Gator Country

GAINESVILLE, Fla. * Susan Yenser, one of the top three-point shooters in the Atlantic Coast Conference last year, has signed scholarship papers to attend the University of Florida, head coach Amanda Butler announced on Wednesday.

Yenser, who spent her freshman and sophomore seasons at Clemson University, will have two full years of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2008-09 campaign. She is required by NCAA transfer rules to red-shirt the 2007-08 season.

A 5-foot-11 guard from Marietta, Ga., Yenser connected on 35.6 percent (32-90) of her three-point shots last season, ranking eighth among all ACC players. In addition to her accurate outside shot, Yenser appeared in 58 of a possible 59 games while averaging 18.3 minutes per outing during her two years at Clemson. In her final game with the Lady Tigers, Yenser scored 21 points, hitting 8-of-9 from the floor, including 4-of-4 from the 3-point arc, in a tough 89-82 loss to Virginia in the first round of the ACC Tournament.

In addition, Yenser has been stellar in the classroom, earning ACC Academic Honor Roll honors after compiling a 3.6 grade point average. She also was recognized at Clemson’s post-season banquet with the team’s Academic Award in addition to being the Air Force ROTC Award recipient, which is presented to the player who best exhibits the core values of the Air Force, as demonstrated by integrity, service before self, and excellence in all endeavors.

“Susan is an outstanding basketball player with great court awareness. She is such a hard worker, on and off the basketball court,” Butler said. “Susan is a fantastic person and an outstanding student and will be a positive contributor to all areas of the Gator program. She played two years in the ACC and proved to be one of the top shooters in a very talented league. We really look forward to having her join our team and know she will make a great impact.”

“The combination of Florida’s facilities, the campus, the coaching staff and having a chance to play in the SEC are unbeatable,” Yenser said. “When I visited, I got extremely exited about becoming a student there and finishing my career as a Gator. I love how energetic the coaching staff is, as well as how focused they are on winning. I’m excited about working hard for a coaching staff that is committed to getting better everyday. It’s an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

Yenser graduated from Harrison High School, where she became the all-time leading scorer - boys or girls - in program history, topping the 1,700-point plateau. She was recognized as a 5A Second-Team All-State honoree and named First-Team All-Cobb Country her junior and senior years after averaging 20.2 points per game.

She continues the Yenser family’s tradition of stellar athletes, as her mother, Becky, played softball at the University of Kentucky (1975-78), her father, Steve, played baseball at Northern Kentucky University (1979-81) and for the Montreal Expos (1981-84), her brother, Zach, played collegiate football at Troy University and her brother, Brett, continues his collegiate career on the gridiron at the University of West Georgia.

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