Duquesne transfer guard Jerni Kiaku announced her commitment to IU women’s basketball today.
The 5-foot-7 guard is a native of Garner, North Carolina, and has one season of eligibility remaining.
Kiaku averaged 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 27.1 minutes per game last season for the Dukes. She started all 33 games.
She shot 47.1 percent from the field, 26.7 percent on 3s and 71.4 percent from the free throw line.
In her first season at Duquesne – 2023-24 – Kiaku played in 34 games and averaged 6.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and an assists in 19.1 minutes per game.
She began her career at North Carolina Central in 2022-23 and started 10 of the 30 games she appeared in. Kiaku averaged 10.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 23.6 minutes per game that season.
The point guard is the fifth transfer portal addition this spring for Teri Moren. Kiaku joins Chloe Spreen, Phoenix Stotijn, Zania Socka-Nguemen and Edessa Noyan.
Here is her bio from Duquesne:
As a Junior (2024-25)
• Appeared and started in 33 games
• Averaged 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting a team-leading 47.1 percent – ranked fifth in the A-10
• Sat 13th in the conference at 13.2 points per game while shooting 71.4 percent from the foul line
• Scored in double figures 28 times while leading the team in scoring five times
• Opened the season scoring in double digits in 20 of the first 21 contests
• Shot 50.0 percent or better in 11 games with eight or more field goal attempts
• Led the team in rebounding and assists three times while grabbing five-plus rebounds in seven games
• Sat second on the team with 1.1 steals per game while totaling 36
• Totaled two or more steals in 12 contests
• Posted a career-best four 20-point performances
• Carded first career double-double in a win over Longwood (Mar. 20) with 17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and two steals while hitting the game-winner
• Scored a season-high 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting, with five assists and three steals in a win over Niagara (Nov. 16)
• Netted 20 points, six rebounds, and two steals in a victory at Pitt (Dec. 4)
• Totaled 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting, with four rebounds in the second round of A-10 Tournament against Fordham (Mar. 6)
As a Sophomore (2023-24)
• Appeared in all 34 games and averaged 19.1 minutes per game
• Averaged 6.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while shooting 44.5% from the field
• Posted eight games in double figures while sitting second on the team in steals (29)
• Ended the season with two-plus steals in six consecutive games while posting nine games with two-plus takeaways
• Scored a season-high 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting at Purdue in the third round of the WNIT (Mar. 28)
• Recorded 18 points, six rebounds, and a steal in a win over Richmond while going 8-for-8 from the charity stripe (Jan. 24)
• Ended with 13 points and three rebounds while shooting 4-of-5 from the free-throw line at Dayton on Dec. 30
• Collected a season-high seven rebounds while scoring 13 points vs. George Washington on Feb. 21
• Netted 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, tallied five rebounds and two assists against Monmouth in the second round of the WNIT on Mar. 25
• Scored 11 points and collected two steals against Saint Joseph’s on Mar. 2
• Registered 10 points, four rebounds, two, assists, and a steal at St. Bonaventure on Feb. 14
• Tallied three steals, 10 points, and two rebounds against George Mason on Mar. 8
As a Freshman at North Carolina Central (2022-23)
• Earned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year
• Averaged 10.7 points, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a true freshman
• Was awarded MEAC Third Team honors as well as All-Team as the league’s top scoring freshman
• Selected MEAC Rookie of the Week six times
• Netted double figures 15 times while posting three-plus 20-point games
• Appeared in all 30 games while making 10 starts. Made her first collegiate start against Campbell
• Scored a season-high 25 points, on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line against South Carolina St.
• Registered 21 points and four steals on 8-of-13 shooting from the field against Elon
• In a victory over App State, she recorded 20 points, two rebounds, and two steals
• Finished with a season-best five steals, nine points, eight rebounds, and three assists at FIU
Before North Carolina Central
• Had an accomplished prep career as a four-year team captain at Garner Magnet High School
• Accumulated numerous awards, including three-time conference player of the year, four-time first team all-conference and three-time all-district
• Averaged 24.4 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 steals and 2.9 rebounds per game as a senior
• All-time career points leader for the Trojans with 2,240 points
• Collected State Championship Most Outstanding Player honors while leading her team to an Eastern Regional championship and a 4A state championship runner-up finish in 2021
• Four-time academic all-conference honoree and Beta Club member
Category: Women’s Basketball
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