NKU signed prep standout Kayla Thacker (22) for the upcoming season.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University women's basketball head coach Nancy Winstel has signed Bullitt East High School standout Kayla Thacker to a national letter of intent.
Thacker, a 5-foot-10 guard, averaged 13.8 points per game last season for the Chargers. She scored 1,655 career points at Bullitt East and was named the 6th Region Player of the Year as a senior.
Thacker knocked down 129 3-pointers during her career at Bullitt East. She also grabbed 459 rebounds for the Chargers and has earned a spot on the Kentucky all-star team that will play Indiana this summer in that annual series.
In addition, Thacker was named to the all-state second team and earned district most valuable player honors. She is also a McDonald's All-America nominee and lettered in volleyball and track.
“Kayla will play both the shooting guard and the small forward position for us,” Winstel said. “Her strengths are her size, length and athleticism. She played point guard in high school, so her ability to handle the basketball and get to the basket is a strength.
“Kayla is an outstanding defensive player, and she also comes from a winning program. Her work ethic and desire to excel both on and off of the court is very high. She is going to be a great addition to our program.”
Thacker joins an NKU program that posted a 20-10 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament this past season. NKU has earned five consecutive berths in the NCAA Division II Tournament and won national championships in both 2000 and '08.
