Dartmouth’s Ella Hoyt commits to Axewomen basketball

With two more years left of high school, Ella Hoyt knows where her basketball career will take her as she has committed to the Acadia Axewomen for fall 2026.

A member of the Basketball Nova Scotia (BNS) provincial team and Halifax Grammar School, the 5’10 guard is considered one of – if not the best – Nova Scotia recruits in the 2026-27 class.

“We're ecstatic to get a commitment from Ella at this early stage,” said Acadia head coach Len Harvey. “Ella has been a standout in the Atlantic provinces for the last number of years, whether that's through our provincial teams, her years in MBANS, or at Halifax Grammar School. She's been well coached and really loves basketball. She is an impressive young woman and continuously demonstrates maturity and dedication beyond her years. We're excited to be a part of Ella's development and know that she will be a perfect fit for us here at Acadia.”

With Basketball Nova Scotia at the 2023 national championship, Hoyt was second in field goal percentage, third in field goals made, fourth in three-point field goals made, fourth in points per game and tenth in assists per game. On top of being co-captain of Team Nova Scotia, the was named to the top 20 performers list by Basketball Canada and named to the national standout top 12 list by Northpole Hoops.

While they finished sixth as a team, this followed her being part of the silver-medal winning U15 team at the 2022 national championship.

“Ever since I was nine years old, I have been traveling to the Annapolis Valley to train with Dave Harris. I have spent countless hours learning under his guidance and this gave me the opportunity to be in the gym with former Acadia All-Canadians, providing exposure to the culture, work ethic and values of an Axewoman,” said Hoyt. “I looked up to these role models and aspired to be like them. Moreover, I had the opportunity to play for Haley McDonald in 2022 on the U15 provincial team and I will have that privilege again this summer on the U17 provincial team.”

This year with Halifax Grammar School, in her Grade 10 year, she was a co-captain. They finished third in league play, with Hoyt being named tournament MVP of the Rick Cotter Classic and a tournament all-star at the Grammar Classic.

“Having seen how respected, passionate and driven Len and his staff are, I can’t wait to suit up for them,” she said. “Committing to Acadia will allow me to play for a prestigious program in a community that is very enthusiastic about women's basketball. It allows me to remain close to my family so that they can continue to follow my basketball journey. My early commitment allows me to focus on basketball and finishing my high school career. It gives me early access to training with the Axewomen team which will help me get accustomed to the pace and rigor of U SPORTS. I’m looking forward to attending a small-town school with one of the top undergraduate programs in the country. As a student-athlete, what more could you ask for?”

Equally as talented in the classroom as on the court, when attending Acadia, she plans to pursue a science degree.