University of Florida women’s basketball head coach Cam Newbauer announced Friday the signing of transfer Zipporah Broughton (Wetumpka, Ala.) to the Gators’ 2021 class.
Broughton competed for three seasons at Rutgers University, appearing in 61 games and starting 12 contests for the Scarlet Knights. The 2018 Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year, averaged 8.2 points per game this past season, dishing out 3.4 assists per game.
Head Coach Cam Newbauer on Broughton
“Zippy is talented both on and off the court. She is a competitor with notable experience and we are thrilled to welcome her to Gator Nation!”
The 5-foot-7 guard brings a winning pedigree to Gainesville, having played in two NCAA Tournaments with the Scarlet Knights, posting a 58-24 record during her three seasons in the Garden State.
Broughton, who hails from Wetumpka, Ala., finished in double figures in five of her 10 games played in 2020-21 and matched her career best when she poured in 19 points against Manhattan on Dec. 23. She also proved herself to be strong distributor, recording three or more assists in five games including the 10 assists she notched against Hampton on Dec. 18.Â
An Environmental & Business Economics major, Broughton represented RU on the Big Ten Conference’s Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition and was also a member of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee. The 2019-20 Academic All-Big Ten selection, acted as a representative on Rutgers’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
The five-star recruit, Broughton, was a highly-lauded player coming out of Robert E. Lee High School, where she scored over 2,400 points. As a senior she collected a slew of honors and was named the USA Today Alabama Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and the state of Alabama’s Miss Basketball. She helped lead her team to the Class 7A state semifinals as a senior, averaging 23.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 steals and 4.0 assists per contest. ESPN Hoopgurlz ranked her as the No. 5 point guard in the nation and the No. 24 prospect overall.
Zipporah Broughton on her CommitmentÂ
“I’m super excited to join the team. I had a super close connection with the staff from when they recruited me initially in high school and once that connection was restored, it was only right that I join the Gators. Just watching film of this team, it just seems like there’s so much energy and the right momentum to become a winning program. I’m excited to be able to help them establish that.”
The Gators return their top two scorers including Kiki Smith, who announced that she would utilize her extra season of eligibility earlier this week, and Lavender Briggs, a two-time All-SEC pick. Broughton joins a talented group of newcomers which includes twins Taliyah and Tatyana Wyche, Jeriah Warren and Alberte Rimdal.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:Â #GoGators