Former Atlantic-10 Player of the Year Nicole Cardaño-Hillary will transfer from George Mason to Indiana for her final season.
Cardaño-Hillary announced her decision Thursday night on Twitter.
I am so blessed to be starting a new chapter in my basketball career at INDIANA UNIVERSITY. So excited to be part of this amazing new family. Can't wait to get started. Go Hoosier! ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/9QkfxFtzRz
— Nicole (@nikkich_14) April 10, 2020
After being named the A-10's best freshman in her debut campaign for George Mason, Cardaño-Hillary was named the league's best player as a sophomore. She led the conference in scoring in the 2018-19 season at 20.4 points per game, in addition to averaging 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. Although her scoring average dropped to 18.3 points per game this past season, as George Mason struggled to a 9-21 record, she still became the school's leading career scorer with a season of eligibility to spare.
A 5-foot-7 guard who was born in Spain but moved to Texas as a teenager, Cardaño-Hillary will begin next season ranked second among active Division I players in career points, trailing only Fordham's Bre Cavanaugh.
Cardaño-Hillary turned in arguably her best career performance against a Big Ten opponent, scoring 41 points on 13-of-26 shooting in a win against Penn State this past season.
Indiana has not officially confirmed the transfer yet, leaving open the question of Cardaño-Hillary's eligibility status for the 2020-21 season. If she does not need to sit out a season, she would provide key minutes for an Indiana team that finished the past season ranked No. 20 and set a program record with 24 wins.
The Hoosiers return leading scorers Grace Berger and Ali Patberg, both of whom were first-team All-Big Ten selections and WBCA All-America honorable mention honorees. But, in addition to the departure of senior starter Brenna Wise, freshman reserve Jorie Allen announced this week that she has entered the transfer portal.