Photo by UC Santa Cruz athletics – Former Eureka Logger Kaylee Murphy enjoyed a big debut season at UC Santa Cruz.

Former Eureka Logger Kaylee Murphy has been named to the Association of Division III Independents First Team after a stellar freshman campaign playing basketball at UC Santa Cruz.

Murphy, who graduated Eureka last year, was instrumental for the Banana Slugs this season, averaging 10.7 points and 10.9 rebounds.

She was the only player in the association to average a double-double, leading all D-III independent players in rebounds.

“She’s a phenomenal basketball player, and I feel we’re just scratching the surface as to how good she can be,” Santa Cruz head coach Todd Kent told Humboldt Sports earlier this season.

The former Logger is one of several Eureka grads who enjoyed big seasons on the college basketball courts this season, a list that also includes Bobbie Purify at College of the Redwoods and Kayla Bonomini at Shasta College.

She also led the Banana Slugs in assists (2.8) and steals (2.1), while setting a single-season school record in rebounds with 240.

Murphy scored a season-high 20 points at Saint Katherine on Jan 18, and grew stronger as the season wore on, hitting double digits in scoring in six of her final seven games.

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Ray Hamill writes at humboldtsports.com, where you can read lots more about sports in Humboldt County.