BATON ROUGE - LaQuinta Jefferson, a finalist for the 2012 WBCA National Junior College Player of the Year Award, will transfer from Jefferson (Mo.) College to LSU, head women's basketball coach Nikki Caldwell announced on Friday.

Jefferson, a 6-foot-0 guard, will enroll at LSU in the spring of 2013 and be eligible to compete during the 2013-14 season. She will have two years of remaining eligibility when she joins the Lady Tigers.

"We are very excited about LaQuinta joining the LSU family," said Caldwell. "She is a tremendous all-around player and scorer. She brings in a wealth of experience and versatility from the junior college ranks and will make a great impact on our team." 

Jefferson, a native of La Vergne, Tenn., averaged a team-high 17.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.9 steals per game for Jefferson College as a sophomore this past season. She led the Lady Vikings to a 31-5 overall record, an appearance at the National Junior College Tournament, and a No. 7 national ranking.

Jefferson combined for 48 points in two games at the Region 16 tournament. She received NJCAA All-Tournament Team honors and earned a spot on the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association Junior College All-America team. Jefferson was one of three finalists for the WBCA National Junior College Player of the Year. She scored 38 points to clinch a berth for the Lady Vikings in the NJCAA National Tournament.

Jefferson, a three-year starter at La Vergne High School, was ranked the No. 64 high school prospect in America for the Class of 2010 by ESPN Hoop Gurlz. As a junior she put up 17.4 points per game and helped lead La Vergne High School to a 22-9 overall record. Jefferson was a three-time selection to the Daily News Journal's All-area team and she was a 2009 Tennessee Sports Writers' Association All-State recipient.