July 9, 2009

BOSTON - Jesyka Burks-Wiley ('09) of the Boston University women's basketball team has signed a professional contract with BC ICIM Arad, a Romanian team in the Eurocup league, for next fall. Burks-Wiley, the 2009 America East Player of the Year and a Region I finalist for the 2009 State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team, will start training with the squad on Aug. 1.

"We are very excited for Jes," said head coach Kelly Greenberg. "Jesyka's hard work over the past 12 months has truly paid off for her. Jes and her mom deserve this wonderful opportunity and we wish her the best of luck as she continues living out her dream."

Burks-Wiley, a native of Kansas City, Mo., capped off an outstanding career at Boston University in 2008-09 as she was a dominant force in the Terriers' front court, averaging 17.9 point per game - the best single-season average since Katie Terhune (`04) poured in 18.6 ppg in 2001-02 and the fifth-best overall. Burks-Wiley is one of just eight players in the program's 34-year history to surpass 1,000 points and 500 rebounds and her 1,315 career points will go down as the seventh-best total in the school annals.

"I am very excited about the journey I am about to embark on," said Burks-Wiley. "This has been my dream since I knew that this level of play was available for women. I plan on making the most of it, and representing my family, friends and BU extremely well."

In addition to being named the league's Player of the Year, Burks-Wiley picked up AE All-Conference First Team honors for the first time in her career at the league's annual banquet back in March. In January and February, she was named to the WBCA's National Player of the Month Honorable Mention list, during which time she averaged 20.0 ppg and 8.8 rpg, helping the Terriers go undefeated in the America East regular-season.

Burks-Wiley was integral in the team's unprecedented success as it broke a team record for wins in a season (25) and boasted an impressive 19-game winning streak that lasted nearly two and a half months, while also running the America East regular season table at 16-0. BU was one of just four teams in the nation that went unbeaten in its respective conference this year. She is a member of the all-time winningest class in program history with 78 career wins and a .624 winning percentage.