Penn State Lady Lions basketball pushing for top 2025 recruit

The Penn State Lady Lions basketball program is in the mix for one of the elite prospects in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Last week, North Carolina guard Kamryn Kitchen included the Lady Lions in her list of top six programs. Landing Kitchen would be a significant recruiting win for Carolyn Kieger, who just led Penn State to its best season in the last decade.

Penn State makes cut for 2025 guard Kamryn Kitchen

It’s not too often that we find the Penn State Lady Lions basketball program in the mix of some of the premier recruiting battles in the women’s game. However, that is the case for Independence guard Kamryn Kitchen.

Last week, Kitchen announced her top six programs, which included Carolyn Kieger and the Lady Lions.

top six! pic.twitter.com/zt9fufWZU5

— Kamryn Kitchen (@kamrynkitchen) May 20, 2024

From Charlotte, Kamryn Kitchen is a four-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle. She holds a scout’s grade of 91, per ESPN. Kitchen is one of only two recruits evaluated in North Carolina thus far for 2025, with only 76 players earning a grade nationally.

According to MaxPreps, Kamryn Kitchen has averaged 14.5 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.4 steals over her three varsity seasons. As a junior, she shot 54% from the field and 42% from deep. Kitchen made 75 three-pointers last season, the 13th-most in the state.

Kitchen also included Marquette, Louisville, Illinois, Virginia, and Virginia Tech in her top six.

Kieger looking to build on success of last season

After a slow first four seasons in Happy Valley, Penn State Lady Lions basketball appears to have broken through in year five under head coach Carolyn Kieger.

The Lady Lions finished the year 22-13, the program’s best finish since going 24-8 in 2013-14. It was only the second time that Penn State crossed the 20-win threshold since that high-water mark a decade ago and was the program’s third winning season in 10 years.

On the NCAA Tournament bubble for most of the year, Penn State battled through a season-ending injury to senior guard Tay Valladay in January to make the postseason for the first time in six seasons. While missing out on March Madness, the Lady Lions made it to the semifinals of the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT).

It’s been quite some time since the program’s success in the 1990s and 2000s. But with the momentum from last season at her back, and perhaps a few key recruiting wins on the way, Carolyn Kieger can look to continue the upward trajectory of her Lady Lions.

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