Laney College standout Kya Pearson signs to play at Alaska Anchorage

(Graphic courtesy Alaska Anchorage Athletics)
(Graphic courtesy Alaska Anchorage Athletics)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Alaska Anchorage women's basketball program has started its 2023 recruiting class with one of the top junior-college prospects in California, as head coach Ryan McCarthy announced Wednesday that Kya Pearson has signed a scholarship agreement with the Seawolves.

A 5-7 guard, Pearson comes north after two outstanding seasons at Laney College in her hometown of Oakland, where she racked up 609 points in 37 career games. The 2021-22 Bay View Conference Player of the Year and CCCAA First Team All-State honoree averaged 20.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.6 steals per game her rookie season, shooting 42 percent from the field and 71 percent on free throws. She tallied double figures in 21 of 22 games as a freshman, including a career-high 35 points against Bakersfield, and was the second-leading scorer in the BVC.

Despite being limited to 15 games last season, she contributed 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.3 steals and 1.5 blocks for an Eagles team that finished 23-6 and went undefeated in the BVC.

"Kya established herself as one of the best junior college players out of the state of California," said UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy, whose team will feature just five returners from last year's 18-10 squad. "She comes from one of the top programs and has been very well coached throughout her career. She is a well rounded playmaker who has a very high IQ and makes everyone around her better. What impressed me most about Kya was her competitive spirit and how much she loves the game. We can't wait to see her in a Seawolf uniform next season."

Prior to her JC career, Pearson attended Oakland High School, playing two varsity seasons before losing her final two seasons to the pandemic. As a sophomore she played a key role on the Wildcats' squad that went 30-5 and won the school's first ever CIF state title, contributing four assists and four steals in Oakland's Div. III state final victory over McFarland.

(Alaska Anchorage Athletics)