Jan. 14, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman point guard Crystal Riley of Arlington, Tenn., has transferred from LSU to play women’s basketball at the University of Kentucky, Coach Matthew Mitchell has announced.

“I am very happy to announce the addition of Crystal Riley to our basketball team,” Mitchell said. “She is a player I was familiar with and thought highly of coming out of high school. For us to have the opportunity to coach her here at Kentucky truly excites me. She is a very versatile point guard and she has tremendous court vision. Crystal also has the valuable combination of being able to distribute the ball so her teammates can score and being a legitimate scoring threat as well. She is a great penetrator and good shooter and she will help our team in a significant way.”

Prior to signing with LSU, the 5-5 point guard was rated the 11th-best point guard in the nation and the 59th player overall in the Class of 2008 by Hoopgurlz.com. She was a three-year all-district, all-city and all-metro selection under Coach Reginald Jones at Hillcrest High School in Memphis, Tenn., and was a 2008 Class AA Miss Tennessee Basketball finalist. She averaged 21.0 points per game as a senior and 15.0 points and five assists as a junior. As a sophomore, she helped lead Hillcrest to the Class 4A state championship while earning all-district, all-regional and all-state honors. Riley also excelled in the classroom as she was a member of the National Honor Society.

Riley, one of six freshmen on LSU’s roster, averaged 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in six games t his season. She will have three years of eligibility remaining at UK and will be eligible for game action after the fall semester of 2009.