Oregon Ducks women’s basketball adds to 2021 class with 6-8 center Phillipina Kyei

Kelly Graves’ Tall Firs are growing taller.

The Oregon women’s basketball program announced on Sunday the signing of 6-foot-8 Canadian center Phillipina Kyei of Calgary, Alberta, to a national letter of intent.

Kyei, who ended her commitment announcement video with a dunk, will become the tallest player in program history when she officially joins the Ducks for the 2021-22 season. Sophomore Sedona Prince is currently tied as Oregon’s tallest player ever at 6-7.

“I think Phillipina has a chance to be a really good player,” Graves said in a release. “She’s a really good athlete, especially for someone of her size, and is a very unselfish player. She’s a terrific shot-blocker with the ability to impact the game in a big way defensively. She’s going to be able to come in and help us, and I’m excited to get her here to Eugene.”

Kyei chose Oregon over Louisville, Maryland, Miami (Fla.) and Texas. She joins guard Taylor Bigby, a top 25 national recruit who signed with the Ducks last week, in Oregon’s 2021 recruiting class.

The Ducks signed the top-ranked 2020 recruiting class. True freshmen Te-Hina Paopao, Angela Dugalic, Kylee Watson, Maddie Scherr and Sydney Parrish will make their debut in Oregon uniforms when the 2020-21 season begins on Saturday against Seattle at Matthew Knight Arena.