Here’s why Wyvette Mayberry’s return means a lot for Kansas women’s basketball next season
LAWRENCE — Wyvette Mayberry announced Thursday in a post on Instagram that she would return to the Kansas women’s basketball program next season.
Mayberry, a senior guard this past season, has spent the past two years with the Jayhawks. After transferring from Tulsa, she’s carved out a significant role at KU. Her announcement assures Kansas coach Brandon Schneider will have two key members of the team, including freshman guard S’Mya Nichols, back next season.
Here are a few reasons why Mayberry’s decision to use her last season of eligibility with the Jayhawks matters:
Wyvette Mayberry’s decision shows faith in the immediate future of the Kansas program
Three super-seniors from this past season’s team won’t be back at Kansas next season. Guard Holly Kersgieter, center Taiyanna Jackson and guard Zakiyah Franklin have exhausted their eligibility. It’s not only a situation where the Jayhawks will be turning a chapter as a program, considering what that trio has meant to the team’s rise, but one where there is going to be uncertainty about Schneider’s roster moving forward.
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Mayberry electing to return to Kansas, shows a lot of faith in what the Jayhawks’ path is moving forward. While it’s still early in their offseason, it’s a boost of momentum. Had she decided to play elsewhere, there would have been many more questions about what’s next.
Wyvette Mayberry gives Kansas a veteran starter
Schneider and company will have a decision to make, when it comes to which players they choose to add to Kansas’ roster for next season. There are certainly needs the Jayhawks have, given who’s departing the roster. But at least they’re getting Mayberry back.
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Mayberry, a regular starter at Tulsa prior to coming to Kansas, started 31 of her 34 appearances as a junior with the Jayhawks. This past season, she started 32 games. For a team that reached the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament during the 2023-24 campaign, she averaged 9.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
Wyvette Mayberry can be an All-Big 12 Conference talent
Mayberry has been a consistent contributor for Kansas across the past two seasons. She’s shown an ability to hit threes, knocking down 32.8% of her attempts this past season as she took the second most attempts of any Jayhawks player from behind the arc. Now, with the departures Kansas is going to have to manage, the opportunity is there for her to have a more significant role.
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Mayberry doesn’t have to be the lead scoring or defensive threat for the Jayhawks. Nichols is set to return. But if Mayberry can take advantage of the opportunity in front of her, she can be an All-Big 12 Conference caliber talent at next season’s end.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Wyvette Mayberry says she will return to Kansas women's basketball
