Youngstown, Ohio -- Warren, Ohio, native Faith Burch will join her hometown team as the first student-athlete to sign with Youngstown State through the transfer portal in the Melissa Jackson era. The Penguins announced her commitment on Monday.

Burch, a 6-foot-1 forward, spent the first three seasons of her collegiate career at Cleveland State, and she has two years of eligibility remaining. Jackson was an assistant coach at CSU in 2023-24.

"I am so excited to welcome Faith home!" said YSU head coach Melissa Jackson. "As we navigate the transfer portal, it is important to bring in student-athletes who can immediately impact our program both on the court and in the locker room. Faith brings experience, leadership and athleticism to our Penguin Family. 

Faith is a relentless rebounder! Her length and athleticism will provide an interior defensive presence. I am also excited to continue to develop her offensive skill set. Faith's rim-running ability is the perfect fit for our offensive transition."

Burch played in all 35 games and averaged 10.8 minutes per game as she helped the Vikings to a 29-6 record and the Horizon League regular season championship in 2023-24. She averaged 3.6 points while shooting 47.8% from the field, and she added 3.9 rebounds per contest. As a redshirt freshman in 2022-23, she averaged 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds over 27 contests.

Before her Vikings career, Burch was one of the Mahoning Valley's top basketball players at Warren Harding as she was the Trumbull County and All-American Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a junior and senior. A third-team All-Ohioan as a junior when she averaged 15.2 points and led the Raiders to a 23-3 record, she finished her career with 950+ points and 950+ rebounds during her prep career.