Player dismissed from Kentucky women’s basketball team has entered NCAA transfer portal
Former Kentucky women’s basketball sophomore forward Zennia Thomas is in search of her next destination.
Thomas retweeted a post from her former high school basketball coach in Ohio, Ourtney Bryant (Warrensville Heights), on X early Tuesday afternoon that said: “Former Kentucky women’s basketball player Zennia Thomas Is officially in the Transfer Portal.”
Thomas, who last played in UK’s 65-41 loss to Cincinnati in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Nov. 25, 2023, was dismissed from the team in early January. The program issued a statement that Thomas was “suspended indefinitely for a disciplinary matter” on Nov. 30 ahead of its victory over Boston College.
Thomas played in seven games this season, making two starts, averaging 2.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 0.1 steals and 0.6 blocks in 11.3 minutes per game. Thomas did not participate in any team activities while she was suspended. Former head coach Kyra Elzy announced in a press release on Jan. 9 that Thomas had been dismissed from the team.
“We hold our players to a high standard at Kentucky,” Elzy said. “Unfortunately, when someone does not consistently meet those standards, I have to make the tough decision to dismiss them from the program. We wish Zennia and her family nothing but the best moving forward.”
Originally from Lyndhurst, Ohio, Thomas was a late addition to the Wildcats’ 2022 class. During her freshman season, she averaged 4.5 minutes, 0.9 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.1 assists and 0.1 blocks over 10 games played.
Thomas is the first UK player, dismissed or otherwise, to enter the transfer portal this offseason. The Wildcats were eliminated from the SEC Tournament and from contention for the NCAA Tournament last week and finished the season 12-20.
Thomas’ retweeting of the transfer decision comes one day after Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart announced that Elzy had been relieved of her duties as head coach.
College basketball players may announce their intention to enter the transfer portal at any time. However, they cannot engage in recruitment by new schools until the portal window opens the day after NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday — Monday, March 18 this year. That window remains open for 45 days.
Athletes who enter the transfer portal are not obligated to leave their existing team, but are not automatically welcomed back if they have a change of heart. However, in the case of Thomas, who was dismissed, a path to a return seems unlikely.
The Wildcats’ 2024 freshman class currently includes 6-foot-5 center Ramiya White of Butler Traditional (Louisville), who signed with the Wildcats in November, and 6-1 wing Tanah Becker of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tennessee), who verbally committed at the end of February.
Graduate guard Emma King, who exercised her fifth and final season of eligibility this season, is the only member of Kentucky’s 11-player roster who is not technically able to return for the 2024-25 campaign.
That group includes seniors Nyah Leveretter, Ajae Petty, Eniya Russell and Maddie Scherr, junior Brooklynn Miles, sophomores Amiya Jenkins, Cassidy Rowe and Saniah Tyler, and freshmen Jordy Griggs and Janae Walker.
This story was originally published March 12, 2024 at 1:55 PM.
