Penn State’s Kelly Jekot turns an eye toward coaching once her playing days are over
Updated 6:30 AM;
Today 6:30 AM
Former Cumberland Valley standout Kelly Jekot drives to the basket in Penn State s win over Coppin State in November 2020. Jekot had a double-double and scored her 1,000th-career point in the victory. (Photo by Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics)
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STATE COLLEGE Kelly Jekot’s first season at her “dream school” was short-circuited in January when she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in practice. The Penn State women’s basketball graduate student could have easily retreated from her team to rehab her injury on her own and spent time with her family during the coronavirus pandemic. It would have been understandable.
Penn State women’s basketball’s most efficient scorer is officially running it back for the 2021-22 season.
Lady Lions star guard Kelly Jekot announced Thursday she’ll use her extra year of NCAA eligibility to stay in Happy Valley for another season.
See you next season State! @PennStateWBB
“Playing college basketball at Penn State means everything to me,” Jekot said in a statement on Twitter. “I’m so thankful that I have the opportunity to get back on the court to play the sport I love for the 2021-22 season. We have unfinished business.”
Jekot played in just nine games for the Lady Lions this past season before suffering her second ACL tear in just three years. She
Former Cumberland Valley star Kelly Jekot announces she’s returning to Penn State
Updated 12:50 PM;
Today 12:50 PM
Former Cumberland Valley standout Kelly Jekot drives to the basket against Coppin State during Wednesday s game. Jekot had a double-double and scored her 1,000th-career point in the win.
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“Playing college basketball at Penn State means everything to me,” Jekot wrote in a post on social media. “Women’s basketball continues to rise nationally and definitely here in Happy Valley! A big thank you to Coach [Carolyn] Kieger and her staff on supporting me on my decision making process. I’m so thankful that I have the opportunity to get back on the court to play the sport I love for the 2021-22 season. We have unfinished business.”
Penn State women’s basketball improved in a variety of ways this season and many of its players are being rewarded for it.
Freshman Maddie Burke was named Sixth Player of the Year and was named to the All-Freshman team, while Johnasia Cash and Makenna Marisa were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and Honorable Mentions, respectively. Kelly Jekot also picked up Penn State’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
BIG TEN SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Future is bright for rookie @maddieburke23 who becomes just the second Penn State player to ever win the Big Ten s Sixth Player of the Year award!#IgniteThePRIDEpic.twitter.com/r7Ki296JAL Penn State Women s Basketball (@PennStateWBB) March 8, 2021