Miami basketball bolsters its frontcourt with transfer addition

The Miami basketball program has added 6'2 center Jessica Peterson through the transfer portal from SMU. Peterson is the third transfer to Miami for the 2025-26 season. Miami previously added South Florida guard Vittoria Blasigh, who is from Italy and Israeli national Gal Raviv from Quinnipiac.

Peterson had a breakout season for SMU in 2024-25, averaging 10.3 points per game, led the ACC posting 12.0 rebounds per game and shot 45.8 percent from the field and 55.2 percent from the free throw line. Miami has seven veterans projected on the 2025-26 roster and signed five players in the 2025 class.

Peterson is the projected starting center for Miami in 2025-26. Before spending three seasons at SMU, Peterson began her collegiate career at Fresno State. Peterson had by far her best season in 2024-25. Before last season, Peterson had a career-high average of 15.7 minutes per game in 2022-23.

Peterson set career highs in nearly every category in 2024-25, which included playing 29.8 MPG. Miami gains a player who has proven she can compete at a high level in the ACC by averaging a double-double in 2024-25. Miami was 15th in ACC games with a minus 9.9 rebounding margin and SMU was 17th at minus 12.1.

Peterson had 10 points, 20 rebounds and four assists and a steal, but shot four of 11 from the field and two of seven from the free throw line as Miami beat SMU 70-63 in Coral Gables in the only game between the Hurricanes and Mustangs this season. The 20 rebounds were the most Peterson had in an ACC game in 2024-25.

Peterson had a high of 17 points versus Wake Forest in a 67-64 loss in February. Peterson finished the 2024-25 season with 14 double-doubles. SMU finished 10-20 overall and 2-16 in the ACC. Miami was 14-15 overall and 4-14 in the ACC. Miami and SMU both missed the ACC Tournament.