CHICAGO (April 26, 2024) – UIC head women's basketball coach
Ashleen Bracey announced Friday the addition of guard
Jalysa Stokes (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Central/UMSL) to the Flames' program for the 2024-25 season. Stokes comes to UIC with one year of eligibility remaining after three successful seasons at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), and she is the first transfer to join the Flames for the upcoming season.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jalysa back home to Chicago and into our Flames family," Bracey said. "Jalysa is driven in the classroom, community and on the basketball court. She is a three-level scorer and decision-maker who possesses the versatility to play on or off the ball. She also has the ability to stretch the floor with her three-point range, an area we need to improve on this offseason. She is a fierce competitor and is committed to our vision to elevate UIC to a championship-caliber program."
In three seasons at UMSL, Stokes averaged 14.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game with a .354 three-point percentage. She also emerged as the Tritons' leading scorer (and among the top three in the Great Lakes Valley Conference) and became an everyday starter during her final two seasons, averaging more than 17 points per game both years, and she was a two-time All-GLVC selection.
Last year, Stokes was a second-team all-conference choice after appearing in 25 games and starting 24 times. She averaged a team-high 17.3 points (third-best in the conference) and 3.4 rebounds per game with a career-best .846 free-throw percentage. In addition, Stokes scored in double figures 21 times with 10 20-point games and posted a season-high 28 points on Dec. 16, 2023, in a game against Kentucky Wesleyan.
As a sophomore, Stokes earned All-GLVC First Team recognition, starting all 26 games for UMSL and averaging a career-high 17.4 points (tying for second in the conference) and 3.4 rebounds per game. She reached double figures in scoring 22 times and scored at least 20 points on seven occasions. Stokes was named GLVC Player of the Week on Jan. 23, 2023, after an exceptional three-game stretch during which she averaged 31.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game, capped by a career-high 38 points against Illinois-Springfield on Jan. 21, leading to her weekly award two days later.
During her debut season with the Tritons, Stokes was named to the All-GLVC Freshman Team after appearing in 28 games (starting once) and averaging 8.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Stokes showcased her potential with a season-high 18 points against Drury in the semifinals of the 2022 GLVC Tournament.
Stokes enjoyed a decorated prep career at Joliet Central High School as a three-time all-area pick by the
Joliet Herald and a pair of honorable mention all-state honors from
The Gazette, as well as Southwest Prairie All-Conference Team accolades. She also garnered multiple selections to all-tournament teams.
Stokes' best prep season came in 2019-20, when she averaged 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game while guiding her team to a regional championship and a 27-6 record.
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