Kamryn Finley to transfer to Cedar Falls

MARION — Kamryn Finley is leaving for Cedar Falls a year earlier than expected.

A University of Northern Iowa commit, Finley told her former basketball teammates at Linn-Mar on Thursday that she will transfer to Cedar Falls High School for her senior season.

'It was very tough,' she said after the announcment. 'But family is the most important thing to me. My mom's entire family lives in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area.'

A 5-foot-9 guard and a three-year contributor for the Lions, Finley averaged a team-high 14.8 points per game last season as Linn-Mar went 12-11. She was a starter on the Lions' state-semifinal team of 2016.

She will join a Cedar Falls squad that reached the Class 5A championship game last year before bowing to West Des Moines Valley. The Tigers finished 23-3, and return their top two scorers — Kiana Barney and Cynthia Wolf. Finley's arrival puts Cedar Falls among the favorites for the 2018 5A title.

Barney and Wolf also are UNI recruits.

'It will be fun playing up there,' Finley said. 'But I'm going to miss playing with the girls from Linn-Mar. I've played with the majority of them through middle school and high school. It will be hard to leave them.'

Finley said her family's house is up for sale, and plans to move before the school year begins. Once a residence is secured in the Cedar Falls school district, Finley will be eligible for extra-curricular activities immediately.

Nate Sanderson will succeed Jaime Brandt as the Linn-Mar coach this season. He still inherits a solid, veteran nucleus led by seniors-to-be Carly Spies, Ally Johnson and Megan Murphy.

'Linn-Mar still has a great core group,' Finley said. 'They will still have a successful season.'

Cedar Falls hosts Linn-Mar on Jan. 23, 2018.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com