May 16, 2003
Lexington, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team signed 6-1, forward Afton Perry of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., to a national letter of intent, Coach Mickie DeMoss announced today.
Afton, a three-year starter at Fort Walton Beach High School, averaged a team-high 18.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game in her senior season. Despite missing her junior year due to a knee injury, Perry climbed to fourth on the school’s all-time leading scoring list with 1,169 career points.
“We are very excited to have a player of her caliber join our team,” DeMoss said. “Afton gives us many contributions both on and off the court. She comes from a very good high school program and she knows how to win. She brings a very competitive spirit to UK and we look forward to having Afton here next season.”
In her three seasons, Perry helped lead her team to back-to-back Class AAAAA state final four appearances, three district championships and three regional championships. Proven to be a leader, Perry was elected team captain by the coaching staff and the Vikings completed the 2003 season with an impressive 31-3 overall record, a district championship and an appearance in the Class 5-A state semifinal game in Lakeland, Fla. Perry was named to the All-Tournament team by the Florida Sports Writers Association after posting a game-high 19 points, five blocks and five steals against the eventual state runner-up Pine Ridge.
“She’s a remarkable young person and we are very excited for her to play at Kentucky,” FWBHS coach Kevin Craig said. “Not only is she a fine basketball player but she is a great student as well. She’s very smart and I know she will be successful at UK.”
Because of her successful senior season, Perry was selected as an adidas All-American and was nominated as a McDonald’s All-American. She also was named second-team All-State and was chosen as the Daily News Player of the Year for 2003.
Basketball genes run in the family as Afton’s older sister Nitra Perry was an All-SEC performer at Mississippi State from 1997-2000.
Perry joins two UK signees from the November signing period.
