WALTERBORO, S.C. – Resilient guard Kye Alberto from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia has signed a letter of intent with USC Salkehatchie. He becomes the eleventh member of the Salkehatchie program under Head Coach Matt Lynch.
Alberto, a 5-foot, 11-inch, 145 pound forward, competed with the Westgate Imperials in the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL). The VJBL is one of the top leagues for youth players throughout Victoria. This past season, Alberto averaged 9.6 points per game.
"I am excited to have Kye join our program as he possesses the high character and resiliency that I look for in a player," Coach Lynch said. "From the beginning of his recruitment process, I set the expectation that this is going to be about development and work for Kye, and he never altered his resolve. Kye brings a level of mental toughness to our team. He's had to fight to get here, and I love that about him. I look forward to coaching him and helping him develop as a man, student and basketball player."
While with the Imperials, Josh Burgan coached Alberto. "Kye possesses an explosive first step, effortlessly penetrating into the paint and displaying a strong scoring ability through various shot releases," Coach Burgan said. "One of his notable strengths lies in his ability to create shots. He exudes confidence while executing floaters, lay-ups, and spin moves amidst heavy traffic. Once his outside shooting finds its rhythm, he frequently embarks on impressive scoring streaks. Additionally, Kye's proficiency with his left hand keeps defenders off balance, allowing him to exploit their weaknesses with bursts of speed and coming off screens."
Alberto is the fourth Australian signee for Coach Lynch. He joins fellow Aussies Darcy Pares (Port Macquarie), Nevarda Higgins (Gold Coast), and Tyler O'Neill (Gold Coast).
Kye plans to pursue a degree in pharmaceutical science. He will continue training throughout the summer before reporting state side in August.