Guillory transferring to McNeese

Published 4:44 pm Sunday, April 14, 2024

Paris Guillory is coming home.

The St. Louis High star who led the Saints to back-to-back State Championships and was the 3A MVP, is transferring to McNeese State.

Guillory, who played last year at Louisiana Tech, earned All-Freshman Team honors in Conference USA after a stellar rookie season.

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Guillory officially signed with Lynn Kennedy and the Cowgirls Friday night as first reported by The American Press.

“This is the biggest signing since I have been here,” said Kennedy, who will enter his fourth season as the head of McNeese women’s basketball this fall.

“We have changed some of the things we have done in recruiting and I am really excited about where our program is headed,” he added. “This says a lot about our program and where it is heading.”

In the offseason, Kennedy added Michael Pittman to lead the recruiting.

In 22 games last season, the 5-foot-7 guard averaged 12.7 minutes for the Bulldogs. She averaged 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds a game at Tech.

Guillory made 41 percent of her shots from the floor and led La. Tech from long range, hitting 38.7% of those. She scored in double figures six times.

During her days at St. Louis Guillory won state titles in both her sophomore and junior years and helped the Saints advance to the title game in her senior and freshman seasons.

She averaged 18.6 points, 6.1 assists, and five steals a game as a senior.

Guillory was named the American Press Player of the Year that year, earning All-State and District MVP honors. She was also a member of the All-Defense team.

Guillory broke two state tournament records, most points in a semifinal game and most points over a two-game stretch. She also helped St. Louis to the state title game as a freshman.

Guillory is part of a McNeese roster makeover that includes two other signings with roots from Louisiana.

Looking to bounce back from a 6-25 campaign, Kennedy went looking into the transfer portal to get immediate help Guillory will no doubt be a hit with McNeese fans who have been hoping for more local talent.

At the end of last season, Kennedy said he would change the way he recruits and the style of play. Guillory is the third transfer with Louisiana ties headed to McNeese.

The Cowgirls have also signed Bre Sutton from Arkansas State who played her first two seasons at Louisiana-Monroe. Injuries limited Sutton’s time to just six games at the end of last season.

She started 22 games and played in all 30 the year before at Monroe, averaging 8.8 points and was fifth in the Sun Belt Conference with 114 assists. The guard will be joined by Tyrielle Williams who like Sutton is from New Orleans.

Williams is transferring from South Alabama after missing all but two games with an injury. She will likely have three years of eligibility left, like Guillory.

As a freshman, the 5-9 Wiliams averaged 5.3 points a game, appearing in 24 and starting seven. At Ursuline Academy, she was a McDonald’s All-American Nominee, averaging 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals as a senior and earned All-State honors.

Kennedy also received a verbal commitment from Avery Young, a 5-9 swing player from Pearl River Community College. Young played her high school basketball at Iota, adding to the Louisiana flavor on next year’s roster.

She is expected to sign later as early as Wednesday along with another junior college player. Kennedy is also hoping to sign one or two more post players.

“We are still working hard,” said Kennedy. “You are never done these days recruiting.”

Young averaged 10.2 points and hit on 31% of her three-point shots last season. In her first year in college, at Panola CC, she averaged 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.

At Iota Young was a three-time All-Stater, making the first team as a senior and the second team the previous two seasons.

Despite the record, Kennedy kept his three key freshmen, including starters Boston Berry and Azjah Reeves. He also has Mireia Yespes and Julia Puente back for inside help.