She was UK’s top recruit last season. Now, she’s leaving without ever playing a game.
Kentucky women’s basketball has lost yet another player to the transfer portal.
Redshirt freshman Tionna Herron has decided to enter her name into the NCAA portal, UK confirmed Wednesday. Herron did not play during her freshman season after recovering from successful open-heart surgery on Aug. 24, 2022.
Originally from DeSoto, Texas, Herron played for renowned program DeSoto High School where she helped lead the team as a junior to a 28-2 overall record, as well as a Texas Class 6A state championship.
Herron, a 6-foot-4, four-star center, was ranked as the 11th-best post, as well as a top-70 player in the class of 2022 by ESPN. She entered the portal one day before the window to transfer closed for this spring.
Her departure marks the third Wildcat to enter the portal following a disappointing 12-19 (2-14 SEC) season in Kyra Elzy’s third year as head coach.
Starting guard Jada Walker, who has since signed with Baylor, as well as impact freshman Kennedy Cambridge both announced their intention to transfer not long after UK’s season-ending loss to Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the 2023 SEC Tournament.
Herron’s transfer will leave the Wildcats with 11 of 15 available scholarship slots filled.
UK picked up its second high school signee Sunday when Janae Walker of Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.) committed to the Wildcats over Southern Cal, Syracuse and Wisconsin. The Cats earlier signed Jordy Griggs from Montverde (Fla.) Academy.
This story was originally published May 10, 2023 at 3:11 PM.
