University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Add Kelsey Briggs to 2016 Roster
6/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON â€" Former Ole Miss forward Kelsey Briggs has decided to transfer to the University of Houston, where she will be eligible to play for the 2017-18 season, head coach Ronald Hughey announced Tuesday.
Briggs was a four-time, all-tournament, all-region and all-district selection at Overton H.S., in Memphis, Tenn., where she was also a Best of the Preps selection as a junior and senior. The 6-3, forward was ranked No. 44 at her position by ESPN HoopGurlz and No. 235 by Blue Star Report, while averaging 9.6 points per contest her senior season.
"At 6-3, Kelsey can play inside and outside effectively because of her size, length and athleticism," Hughey said. "She is a true triple threat player with the ability to shoot the three, solid mid-range game and can create on the block. She's one of the more talented and versatile players in the country, and we are really excited about her future. With hard work and dedication, she can be an immediate impact for us."
As a freshman, Briggs averaged 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest while appearing in 30 games and garnered career-best numbers of 19 points and six rebounds against UT-Martin. The following season, Briggs appeared in 16 games for the Rebels, while making two starts and averaging 11.6 minutes per game.
Briggs joins a group of five incoming freshmen from the state of Texas to complete the 2016-17 recruiting class. Hughey signed guards Angela Harris, Jasmyne Harris and Quatera Limbrick along with forwards Dorian Branch and Natasha Mack prior to the start of the 2015-16 season.
REGENTS APPROVE RENOVATIONS TO BASKETBALL ARENA
The University of Men's and Women's Basketball programs moved closer to a new competition home facility when school regents approved the start of the design process for the renovation of the Houston Basketball arena during its meeting Nov. 19.
Regents approved a project budget of up to $60 million with an anonymous donor pledging a $20 million gift to facilitate the arena's renovation.
Design work is scheduled to begin in March 2016 with construction starting one year later. Plans for the Cougars' home facility during the 2017-18 season have not been finalized and will be announced at a later date. The renovated facility is expected to be ready for game competition for the beginning of the 2018-19 season.
"This project has been long overdue, and we are grateful that Dr. Khator and our Board of Regents saw the need for this step with our basketball arena," Vice President for Athletics Hunter Yurachek said. "We look forward to starting the design process in the next few months and creating a facility that will provide the highest level of amenities to our fans and a significant home-court advantage for our Men's and Women's Basketball student-athletes."
Preliminary estimated capacity for the renovated arena will be reduced to 7,420 from its current seating bowl of 8,479. However, initial plans call for the court level to be raised three feet with fan seating moved closer to the court as part of an emphasis to improve the overall fan experience.
More than 2,000 premium seats will be developed to give fans the ultimate luxury seating options. That total includes a preliminary design of 1,750 club seats, 20 loge boxes with four seats in each, two open-air suites with 32 seats per unit and 90 courtside seats.
The arena's concourse level will be expanded to improve circulation with significant upgrades to the sound system, video board and arena seating.
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