Former K-State women’s basketball player Leticia Romero transfers to Florida State

Leticia Romero, the Kansas State freshman who could not get a release from her basketball scholarship until the university instituted a policy change, has transferred to Florida State, the Seminoles announced Monday.

Romero, a guard who was K-State’s leading scorer and a conference freshman of the week four times, had wanted to leave K-State after former coach Deb Patterson and her staff were fired. K-State would not grant the release initially, meaning Romero could transfer to another Division I school but had to pay her own way for a year.

Romero lost an appeal to a university panel. Athletic director John Currie later changed his stance, saying Romero should be able to transfer and urged president Kirk Schulz to change a policy and give Currie the authority to retract the denial of the release.

Romero may be on an Florida State scholarship next season but cannot play by NCAA transfer rules. She can play in the 2015-16 season.

“Leticia is a significant addition to Florida State women’s basketball,” Florida State coach Sue Semrau said in a statement. “She has already proven that she is a tremendous player at this level. She led her team in 10 statistical categories as a freshman in the Big 12. We’re looking forward to Leti being an integral part of the Seminole family.”

This story was originally published June 9, 2014 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Former K-State women’s basketball player Leticia Romero transfers to Florida State."