UK women’s basketball adds two former SEC foes to roster. Meet the newest Wildcats.
The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team has added a pair of former Southeastern Conference foes to its roster.
On Wednesday, UK announced that Robyn Benton and Jazmine Massengill are transferring into the program. Both just finished their sophomore seasons and will have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out next year due to NCAA transfer rules.
Both players were rated ahead of current Wildcats star Rhyne Howard as recruits coming out of high school.
Massengill, a 6-foot guard, is transferring from Tennessee. She was a target of UK Coach Matthew Mitchell as a high school player in Chattanooga and was a McDonald’s All-American and the No. 25 overall player in the 2018 class according to ESPN’s rankings.
Massengill has an interesting connection to Kentucky. She was coached in high school by Keisha Hunt, the mother of heralded UK signee Treasure Hunt.
“We spent a lot of time with Jazmine and her family during her initial recruiting process and are grateful they let us rekindle our relationship this time around and can now welcome her into Big Blue Nation,” Mitchell said in a UK press release. “Jazmine is an electric guard that uses her size and strength to really make a difference on both ends of the court. Off the court, her personality can light up a room and I am so excited she is a Wildcat and brings that energy to our program.”
Massengill averaged 6.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for Tennessee as a starter last season and scored six points in each of the Volunteers’ losses to Kentucky.
Benton, a 5-foot-9 guard, is transferring from Auburn. She was voted to the All-SEC Freshman Team before averaging 10.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game as a sophomore. The Atlanta, Ga., native was a five-star recruit and the No. 17 prospect in the country out of high school according to ESPN’s rankings.
Kentucky’s Howard, who was named an Associated Press First Team All-American this past season, was the No. 32 recruit in the 2018 class, according to the same rankings.
Benton scored nine points, hitting four of nine shots from the field, in Kentucky’s 68-61 victory over the Tigers this past season. She shot 35 percent from three-point range in her two seasons as a Tiger.
“Robyn is a fantastic player that really is going to fit in perfectly here at Kentucky,” Mitchell said. “When you look at her production the last two seasons, she has shown an ability to score at a high level and has some defensive intangibles that you cannot teach ... Most of all, she comes from a fantastic family and is a terrific person away from basketball and we are overjoyed to welcome her to Big Blue Nation.”
An NCAA proposal, if approved, could allow both Benton and Massengill to play for the Wildcats in the 2020-21 season. The proposal is scheduled for additional discussion April 24 and for a vote on May 20, according to an ESPN report.
With the addition of Benton and Massengill the Wildcats now have five players entering the program next season. They’ll join Hunt, along with Sacred Heart guard Erin Toller and Niya Leveretter, a 6-foot-3 forward from South Carolina.
Kentucky went 22-8 this past season, finishing tied for third in the SEC. The Wildcats were ranked No. 12 in ESPN’s projections for next season.
This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 5:15 PM.
