James Madison Transfer Guard Kiki Jefferson Commits to Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville women's basketball program has landed yet another impact playmaker through the transfer portal.
Kiki Jefferson, a former guard who spent had spent her entire four-year career at James Madison before entering the transfer portal last month, announced Monday that she has committed to the Cardinals. She has one more year of eligibility remaining thanks to an optional COVID waiver.
The 6-foot-1 shooting guard was one of the top players in mid-major college basketball this past season. Playing in all 34 games with 32 starts, she led JMU in scoring and rebounding at 18.3 points and 7.9 boards per game, while also shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 34.1 percent on three-point attempts. She was tabbed as both the 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year as well as the 2023 Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player, helping guide the Dukes to a Sun Belt Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance
The Lancaster, Penn. native departed James Madison as one of their most accomplished players in program history. She ranks sixth all-time in points at 1,838, ninth in rebounds at 815, fifth in scoring average at 15.8 per game, second in career free throws made at 550, tied for ninth in made field goals at 518 and tied for 10th in three-point percentage at 33.9 percent.
Head coach Jeff Walz and his staff are having to undergo a massive roster overhaul heading into next season. The program is graduating six seniors, and five more players - including All-Ameican guard Hailey Van Lith - have entered the transfer portal. Currently, Louisville is in line to return just Olivia Cochran, Merissah Russell, Alexia Mobley and Nyla Harris.
With no commitments in their 2023 high school recruiting class, Louisville is having to replace all of their departing players with additions via the transfer portal. So far, the Cardinals have landed four transfers in former Georgia Tech guard Eylia Love, former Cal guard Jayda Curry, former Cal State Bakersfield forward Hennie van Schaik and Jefferson.
Louisville went 26-12 overall for the 2022-23 season, experiencing their first double-digit loss season since their 2011-12 campaign. Despite having a "down year" by their typically lofty standards, the Cardinals saved their best basketball for the postseason. They made the ACC Championship game as a No. 4 seed, then clinched their fifth-straight appearance in the Elite Eight before falling to national runner-up Iowa in the NCAA Tournament
(Photo of Kiki Jefferson via University of Louisville Athletics)
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