Sports

5-Star Women’s Hooper Bails On Rutgers After Torching Coach Amid String Of Mysterious Absences

#Kiyomi McMiller
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Rutgers women's basketball player Kiyomi McMiller shoots vs. Nebraska.

© Peter Ackerman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images


Rutgers women’s basketball player Kiyomi McMiller is planning to leave the program. The former five-star prospect will enter the transfer portal, she announced via social media on Thursday.

McMiller shined when on the floor for the Scarlet Knights this season. The freshman led the team in scoring across 19 starts. Unfortunately, off-the-court drama eventually led to a split.

The Maryland native played her final two high school seasons in New Jersey. She opted to stay put for college despite landing interest from every major program in the country. McMiller became the headliner for head coach Coquese Washington, who’d hoped to rebound from an 8-24 campaign the year prior.

McMiller made an immediate impact with the Scarlet Knights, though there were issues early on. She was removed from the starting lineup for two games in non-conference play as a lesson. Washington stated that she needed to “learn how to be on time.”

Things appeared to be back on track soon thereafter. She averaged 18.7 points in 21 appearances. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on multiple occasions. Then, more drama.

Kiyomi McMiller was mysteriously benched in a loss to Maryland. She was not in the lineup the next two contests vs. USC and Minnesota. Coquese Washington offered no reasoning on that absence, though rumors of a locker room altercation soon surfaced.

McMiller publicly aired her frustrations on the coaching decision via social media. She torched Coquese Washington in a sarcastic apology to her fanbase on Instagram.

Transfer speculation was sparked due to the unhappiness. McMiller’s father initially denied intentions of moving on from the program.

Kiyomi’s goal was to be at Rutgers and not ever transfer. That is still the goal. The goal is to finish the job. At this moment, we’re not looking to transfer.

— Mike McMiller, via On3

Kiyomi McMiller will transfer, after all.

The point guard’s dad left the door open with his wording in that response. “At this moment,” was certainly a red flag. Things changed as the season continued on.

McMiller returned to the court briefly, recording a season-high 33 points in a loss to Nebraska. On February 6th, she was again out of the lineup for an unspecified reason.

“She reported that she’s not feeling 100%. So, we’ll just take it day by day, game by game, and when she’s feeling 100%, then she’ll suit back up.”

-Coquese Washington

That return never came. She’d played her final game in a Rutgers uniform. McMiller confirmed that by hitting the transfer portal on Thursday.

She’s sure to land plenty of interest in the transfer market, though those off-court issues could cause some pause. Th guard will have three more years of eligibility.