as being chosen to the all-tournament team.

She scored 20 points and snagged 11 rebounds in the Ravens’ 56-52 overtime win over Mead in the title game last season.

Now, with her college choice nailed down, Cooper said she’s ready for another title run with the Ravens.

“I’m excited for the season,” Cooper said. “We started conditioning and training on Monday. We’re getting pumped up. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves and the coach to be back on top again.”