UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State women's basketball has signed three transfers, Tay Valladay (Virginia), Grace Hall (Wabash) and Kylie Lavelle (Drexel), Lady Lions head coach Carolyn Kieger announced Wednesday. Valladay will use her final year of eligibility as a Lady Lion, and Hall and Lavelle have three years of eligibility.
Tay Valladay
5-6 l Guard l Chicago l Virginia/Marquette/Rich South High School
At Virginia (2021-23): Started in 51 of 55 games over two seasons for the Cavaliers…Averaged 9.7 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game…Was the team-leader in assists and steals for both seasons…Ranked seventh in the ACC in assists per game (3.8) and ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4) during her senior season…Ranked seventh assist-to-turnover ratio (1.16) and eighth in assists per game (3.8) as a junior…Stood 17th in steals per game during her junior year and 19th in steals per game (1.4) in 2022-23…Accumulated 23 double-digit scoring games…Tallied a career-high 30 points against Pitt (2/20/22)...Finished 2022-23 regular season with five-straight 10+ point games, including 22 points along with eight rebounds and seven assists in a win over NC State (2/12).
At Marquette (2019-21): Played in 46 games for the Golden Eagles…As a sophomore, averaged 5.2 points, 1.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game in 19.9 minutes per contest…Named to the Big East All-Academic Team as a freshman…Recorded two double-digit scoring games during the 2020-21 season, scoring 12 points against Seton Hall (1/15) and Providence (2/13).
High School: Was a Top-250 recruit coming out of high school…Guided Rich South High School to consecutive state tournaments…Named to the All-Southerland Athletic Conference all-conference team…Received Southtown All-Area special mention accolades and IBCA All-State special mention honors…Also ran track and was the Illinois State Champion in the 4×200.
Personal: Daughter of Jamese Brown…Has an older brother, Xazavian, and three younger sisters, Allison, Grace and Hannah…Mom ran track at Ball State…Brother played football at Wyoming and is a prospect for the upcoming NFL Draft…Will graduate with a degree in Sociology.
Kieger on Valladay: "We are incredibly excited to welcome Tay to our Penn State family. I recruited her to Marquette, so this is an amazing full circle moment for us. I have zero doubts our team and fans will love her competitive spirit. She is a proven winner who leaves her heart on the floor. Tay has big goals for this team and season, and we are excited to get to work."
Why Penn State for Valladay: "Choose people who lift you up."
Grace Hall
6-2 l Forward l Homewood, Ill. l Wabash/LSU/Homewood-Flossmoor High School
At Wabash (2022-23): Redshirted the season.
At LSU (2021-22): Appeared in seven games… Scored 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting on Dec. 15 against Alcorn State… Made the first four three-point attempts of her career.
High School: Was an ESPNU HoopGurlz Top-100 and four-star prospect at Homewood-Flossmoor High School…Ranked No. 86 overall and the No. 16 forward in the nation by ESPN and No. 74 by World Exposure Report…Averaged 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks per game…Earned IBCA Class 4A Second Team All-State honors…Averaged 17.8 points and 9.1 rebounds as a sophomore while leading the Vikings to the playoffs…2020 AP All-State 4A honorable mention…Nominated for the 2021 McDonald's All-American Game…Played AAU hoops for Example Sports.
Personal: Daughter of Maya Shuck And Antwon Hall…Has an older brother Grant, younger brothers Gavynn and Avery and younger sisters Shayne, Laila and Ava…Dad played basketball at Arkansas and was NAIA Player of the year at Life University…Intends to major in Business.
Kieger on Hall: "We are excited to welcome Grace to Happy Valley. I have known Grace since eighth grade and am thrilled to get the chance to help her dreams come true. She is extremely versatile and has proven she can play at the highest level. Her ability to rebound and defend multiple positions will help us tremendously. Her best basketball is ahead of her, and we can't wait for Grace to arrive."
Why Penn State for Hall: "I believe Penn State will grow me not only on the court but also as a woman."
Kylie Lavelle
6-2 l Forward l Moosic, Pa. l Drexel/Riverside High School
At Drexel (2022-23): Started in 23 of 24 games played for the Dragons…Named to the CAA All-Rookie team…Helped lead the Dragons to the CAA regular season championship…Received CAA Rookie of the Week four times…Averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and one steal in 21 minutes per game…Shot 45.8 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the free-throw line…Finished 20th in the conference in points per game (11.1)...Accumulated 11 double-digit scoring games, including a 31-point performance in her second collegiate game against La Salle (11/15)...Tallied 20.5 points and six rebounds per game in her first four games…Scored 16 points in the first round of the NIT against Fordham (3/10).
High School: Three-time Class 3A All-State performer at Riverside Junior-Senior High School…Selected as the 2020 and 2021 Lackawanna League Division Player of the Year…Named three-time NEPABasketball.com All-District Two Team, Lackawanna League Division Three First Team All-Star, Scranton Times Tribune All-Region, Scranton Times Tribune Athlete of the Week and Taylor Lions Club Tournament MVP…Started all four years…Helped lead team to back-to-back PIAA District 2 championships, the state AAA quarterfinals as a senior and 82 wins in four seasons…Finished with 1,910 career points with a single-game high of 41 points, averaging 21.7 points and 10 rebounds per game in her career…Put up 24.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in her final year…Set the 2021 Mohegan Sun Arena Scoring Record with 30 points…Honor roll student and member of National Honor Society…Was a part of the NEPA Elite Clark 17U AAU team with current Lady Lion Moriah Murray…Won two HGSL titles…Received a second-team Hoop Group Showcase League selection…Also competed in track & field.
Personal: Daughter of Timothy and Tara Lavelle…Has an older brother, Timmy, and two younger brothers, Patrick and Brady…Intends to major in Kinesiology.
Kieger on Lavelle: "We are thrilled to welcome Kylie to our Penn State family. She is a versatile stretch forward who has proven she can score from all three levels. She has the capability to score with her back to the basket but can also step out and shoot it from deep. Her skill set and ability to rebound will make her a difference maker. We can't wait to see her in a Penn State uniform."
Why Penn State for Lavelle: "After I took my official visit, everything about Penn State just felt like home. I loved the coaches, team, and family atmosphere. Can't wait to get to work!"