Thu, Feb 24, 2011 - [Women's Basketball]

USF's women's basketball program has announced the signing of Lincoln-Way West's Kaitlyn Ray.JOLIET, Ill. --- "She's an incredible young lady," so says University of St. Francis head women's basketball coach Ryan Haun when talking about Lincoln-Way West High School's Kaitlyn Ray, who has signed a letter of intent to play basketball and attend the Joliet-based school next fall.

"Kaitlyn will be a tremendous addition to the USF basketball program," continued the second-year coach.

A starter since the first day of her high school career in the Lincoln-Way school system, Ray was a part of Lincoln-Way Central's program each of her first two years including the 20-8 regional championship squad her freshman year before helping initiate the West program two years ago.

As a freshman, Ray averaged 11.0 points per game bolstered by 55 three-pointers as the team's two-guard. She also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists per game en route to earning all-area commendations.

One year later, Ray transitioned over to the point guard position, where she increased her scoring output (12.2 ppg), while adding 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists per game. That year, the Herald News also recognized her as a third-team all-area selection.

Ray moved that honor level up to second-team status her junior year despite missing the latter half of Lincoln-Way West's inaugural campaign with a knee injury suffered in January. The first-year program opened with a bang starting out 11-1 and finished with an 18-10 mark and the school's first regional championship.

Prior to the setback, Ray, an all-Southwest Suburban Red Conference choice, was averaging 17.0 points per game from the point guard position, while dishing out 3.0 assists per game and averaging 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest.

"Kaitlyn had the great junior year at West before tearing her ACL and then after four short months in rehab, she had a tremendous summer of AAU ball for the Illinois Wolverines program," noted Haun. "Her passion for this game is absolutely unmatched and that passion has kept her fighting through the various injuries she has been forced to endure."

Ray suffered a similar fate to her other knee this past December, but again battled through the rehab to return to the court earlier this month. Prior to the setback, she was averaging 16.0 points per game.

"In watching her grow and develop throughout this past fall and winter, I've never quite met a basketball player like Kaitlyn," stated Haun. "I have no reservations about saying that her passion, coupled with her equally-impressive work ethic and high basketball IQ, will carry her into a successful career here at St. Francis."

A McDonald's All-America nominee and a 1,000-point scorer in the Lincoln-Way system, Ray was named to Lincoln-Way's Medieval Classic all-tournament team each of her final three years and was the Classic's three-point champion as a sophomore.

The two-year team captain also excelled in golf playing on the varsity team each of the past two years with all-conference plaudits this past fall.

"Kaitlyn's success on the court speaks for itself," said Haun. "It was unquestionably all that on-court success that initially caught our attention when recruiting her. However, her unbelievable character and personality is ultimately what led us to eventually offering and signing her.

"I truly believe that Kaitlyn will be a tremendous asset to our program and University."

A New Lenox native, Ray will major in Pre-Physical Therapy at St. Francis.