Kentucky signee Ramiya White helped Butler reach the state tournament semifinals. (Tonia Witt Photo)
Louisville Butler 6-4 center Ramiya White is one of two players scheduled to join the Kentucky women’s basketball team next year after signing with the Wildcats in November when Kyra Elzy was still the coach.
White averaged 11.4 points and 7.6 points per game this season while shooting 56 percent from the field and helped her team reach the state championship game before it lost to Sacred Heart.
White smoothly avoided any possible change in her plans when asked if UK’s dismissal of Elzy would change her recruitment status.
“Right now I’m not really worried about it,” White said during the tourney. “I’m worried about the state tournament. There’s no pressure on me right now with that.”
White scored her team’s final 10 points in a 39-36 quarterfinal win over Franklin County when she had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
“She started calling for the ball and was frustrated when she did not get the ball,” Butler coach Candyce Wheeler said. “At the start of the season, she did not do that.”
Franklin County coach Joey Thacker said there was not much his team could overcome her size advantage.
“She is way better than she was last year,” Thacker said. “Any time she wanted to score against us, she scored. She did a good job positioning herself and she is going to get better and better. She has improved with better footwork and is a much better free throw shooter.”
Butler was eliminated in the state semifinals by McCracken County. White had 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting along with nine rebounds and two assists in the loss.
