TCU women’s basketball officially announced the addition of volleyball star Sarah Sylvester to its roster for the remainder of the season. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker is set to join the program alongside three additional walk-ons.
They are being added out of necessity.
TCU began its year undefeated in non-conference play. Momentum was high!
And then everything came crashing down all at once.
The Horned Frogs dropped four-straight Big 12 games. They then were forced to cancel back-to-back games against No. 7 Kansas State and No. 24 Iowa State because not enough players were available.
Their roster has been decimated by injuries. There were not enough healthy athletes to even play.
TCU’s women’s college basketball season was in dire straits. It was momentarily unclear as to whether the program would be able to continue forth to March or it would be forced to forfeit.
TCU sent out the bat signal!
In an effort to try and replenish its roster and save the year, the Horned Frogs held an open tryout over the weekend. Quite a few students showed up to the gym with hopes of hooping on the D1 level.
Some of them were turned away due to various reasons (including previous health concerns) before the tryout got started.
Of those who were admitted to the tryout, four women made the team!
Sylvester was one. She averaged 11.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game during her senior year at Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan but ultimately accepted a volleyball scholarship.
The second semester sophomore is a dual-sport athlete! Sylvester was one of two players on the volleyball team to start all 32 matches last season and holds the record for most blocks in a three-set match with 13.
Her 1.16 blocks per set ranked sixth in the conference last year. She posted the best single season hitting percentage and blocks per set average by a freshman in program history in 2022 while hitting .323.
Joining Sylvester is a trio of guards!
Piper Davis is the daughter of former Gonzaga guard Jarrod Davis. She won the Idaho 5A state championship at Timberland High School in Boise.
Ella Hamlin scored more than 1,500 points during her four-year career at Granbury High School in Texas. She was a two-time District Offensive Player of the year.
Mekhayia Moore played at Brownsboro High School in Texas. She was named the State Championship MVP as a senior and scored more than 1,000 points over four years.
All four student-athletes will be active immediately. TCU, at 14-4, will host UCF on Tuesday night.
Moore, Hamlin, Davis and Sylvester will be on the floor in a Horned Frogs uniform!