Who Is Khamil Pierre? Everything You Need to Know About Vanderbilt’s #12

In December 2025, Vanderbilt women’s basketball made history. Sophomore Khamil Pierre scored 42 points in a matchup against Evansville, setting a new program record for points in a single game. The team delivered a dominant victory, winning 106-40. Pierre was on fire, shooting 19-for-28 from the field and hitting 4 of her 6 free throws.

At 6’2″, the sophomore shattered the previous record of 41 points, set twice—once by Ciaja Harbison in January 2023, and earlier by Chantelle Anderson on February 8, 2001. Pierre has been a huge asset for the Commodores, consistently leading the team in scoring. In a tough matchup against unbeaten LSU, she scored an impressive 28 points. But despite her efforts, the team fell short in a close encounter, losing 77-83. Khmail Pierre’s standout performance has been an ongoing story. Here’s a little more about Vanderbilt’s #12.

Basketball was not Khamil Pierre’s first sport

Khamil Pierre was not a basketball player growing up. The star forward had taken a likening to soccer instead, playing for the Elite Clubs National League. She only picked up basketball in her freshman year of high school and did she adapt! “In my junior year, I quit soccer to focus on basketball because I fell in love with the sport and the environment,” she revealed in a conversation with The Hustler.

That year, she would lead Perry High School to its first-ever Arizona 6A tournament championship game, averaging 21.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.2 steals per game. The following year, he was named the Defensive Player of the Year. At Queen Creek, Ariz, Pierre was thriving.

“The first time I saw her step on the court, I was like, ‘yeah, she’s special,’ and I don’t think she quite even knew it herself,” Perry High School Women’s Basketball head coach Andrew Curtis had said. Pierre ended her prep years with an impressive 54-game streak of double-digit scoring. As a senior, she averaged 24.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.0 steals per game, earning a McDonald’s All-American Nominee title and being named All-Premier Player of the Year in 2023.

ESPN would later rank her a four-star recruit and list her as the 63rd-best prospect in her class. The star forward received about 30 college offers. But Vanderbilt was the one for her.

She came with a goal

As a freshman in the 2023-24 season, Khamil Pierre made an immediate impact at Vanderbilt. She earned a spot on the All-SEC Freshman Team and set a new program record with five SEC Freshman of the Week honors, claiming the recognition in January and February.

“[Pierre] is going to be a huge piece for us this year, especially down the stretch. She’s supremely talented, supremely athletic,” Shea Ralph had said. The forward appeared in 33 games and started 11, including the final 10 games of the season. She averaged 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 41.9 percent from the field. Pierre registered four double-doubles throughout the season and reached a career-high 28 points in a standout performance at Georgia on March 3.

She was a consistent scorer, posting double-digit points in 14 games and ending the season with a three-game streak of 10 or more points. Pierre scored 15 or more points in five games, including an impressive 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in a standout performance against Florida in the second round of the SEC Tournament. But it wasn’t enough to meet her goal.

“Since I am a freshman, [one goal] is to win [SEC] Freshman of the Year,” Pierre had revealed. “However, as long as I keep putting in the work and keep my head down, everything will come into place.” It sure seems to be.

A breakout season in sight

As a sophomore, Khamil Pierre has emerged as a key player for the Commodores, starting all first 17 games of the 2024-25 season. She’s been a standout performer, averaging 22.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

With Coach Shea Ralph at the helm, the Commodores are aiming for a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. As of week 10 of 2024-25, Pierre was the only player in NCAA Division I averaging over 22.0 points and 10.5 rebounds this season. She also ranked second in the nation for made field goals (148) and double-doubles (11), while securing spots in the top 10 nationally in seven other categories.

Through her consistent excellence on the court, Khamil Pierre has established herself as a pivotal player for the Commodores, driving the team to greater success and earning recognition as one of the top players in the nation.