JaidaRoper

Very athletic and fast guard who contributed right away in her first year on campus … Loves to push the tempo and play in transition … Always looking for the open teammate, but can score as well … incredible interior passer … One of the more vocal players on the team that is a big/fun personality in the locker room. 

• SEC Academic Honor Roll (2017)

2016-17 (Freshman)
Played in 32 of the team’s 33 games with two starts … Averaged 12.0 minutes per game, 2.6 points per game and 1.2 assists per game with 12 steals … First career start came against Radford when she played a season-best 25 minutes, scoring two points with four assists … Also started against Washington State … Showed her ability as an interior passer with three or more assists in five games, while leading Kentucky in assists three times … Career-high eight points against Georgia, going 2-for-3 from long range with one assist … Followed that performance with six points against Arkansas, hitting two 3s … Scored seven points four times, including seven points and five assists against Ole Miss and seven points and four assists against Georgia … Had a season-best six assists against New Hampshire. 

High School
A four-star prospect according ProspectsNation.com and three-star guard according to ESPN.com … Earned high praise for her performance in the 2015 EBA Super 64 Camp, as ProspectsNation.com listed her strengths as slasher, distributor and coachable … Played in the Basketball Coach Association of Tennessee East-West All-Star game in 2016 … Shined in her team’s 15-AAA championship game last season, scoring 22 points to earn the tournament most valuable player award … Scored over 1,500 career points for Houston High School under head coach Chad Becker … Averaged 13.2 points per game, 5.2 assists per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 2.8 steals per game her senior season … The Commercial Appeal Best of Preps Class AAA honors fourth straight seasons … Helped Houston High School to several championships … As a sophomore, she led the team to the Division I Class AAA State Tournament, where she posted a team-high nine points in the team’s loss to Blackman … Was named the district most valuable player as a sophomore as Houston High finished with a 26-8 record and won a district and regional championship … Was one of 17 Class AAA players to be named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State Team her sophomore year … Averaged 17.8 points per game, 5.7 assists per game, 3.9 steals per game and 3.6 rebounds per game, shooting 40 percent from 3-point land as a sophomore …. Was named to the all-region tournament team her junior and sophomore seasons. 

Personal
Place of Birth: Chicago, Ill. … Parent(s): John and Kina Roper … Siblings: One brother (John) … Major: Undergraduate studies … Shooting Hand: Right

The Cats’ Cause
Volunteered to pack and deliver food for God’s Pantry BackPack program … Helped spread joy to patients at the UK Children’s Hospital on Halloween and at Christmas.