Basketball’s Huffman to Play at Knox College

News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior forward Kyra Huffman will continue her basketball career at Knox College located in Galesburg, Ill., next fall.

“It has always been a dream of mine,” said Huffman of playing college basketball. “To finally fulfill it is an amazing feeling.”

Knox is a member of the NCAA Division III and the Midwest Conference (MWC), one of the oldest conferences in the nation. Competition in the conference is intense and spirited, including the local rivalry between Knox and Monmouth College — the sixth-oldest athletic rivalry in the country.

The Knox coaching staff first saw Huffman play at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix last December.

“(The recruitment) started back at the Arizona Tournament,” said Huffman. “I was not 100 percent from the summer and I thought it was neat someone was interested in me even when I was not at my best.”

Huffman, who was sidelined by 15 days in the intensive care unit at the hospital after a bout with viral meningitis, went on to have an outstanding senior season, starting for the CIF Division State runner-up and Division I NorCal Champions. St. Francis also won the Delta League with a perfect 14-0 record, reached the Sac-Joaquin Section final against then-national No. 1 St. Mary’s and finished with a 29-6 overall record.

“It was crazy and whirl wind with everything that was happening,” said Huffman. “To see our team chemistry grow over everything we have done, I am so blessed to be on the team.”

Huffman was a Sacramento bee All-Metro honorable mention selection and All-Delta League first team after averaging 12.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. She was also a River Cats All-City selection.

Huffman will play for Head Coach Emily Cline, who has led the Prairie Fire program since 2008.

“She has a love of the game,” said Huffman of her future coach. “She not only wants us to win but cares about the player as a person. She is an overall amazing person.”

The team set 18 school records in 2014-15 while leading NCAA III in steals and rebounds per game and ranking second in scoring offense.

“They have a very fast team and I feel like I fit in there very well,” said Huffman. “I can run the court so I liked it.”

Huffman recently visited the campus with her parents.

“The campus is beautiful and very green,” said Huffman. “They are all about sustainability which is something that is very important to me. I loved being there.”

She plans to study in environmental studies with a minor in creative writing.

Huffman is the 26th student-athlete from the Class of 2016 to commit to play collegiate sports next fall.