Champaign, Ill. – Fighting Illini Women's Basketball and head coach Matt Bollant announce the addition of Cydnee Kinslow to the Illini squad for the 2016-17 season. Kinslow will join the Illini after spending the spring semester at Pepperdine University.

"Cydnee is a very driven person, she is 6-foot-2 with a very athletic run and jump," head coach Matt Bollant said. "She has a chance to be a very strong player, we're very excited to add her to the Illini family and start working with her."

A 6-foot-2 native of Oakley, California, Kinslow graduated early from Freedom High School to attend Pepperdine. She was a varsity captain all four years of her high school career at Freedom and helped her club team, the Cal Stars, to a 56-1 record during her career. She led the Cal Stars to a Nike National Championship, while also excelling in the classroom. Kinslow is a member of the National Honor Society and also earned Principal's Honor Roll recognition.

"It was just the perfect fit," Kinslow said of joining the Illini squad. "I already love the girls on the team and I'm excited to work with the coaches. This is a program that I can't wait to grow with."

Kinslow was named Freedom Girls Basketball Player of the Year following a 2014-15 season where she averaged 13.5 points and 16.2 rebounds per game. She also contributed almost 10 blocks and more than two steals per game for Freedom High School. Kinslow is also active in the community as she is involved with Special Olympics. She played a major role in bringing Unified Sports to the west coast, starting a special needs basketball and bowling league in her school district.