LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s basketball head coach Matthew Mitchell announced Wednesday, May 4 that sophomore post player Alexis Jennings (pictured) has requested a transfer and been granted a release from the program.

“I talked last week about needing to give our players a clear path forward in our program and it saddens us that Alexis did not see a path for her at Kentucky,” Mitchell said. “She alerted me today that she felt it was in her best interest to finish her career elsewhere and we owe her that opportunity. I appreciate her hard work the past two years and hope she finds success.

“The turnover we have had has not been easy on our players and it’s critical that we give them some stability. Part of that is getting a quality staff in place and I am confident we are going to do that in the coming days. Our focus continues to be on the players in the locker room and the recruits that we are confident would make great Wildcats.”

The 6-2 Jennings, who was the team's fourth-leading scorer (10-point average) and second-leading rebounder (7.1 boards), played all 33 games, including 18 as a starter, last season. Her departure will mean Kentucky will only have five players back from its 2015-16 squad, which finished with a 25-8 mark and an Sweet Sixteen appearance.

The Wildcats also have 6-0 guard Makenzie Cann of Anderson County, who sat out last winter after transferring from Cincinnati, and Chanin Scott, an athletic recruit from North Carolina.

Photo by Jamie H. Vaught