Leticia Romero plans MTSU visit, could transfer

MURFREESBORO – MTSU women's basketball appears to have exclusive rights to one of the nation's more coveted possible Division I transfers — at least for now.

Kansas State guard Leticia Romero, the Big 12 freshman of the year, has planned an upcoming visit to MTSU's campus, The Daily News Journal has learned.

Romero's attempt to transfer, which has been denied by Kansas State, has drawn national headlines and criticism of the university. Her story was even featured on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" on Wednesday.

But according to reports, Kansas State accidentally gave permission for MTSU to contact Romero because of a "clerical error" — meaning the Lady Raiders are apparently the only program in the country with an open door to talk to the prized guard about a possible transfer.

The (Manhattan, Kan.) Mercury reported that Kansas State attempted to retract the permission after its error was discovered, but the NCAA ruled that permission for a school to contact a student-athlete at another school cannot be retracted.

Kansas State still has not released Romero, a native of Las Palmas, Spain, from her scholarship, but it is believed she will visit Murfreesboro within the next two weeks. She initially asked to be released in March after Kansas State fired coach Deb Patterson, who recruited Romero when she was on the Spanish U-19 national team.

MTSU officials, including women's basketball coach Rick Insell, are not permitted to comment on prospects until they sign a national letter of intent.

Romero presented a list of 94 schools to Kansas State for which she had interest in transferring, including MTSU. Her request for a release to any of those schools was denied by both Kansas State athletics director John Currie and the university's appeals committee. But because of Kansas State's slip-up, MTSU has already contacted Romero.

Romero told The Mercury that she believes Kansas State did not realize MTSU was on her list of preferred schools.

"K-State told me they couldn't do anything with the schools on my list," Romero said. "I think they released me to have contact with them and didn't know they were on my list, but then found out and took it back. I thought if they could release me to one school on my list, there's no reason to not release me to others. They did it. And that shows that they can do it — they just don't want to."

Romero, a 5-foot-8 guard, led Kansas State with 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game last season. She also shot 39.2 percent from 3-point range. If she was granted a transfer, Romero would have to sit out one season, per NCAA rule, and then have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

MTSU posted a 29-5 record last season en route to a Conference USA title and its 10th NCAA tournament appearance in the past 11 years.