River Baldwin has only been playing basketball for a little over four years, and over the weekend the 6-foot-5 Pleasant Home sophomore gave a verbal commitment to the Florida State Lady Seminoles.

“Florida State was the first school that started to show me interest when I was in eighth grade,” Baldwin said. “I really just have such a great relationship with the coaches and the staff.”

Baldwin, the No. 22 overall player and No. 3 post player for the Class of 2019, according to ESPN, said she really didn’t expect to make this decision so early.

“It really wasn’t something I thought I would be doing at the end of my sophomore season,” Baldwin said. “I went and visited all the places that I thought I would might want to play, and nothing compared to way I felt about Florida State.”

If it wasn’t for a little push from her mother, Baldwin said she might not have ever played the sport.

“I had no interest in basketball until my seventh grade year when my mom kind of made me play,” Baldwin said. “Once I got out there, I feel in love the game.”

By her ninth and tenth grade seasons, Baldwin began catching the eye of coaches from the top women’s basketball programs in the country.

“It was really crazy seeing all of the coaches come from all over the country to watch me play basketball in Pleasant Home,” Baldwin said. “This season, there were different coaches at a lot of games and calling me on regular basis.”

Baldwin said that she hasn’t decided what she will study while at Florida State, but says she knows she wants to continue playing basketball.

“My dream is to play in the WNBA, or even overseas,” Baldwin said. “I just know that I want to continue playing basketball for as long as I can. That’s another reason I picked Florida State. I know that it’s somewhere that will provide me with the training that I need to further my career.”

Baldwin still has two years remaining in her high school career, but the sophomore already has a nearly 1,900 career points.