HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University Norse women's basketball announced the addition of three 2027 signees on Wednesday. Jayla Griffin, Kylie Perone, and Layla Stewart will join the Norse as freshmen ahead of the 2027-28 campaign.
Jayla Griffin - 5'10" - Guard - Wellington Sports Academy - Tampa, Florida
FROM COACH HANS: "Jayla is a dynamic, playmaking guard who brings athleticism and energy to both ends of the floor. She does a great job getting into the paint, whether it's to score efficiently or create opportunities for her teammates. Her impressive bounce, competitiveness, and ability to make plays bring a spark to our team. We're excited to welcome Jayla, her mom, Kenesha, and her sister, Naomi, to the Norse family!"
Griffin arrives at NKU from Wellington Sports Academy in Wellington, Florida, where she's set to compete in her senior season. Prior to that, Griffin played high school ball at Cardinal Mooney for five seasons, since the seventh grade. Ahead of her senior campaign, Griffin has totaled 1,348 points, 640 rebounds, 313 steals, and 258 assists. As a junior, Griffin averaged 15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game over 30 total games. She shot 56% from the field in her junior season, going 190-342 from the field. On the club circuit, she's played for Duval Elite, East Coast United, and Essence EYBL.
Kylie Perone - 6'3" - Center - Milford High School - Galena, Ohio
FROM COACH HANS: "Kylie is a strong, physical post player who brings a great presence around the basket. She does an excellent job using her size and strength to establish position, finish efficiently inside, and control the glass. She also has a great touch and the ability to score from the paint out to the mid-range, making her a versatile offensive threat. We're excited to welcome Kylie, her parents, Mike and Kate, and her sisters, Camryn and Lauren, to the Norse family!"
Perone joins the Norse from Milford High School, where she transferred after spending her freshman and sophomore years at Olentangy Orange. As a junior at Milford, Perone earned ECC All-Conference first team, District 16 All-District first team, All-City first team, and All-Ohio Division I honors. Perone put up 15.5 points per game on 60.3% shooting from the field, ranking sixth in the conference in scoring. Perone ranked second in the league in rebounding with 9.3 a game, and led the league with 2.2 blocks per game while also averaging 2.0 assists and .5 steals per game. She helped lead Milford to a 22-3 record and a 14-2 conference record, leading them to a district title. As a sophomore, Perone earned OCC All-Conference first team, District 11 All-District, and Division I All-Ohio honors. As a freshman at Olentangy Orange, she earned OCC All-Conference second team and All-District second team honors. Perone has also competed for Legends U on the AAU circuit, earning U16 P24 First Team honors.
Layla Stewart - 5'8" - Guard - Belleville High School - Belleville, Michigan
FROM COACH HANS: "Layla is a competitive, high-motor guard who has a natural ability to score and is an elite playmaker. She is a confident perimeter shooter who can stretch the defense, while also having the ability to create opportunities off the bounce. Defensively, her length, energy, and ability to guard the ball allow her to create disruptions and make an impact on that end of the floor. We're excited to welcome Layla, her parents, Jenn and Cory, and her brother, Andre, to the Norse family!"
Layla Stewart comes to NKU from Belleville High School, located in the West Detroit suburb of Belleville. Stewart was named a Detroit News All-West Third-Team selection last season. She helped lead the Tigers to a 25-2 season, falling in the MHSAA Division I State Quarterfinals. Belleville won a state title in the 2024-25 season, but Stewart did not play due to injury. Layla's mother, Jennifer Johnston, played college basketball at Northern Michigan University, and also was an assistant coach at Toledo.
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