Former Maryland standout Shakira Austin will transfer to Ole Miss, providing a needed boost for one of the most downtrodden Power 5 programs in women's basketball.
Austin announced her decision in a tweet Wednesday, almost four weeks after she said she was entering the transfer portal following her sophomore season at Maryland.
What's understood, don't need an explanation. Ain't that right Coach Yo?😤❤️💙 #hottytoddy #NoCeilings pic.twitter.com/tHxwu9B3ud
— Shakira ✨ (@Theylove_kira) April 16, 2020
The fourth-ranked recruit in her class coming out of high school, according to ESPN Hoopgurlz, Austin was a major contributor in two seasons with the Terrapins. The 6-foot-5 forward broke the program's single-season record for blocks as a freshman, earning Big Ten all-defensive team honors in the process. She earned second-team all-conference honors last season after averaging 12.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while again leading the Terrapins in blocked shots.
Austin's decision takes her from one end of the Power 5 spectrum to the other. While Maryland shared a Big Ten regular-season championship and was projected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament before its cancellation, Ole Miss was winless in the SEC. The program has a 4-44 record in the conference the past three seasons, the past two under coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin.
The addition of Austin, who will likely have to sit out the 2020-21 season, represents another rebuilding asset for McPhee-McCuin to go along with two top-50 recruits in the incoming class, forward Madison Scott and guard Jacorriah Bracey.
Austin will be Ole Miss' second addition by way of Maryland in recent days. The SEC school also hired Shay Robinson as an assistant coach a week ago. Robinson spent the previous six seasons in the same role under Terrapins coach Brenda Frese.