Murray State University Athletics
Racers Add Junior College All-American to 2011-12 Roster
5/2/2011 1:35:17 PM | Women's Basketball
"Kyra has the ability to come in and make an immediate impact on both ends of the court,” said head coach Rob Cross. “She is an aggressive competitor that will help fortify our play at the forward positions. Kyra is a great rebounder and a very intelligent player with the ability to finish around the rim aggressively.”
The 5-9 forward recently earned National Junior College Athletic Association All-American honors while leading the Lady Vols to their first appearance in the NJCAA national tournament in 10 years. John A. Logan finished the season with a 20-9 record and Watson finished the season averaging 20.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game. The Great Rivers Athletic Conference Region 24 Player of the Year also shot 52 percent from the field and 27 percent from beyond the arc.
"Kyra is a tremendous competitor and will be a great addition to the Murray State program,” said John A. Logan head coach Marty Hawkins. “She did a fantastic job for us both scoring the basketball and rebounding. I expect her to continue to be able to excel in the Ohio Valley Conference as she is a great fit for the league. We, at John A. Logan, are excited that Kyra is getting the opportunity to continue her career for an outstanding program like Murray State."
“I have known Coach Hawkins for a long time and am excited to finally have a John A. Logan player sign with Murray State because he is an outstanding teacher of the game,” Cross added. “Kyra Watson's status as a NJCAA All-American and Region 24 Player of the Year speaks volumes about her abilities on the court. She is a very good student and an outstanding young woman who will fit in well with the Racer Family."
Watson was a standout for West Aurora High School where as a senior she was the only player in the Chicago Metropolitan area to average a double-double, with 19.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. In 2007-08 she was named the Player of the Year for the Beacon News and the Kane Chronicle and she earned first-team all-conference honors twice and was a first-team all-area pick as a senior. Watson still holds the West Aurora record for the most rebounds in a single game (27).
Watson joins the 2011-12 incoming class of fellow transfer guard Erica Burgess (5-6), red-shirt freshman forward Chanyere Hosey (6-1), and incoming freshman Tennessee All-State guards Keiona Kirby (5-7) and Kendra Williams (5-5) and Indiana All-State post player Beth Mahurin (6-3).
