University of Miami

University of Florida 6-6 center Ra Shaya Kyle transfers to UM for final season

Mar 7, 2025; Greenville, SC, USA; Florida Gators center Ra Shaya Kyle (24) is blocked by LSU Lady Tigers forward Sa’Myah Smith (5) during the first half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Mar 7, 2025; Greenville, SC, USA; Florida Gators center Ra Shaya Kyle (24) is blocked by LSU Lady Tigers forward Sa’Myah Smith (5) during the first half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The University of Miami women’s basketball team added a dominant post player on Tuesday with the signing of University of Florida transfer Ra Shaya Kyle, a 6-6 center who spent two years at Purdue and the past three years with the Gators.

She has one year of eligibility remaining.

“Shay was a dominant post player in the SEC, often drawing double teams,” said UM coach Tricia Cullop, who coached Kyle’s aunt, Tanika Mays, at the University of Toledo. “She is very skilled on the low block and is capable of scoring with both hands. She can also knock down 15-foot shots with ease. With her 6’6” frame, she will be a force for us on both ends of the floor.”

She is coming off a career year at Florida in which she started all 37 games, ranked first on the team and sixth overall in the SEC in rebounds per game (8.7). Kyle also was the Gators’ second-leading scorer with 14.2 points per game on 59.5 percent shooting from the field and 78.3 percent at the free throw line.

Kyle is the sixth transfer to sign with the Hurricanes, joining Vittoria Blasigh (USF), Mya Kone (FIU), Gal Raviv (Quinnipiac), Jessica Peterson (SMU), and Amarachi Kimpson (UNLV).

Kyle, a Marion, Indiana, native, spent two seasons at Purdue and three at Florida. She has scored over 1,200 points and has 775 rebounds. Kyle will have a sixth and final year of eligibility remaining.

During the 2023-24 campaign, Kyle suffered a season-ending knee injury. Her 2021-22 season was at Purdue was also cut short due to injury.

Kyle was a five-star recruit and the No. 5 center in the nation in the class of 2020 coming out of Marion High School. She was also a two-time Indiana All-Star and McDonald’s All-American game nominee.

This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 6:20 PM.

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Michelle Kaufman
Miami Herald
Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman has covered 14 Olympics, six World Cups, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, NCAA Basketball Tournaments, NBA Playoffs, Super Bowls and has been the soccer writer and University of Miami basketball beat writer for 25 years. She was born in Frederick, Md., and grew up in Miami.
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