It turns out the school that recruited the Tonganoxie High senior first is the one she went with in the end.

Heim signed a national letter of intent Friday to play basketball at Baker University in Baldwin.

“Baker’s recruited me the longest,” Heim said. “They’ve been in contact with me the most.”

Heim, who has been named all-area and all-league in volleyball and basketball repeatedly while playing at THS, also has received postseason honors in softball.

In addition, the senior has been a scoring leader for the Chieftains in basketball. Heim helped Tonganoxie to a 22-4 record and a state tournament berth in March.

Heim, a forward while at Tonganoxie, will be part of a young Baker team next winter. The Wildcats lost five seniors to graduation, along with a junior from this year’s team that went 21-10. The previous Baker squad posted a similar record at 21-12.

“They have a really good school and the program is really strong,” Heim said.

When Heim begins her career at Baldwin, she’ll be playing with some familiar faces. Allie Heinen, who played at De Soto, was a freshman this year for the Wildcats. And Shawnee Heights’ Julie Hill, whom Heim played with in club ball, will be a freshman next year alongside Heim.

Hill was named Topeka’s city player of the year in March after helping Shawnee Heights to a second-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament.

While at Tonganoxie, Heim played against Jeff West three times in the last two years. Baker signed two players from Jeff West in this year’s recruiting class as well.

“I’ll be looking forward to meeting them and knowing them as a friend and not as a rival,” Heim said.

Baker is coached by Susan Decker, who has been the Wildcats’ coach since 2000. Decker played basketball at Tabor College in Hillsboro.

As for Heim, she had a few colleges on her list of choices. Rockhurst, William Jewell, Ottawa and St. Mary all recruited Heim, but she eventually decided on the orange and blue of Baker.

“It just felt right,” Heim said.