The ASU football team made a lot of noise last February when Vontaze Burfict became the highest-rated football recruit to ever sign a letter of intent to play for the Sun Devils.

And Burfict has made the immediate impact four games into his freshman season, ranking second on the team in tackles with 22.

The ASU women’s basketball team can only hope the same type of production comes from its latest super recruit.

Cassie Harberts, the No. 11 overall prospect and No. 2 forward in the nation in the 2010 signing class, according to ESPNU HoopGurlz, committed to play her college basketball at ASU on Tuesday.

“I’m really relieved and really excited,” Harberts said of her commitment. “I really can’t wait to go through my senior year and experience it, but at the same time I just can’t wait to get to college.”

Harberts is the highest-ranked recruit to commit to ASU since senior guard Dymond Simon signed as part of the 2006 class.

Harberts, who stands 6 feet 2 inches, will come to ASU from San Clemente High School in San Clemente, Calif., where she averaged 19.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists during her junior season. She also plays for the Cal Swish club team that won the Nike Nationals title this past summer.

“Cassie, I would say, is the best player that I’ve had in this program coaching at San Clemente,” San Clemente girls basketball coach Mary Mulligan said. “She’s capable of playing any position on the floor, so she can handle the ball and she can also play with her back to the basket. She’s just a real competitive, hard-working, blue-collar athlete.”

Harberts originally pledged to USC during her junior year but reopened her recruitment when former coach Mark Trakh resigned in April. She made her official visit to ASU a couple weeks ago and canceled visits to Oklahoma and Connecticut as a result of her commitment to the Sun Devils.

“I just really fell in love with it there,” Harberts said. “It felt right, and I knew I wanted to be there. [After the trip] I was like, ‘OK maybe this is like a high coming off the visit,’ and I was like, ‘OK, I’ll wait a couple weeks and see if I still really want to go there,’ and my feelings never changed.”

Harberts also said the relationship she developed with ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne and her staff was a big factor in her committing to play for ASU.

“They just all are really there for you not only as athletes, but as individuals,” Harberts said. “I know it’s not just about what I do on the court — it’s about my future. That relationship was really important because they can help me achieve goals beyond athletics.”

Mulligan said she wants to see Harberts continue to work on a more consistent 3-point shot and develop her leadership skills as she goes through her senior high-school season and prepares for college basketball.

“I’d like to see her carry this team on her back a little bit and take us to another level,” Mulligan said. “I think that that experience will help her in college, just [becoming] someone that can take over the game in crunch time and secure a victory for her team with her own will power and talent.”

The 2009-10 Sun Devils begin practice on Oct. 16 and open their regular season against South Dakota State on Nov. 15.

Reach the reporter at gina.mizell@asu.edu.