Men's Basketball Signs William Kyle III
May 01, 2024 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES โ The UCLA men's basketball program has received a signed grant-in-aid agreement from transfer student William Kyle III, as announced on Wednesday by Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach.
Kyle III, a 6-foot-9 forward, will transfer to UCLA from South Dakota State, where he played his first two seasons on the men's basketball team. He will enter the Bruins' program this summer with two remaining years of eligibility.
"Will has established himself as a strong, athletic and talented post player, and we're looking forward to having him join our program," Cronin said. "He has a high motor, quick explosiveness and can finish at the rim, really adding another dimension to our team's frontcourt. He is a difference-maker on defense, having been recognized as the Summit League's Defensive Player of the Year in only his sophomore season. Will is a great young man with tremendous character. His backstory as a track and field athlete, who transformed into a basketball player, is amazing and continues to evolve. We are thrilled that Will has chosen to be a Bruin, and we cannot wait to get him on campus in Westwood."
Kyle III will begin his junior season with UCLA in 2024-25, after having played all 67 games for South Dakota State over the past two seasons. Hailing from Bellevue, Neb., Kyle III has averaged 11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in his college career. He has shot 59.0 percent from the field and was a central force for the Jackrabbits in 2023-24.
As a sophomore this season, Kyle III earned first-team All-Summit League honors and was recognized as the league's Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game as a sophomore, leading his team in rebounding and blocks (55 blocks, 35 games). He also ranked No. 1 among all player in the Summit League in overall field goal percentage (62.3%) and was No. 6 in the league in rebounding (6.6 rpg).
Kyle III was one of six student-athletes recognized on the Summit League Men's Basketball All-Academic Team in 2023-24, one year after having been named to the league's academic honor roll (2022-23). A former standout at Bellevue West High School (Bellevue, Neb.), Kyle III totaled five double-doubles as a sophomore and one during his freshman season.
Kyle III will join an incoming UCLA class that includes four other transfer students (Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey Jr. and Kobe Johnson) and incoming freshman guard Eric Freeny.
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