By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – A trio of Georgia natives, Keyarah Berry, Carly Hooks and Taylor Cullinan, will be coming home as the three college transfers have signed with Kennesaw State women's basketball for the 2022-23 season, KSU head coach
Octavia Blue announced on Thursday. All three will have three years of eligibility left for the Owls.
A 5-9 guard and native of Rockmart, Berry was a four-year standout at Rockmart High, scoring 3,340 points which ranks as the second-most all-time in the state of Georgia. She also added 1,027 rebounds and 500 steals in her stellar career. As a senior, she averaged 33.5 points per game, and racked up numerous awards including 2021 6AAA Player of the Year, 2021 GACA North Player of the Year, 2021 Northwest Tip off Club Player of the Year, 2021 Atlanta Tip off First Team and Atlanta Journal Constitution First team honors. In her junior season she averaged 32.1 points, which ranked her sixth in the nation among all high school players, and earned 2A North Region Girls' Player of the Year and 2A North All-State selection. She led Rockmart to a trip to the state semifinals as well, and was ranked as the No. 79 recruit in the country by All Star Girls Report and No. 142 by Prospects Nation in the class of 2020-21. She appeared in a total of five games this past season as a freshman for Indiana.
"Keyarah is an explosive, athletic player who has the ability to score the ball at all three levels," said Blue. "I look for her to be an immediate impact on both ends of the floor."
Hooks, a 5-8 guard from Atlanta, comes to the Black and Gold after spending her first two collegiate seasons at East Tennessee State. As a freshman she claimed SoCon All-Freshman Team honors from both the Coaches and the Media after leading the team in scoring with 9.9 ppg. She again paced the Bucs in scoring in her sophomore season, thanks to a 10.5 ppg average. Hooks also was second on the team in assists with 2.0 pg, and second in steals as well with 1.0 per game.
She spent her prep career with Westlake High School, leading the Lions to the 7A state championship title in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. A two-time all-region first-team selection, she also was the Section 7A Rookie of the Year in 2016-17. Hooks was also a member of the FBC Kay club team.
"Carly brings a competitive and winning pedigree to the Nest," said Blue. "A floor general who can both score the ball and set her teammates up for success. She's an exciting player who will fit well with our up-tempo style of play."
Cullinan, a 6-3 forward from Dallas, Ga., comes back to her home state after spending her freshman season at Alabama where she appeared in a total of six games. A four-year starter for North Paulding High School, she averaged 15.2 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 3.1 bpg, 3.3 apg and 1.5 spg her senior season. A two-time Paulding County School District Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Cullinan was the first 1,000-point scorer in NPHS history, as well as the first to eclipse 750 rebounds. She was a three-time all-region selection and four-time all-county, and led the Wolfpack to a school-record 19 wins her junior year and hit the game-winning shot in double overtime to send NPHS to its first Sweet 16 appearance in state championship history.
"Taylor is a versatile player who can play on the low block as well as stretch out the defense with her ability to shoot from the outside," said Blue. "Her guard like skills from the forward position gives us a lot of options within our offense."
