Photo Credit: Liam Sment
Virginia Tech added a big time piece to its roster on Friday when star Purdue guard Kayana Traylor announced she would be joining the Hokies for next season.
In her first season at Purdue, Traylor made a name for herself, racking up 119 assists, the sixth-most from a Boilermaker freshman in program history. She averaged 6.6 points, 1.9 boards, and a steal per game, while starting 22 games in 2018.
Traylor started 25 games for Purdue in her sophomore season, tallying 6.6 points and 2.1 boards per game. She continued to establish herself as a facilitator in 2019, dishing out 102 assists in 25 starts.
This season Traylor averaged 15 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, starting all 32 contests for the Boilermakers. Despite having the lowest season total in her Purdue career, Traylor delivered an impressive 90 assists in her junior year. Her productive 2020 season earned her All-Big Ten second team honors.
Traylor will most likely fill the hole left by senior Da’Ja Green, who backed up freshman point guard Georgia Amoore this season.
Traylor is a nice addition to a bench that struggled to get things moving when Amoore, Aisha Sheppard, and Elizabeth Kitley weren’t on the court.
As the probable first player off the bench, Traylor will try to act as a catalyst for the Hokies’ offense. Her keen ability to move the rock will help Virginia Tech limit scoring droughts, a common occurrence for the team this past season.
Tech could also start her at times in what would be a loaded backcourt with Sheppard and Amoore.
Most importantly, her presence will take pressure off of Amoore and Sheppard, allowing Kenny Brooks’ squad to flourish without overwhelming its starters.
