Virginia Tech grad transfer Trinity Baptiste commits to Arizona women’s basketball

Virginia Tech grad transfer Trinity Baptiste committed to Arizona women’s basketball on Tuesday, giving the Wildcats the frontcourt boost they were looking for.

The 6-foot forward averaged 9.5 points and 6.4 rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench this season, earning the ACC’s Sixth Player of the Year award. Baptiste also shot 44% from the field and a solid 19 for 51 (37%) from 3, and turned in a pair of 20-point games.

The Hokies went 21-9 overall and 11-7 in the ACC.

As a sophomore in 2018-19, Baptiste averaged 10.4 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 50% from the field and 21 for 38 (55.3%) from 3.

Baptiste is originally from Tampa, Florida and began her college career at Northwest Florida State College where she earned first team all-conference honors.

Immediately eligible at Arizona, Baptiste could either start alongside Cate Reese in the frontcourt and replace Dominique McBryde, who was listed at 6-foot-1, or stay in the bench role she’s in now and have Semaj Smith start alongside Reese.

“I had to get used to it at first,” Baptiste told the Roanoke Times about being a backup. “It wasn’t always easy. But I think it helped me become a better teammate, honestly, just being on the bench with the freshmen, talking to them, and being able to kind of put my pride to the side. It kind of humbled me.”

Adia Barnes values off the court contributions as well, and Baptiste was a member of the ACC All-Academic Team in 2020.