May 13, 2004

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke University Head Women's Basketball Coach Gail Goestenkors announced on Thursday that Wynter Whitley will return for her senior year with the Blue Devils, after sitting out the final three months of the 2003-04 season for personal reasons.

"We are really excited to get Wynter back on the court," said Goestenkors. "She continued to be very involved with our team last year, but I think the time off did her a lot of good. Wynter has regained her excitement and passion for the game and is looking forward to getting out on the court."

Whitley, a native of Atlanta, Ga., is a 6-2 post player who has played in 76 career games with the Blue Devils, while averaging 5.8 points and 3.7 rebounds. She started the first 20 games of her collegiate career and went on to be named to the ACC All-Freshman team.

"I am very excited about returning to the team for my senior year," said Whitley. "Last year's time off helped me not only get excited about playing basketball, but it also helped me get more mentally stable. After taking the time away, I realized basketball is important to me but I realized how important my family is also."

She played in only four games this past season after recovering from reconstructive ankle surgery in July. She made her 2003-04 debut in Los Angeles, Calif., at the LMU Marina del Rey Marriott Beach Classic on Dec. 28 against Hampton. Whitley played a season-high 10 minutes in her return to Atlanta versus Georgia Tech and had five rebounds and two points. Overall, she played in four games, averaging 1.0 points and 1.8 rebounds.

"She will give us senior leadership, has always played with tremendous hustle and has been willing to do the little things to make us a great team," said Goestenkors. "We are looking forward to having her experience back on the court."

Coming out of high school, Whitley was a second-team Parade Magazine All-America, Georgia Player of the Year and Nike All-America after averaging 22.0 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.0 steals as a senior at Holy Innocents Episcopal School. As a senior, she was rated third by Full Court Press and sixth in the All-Star Girls Report player rankings.

Whitley is majoring in biological anthropology and anatomy and is expected to graduate in May of 2005. The Blue Devils return eight letterwinners and three starters off a 30-4 squad which advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.

"Wynter will help us in the post because she has had great experiences going to the NCAA Final Four her first two years," said Goestenkors. "She was one of, if not our best post defenders on our team and is a post player who can hit the three-point shot. I think she can come in and really help us."

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