York University’s Cyanna King dominates on both ends of basketball court
TORONTO, Ont. – York University Lions power forward Cyanna King continues to contribute as a two-way force. The fourth-year female basketball star from Pickering, Ontario, provides a steady presence at every level of competitive play. King’s game is characterized as being an excellent interior player. Additionally, King, 22, is a strong rebounder, a tenacious shot-blocker while providing dependable scoring from inside the paint.
King’s basketball roots stem from her days in the Scarborough Basketball Association. King participated in the SBA house league from 2009-2016, attributing her initial introduction to the game to her mother.
“I discovered the game of basketball through my mom. I remember watching her play at a very young age,” said King. “I also believe that she taught me the game of basketball.”
King’s love of athletics transcended basketball. Moreover, King grew up competing in swimming, dancing, cheerleading, soccer, and even cross country. Ultimately, it was basketball that King gravitated towards.
“I started getting serious about basketball when I realized that it could help assist in paying for my post-secondary education,” King explained.
King plays a bruising, old-school style which stifles her opposition. During her time at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, King helped guide the Crusaders to a championship in 2014. Furthermore, King won the Ontario Basketball Association U19 Division 1 title. King had many options on the table following her success, settling on York as her school of choice.
“I chose York because the university has one of the top programs for an education degree, and I want to be a teacher,” said King.
During the 2017-18 season at York, King made her rookie debut, averaging 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game. A considerable step forward was taken the following year. King upped her scoring average to 8.9 points per game on 53.5% shooting while chipping in 5.7 boards, appearing in 22 games. What’s more, King dropped a career-high 23 points against Brock University and dressed as a starter on two occasions.
Last season, King maintained the status-quo with 9.3 points per game and 5.1 rebounds on 46.1% field goal shooting. While the 2020-21 season was scrapped due to the pandemic, the 2021-22 campaign has seen a roaring return from the Lions veteran. This was punctuated by King being named the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athlete of the Week back in November.
The young lion opened her team’s weekend matchup with Nipissing emphatically. First, dropping an 18-point, 11 rebound stat-line to lead the Lions to an 81-60 victory. Then, delivering sheer paint dominance in game two with 17 points and 17 rebounds. King’s strong play has carried on as the season progresses, displaying another level of evolution in her game.
As King continues to follow in her mother’s footsteps, she reminds students that hard work pays off. Likewise, King is inspired by her mother’s work as an advocate for Black individuals. Once her playing days are over, King may look to do the same. “Educating people on our culture, that’s what I aspire to be as a teacher.”
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