FSU Women's Basketball Adds Transfer Leticia Romero

FSU Women's Basketball Adds Transfer Leticia Romero

Star transfer from Kansas State will be eligible to compete for the Seminoles beginning in the 2015-16 season

June 9, 2014

Leticia Romero will don the Garnet and Gold.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Seminoles.com) - The Florida State women's basketball team added a substantial piece to its program on Monday afternoon as multi-talented Kansas State guard transfer Leticia Romero signed her grant-in-aid to compete for FSU when she is eligible in the 2015-16 season.

Romero, who hails from Las Palmas, Spain, emerged as one of the nation's better freshmen in the 2013-14 season while attending Kansas State. The 5-foot-8 versatile guard averaged 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, five assists and shot nearly 40 percent from 3-point range (39.2 percent) in her first year.

Nicknamed "Leti," Romero was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team last year and earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team.

"Leticia is a significant addition to Florida State Women's Basketball," FSU head coach Sue Semrau said. "She has already proven that she is a tremendous player at this level. She led her team in 10 statistical categories as a freshman in the Big 12. We're looking forward to Leti being an integral part of the Seminole family."

As a freshman with the Wildcats, Romero led Kansas State in games played (30), minutes per game (32.6), field goals made (145), 3-point field goals made (38), 3-point field goal percentage (39.2 percent), free throws made (99), rebounds per game, total assists, steals (57) and points per game.

Florida State women's basketball has built strong ties with Spain in recent years, specifically in the Canary Islands. Former FSU sharp-shooter Leo Rodriguez, who played from 2009-13, is from the same area as Romero. Current FSU assistant coach Brooke Wyckoff and former player Chelsea Davis (2009-13) have also played professionally in Las Palmas.

Besides putting together a string of great performances at the collegiate level, Romero has also earned praise for her great play internationally. She was the MVP of U18 European Tournament in 2013 when she led her squad to the European title in Croatia. She averaged 13.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.7 steals while scoring in double figures in six of the nine games of the tournament.

Romero's international experience also includes stints at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championships in Ukraine. While her Spanish U19 team finished fourth, Romero was once again one of the tournament's most multi-faceted performers averaging 12.1 points, shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals.

She also was named to the 2012 U17 World Championships All-Tournament Team in Amsterdam when she averaged 13.3 points, 4.7 boards, 3.4 assists and two steals. Romero was also on the U16 All-Tournament Team in 2011.

While at Kansas State, Romero became the first player in program history to win Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors four times. She was the only freshman at the NCAA Division I level last season to record 400 or more points, 100 or more rebounds, 100 or more assists and 50 steals. Against Florida State's NCAA First Round opponent Iowa State, she recorded a career-high 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting on Jan. 18, 2014.

While Romero's participation on the scout team will be extremely valuable in the upcoming season, her eligibility that begins in the 2015-16 year has set up Florida State with a tremendous roster going forward. The `Noles will have the services of prized freshman forward Shakayla Thomas (Sylacauga, Ala.) for the upcoming year, as well as the top JUCO player in the nation in 6-foot-4 junior center Adut Bulgak. The 2014 signing class also includes talented guard Chania Ray (Alexandra, Va.) and 6-foot-2 athletic forward Ama Degbeon (Grünberg, Germany).

Other student-athletes expected to be competing in the 2015-16 season include rising sophomores Kai James,Ivey Slaughter, Brittany Brown and Gabby Bevillard. Rising junior Emiah Bingley and rising redshirt juniorsMorgan Jones and Shakena Richardson would also be eligible for Romero's first season of competition.

For more information on Florida State women's basketball throughout the offseason, follow the Seminoles on Twitter at @FSU_WBasketball and like their official Facebook page (Facebook.com/FSUWomensBasketball).

Publicado en: http://www.seminoles.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/060914aab.html