Phillipina Kyei has always been an outlier. Why would the way she spends her Mondays not be unique?
While most student-athletes would rather be anywhere but a classroom, Kyei is as distinctive as they come. Kyei spends her Mondays shadowing teachers as a part of a UO-led field experience program at Gilham Elementary in Eugene.
It’s quite the contrast. The 6-foot-8-inch center can be seen most Sundays dominating the boards and blocking shots, and less than 24 hours later, a calming presence in a hectic classroom of elementary students.
“The first day I went there, they were a little scared, and it took them like 30 minutes to warm up to them, and the next time I went there, this kid hugged me,” Kyei said. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is only the second time I’ve been here.’”
She fit in immediately at Gilham and hopes to learn from her shadowing experience and teach full-time after a lengthy professional career.
“Man, they’re awesome,” Kyei said. “Getting to help them with little stuff like their homework or them asking me questions makes me feel great to be there.”
Although the introduction to basketball was seamless, Kyei — who grew up in Ghana before moving to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at the age of 13 — had to change countries and learn a new school system immediately. Luckily, Kyei had passionate teachers willing to help with the change.
Speaking English wasn’t an issue for Kyei, but the adjustment to the accent was where she lagged.
“I was struggling with some words and understanding words from other people speaking to me,” Kyei said. “I’d be like, ‘come again’ three or four times. The transition wasn’t too bad, but it was a little difficult.”
Kyei’s teachers in Calgary were instrumental in her feeling welcome and are some of the biggest inspirations for her participation in the field program today.
“When I first got to Canada, obviously I struggled a bit with the transitions, and my teachers were awesome,” Kyei said. “They helped me out a lot, and they were like, ‘Take your time.’ It’s going to be a lot to adjust.”
After moving to Calgary, Kyei quickly fell in love with basketball and soon realized her hobby was something that could be pursued at the next level. She was recruited to attend Crestwood Prep — one of Canada’s top preparatory schools — where she excelled and was put on head coach Kelly Graves and the Ducks’ radar.
That same passion and connection she shared with her teachers in Canada brought her to Eugene. In November 2020, she signed with Oregon, largely citing her relationship with Graves as a reason for her decision.
Now in her third season in Eugene, 2024 has been the junior’s best season yet. Kyei is averaging 13.1 points and 12.3 rebounds per game on 56% shooting. Kyei leads the Pac-12 in rebounding and is third in the nation, all while matching up with some of the better interior players in the nation. Kyei has dominated the post, tallying 20 double-doubles on the season amid a loaded Pac-12 schedule that featured eight games in a row against top 25 teams.
“Philly’s just had a tremendous, great attitude; she’s working her butt off. It’s not easy doing what she does,” Graves said after Kyei’s 16-point, 18-rebound game against then No. 17 Oregon State.
The Ducks feature a bevy of youth in a rebuilding year, and just like any veteran surrounded by underclassmen, Kyei needs to keep her cool when called upon for help. Luckily, she has plenty of experience with the field program.
“[I thought about teaching] kindergarteners,” Kyei said with a laugh. “But you’ve got to have a lot of patience for that.”
A bright spot on an otherwise forgettable year for the Ducks (11-16, 2-12 Pac-12). Kyei’s Mondays are spent preparing for life after basketball. Her love for teaching and education hit a new gear with the field program, she said, and it only escalated from there.
From learning English herself to now helping students grasp three-letter words, Kyei hopes to be the same inspiration and aid to students that her teachers were to her years ago.
“I look forward to Mondays every time,” Kyei said. “Getting to see the kids really makes my day.”
