Kayla Rogers never has considered herself a “big girl.”
In basketball lingo, “big girl” refers to a post player. The use of the word “big” implies the center or power forward in question has ample girth or height to make life difficult for opponents.
At 5-foot-11 with a lean frame, Rogers more likely would be classified as a “tweener,” someone who doesn’t satisfy the typical height and size guidelines and can play multiple positions.
But the longer the 2015-16 goes, Rogers is showing she can do a pretty good impersonation of a “big girl.” Columbus High School girls basketball coach Yvonne Hairston doesn’t mind, either, because Rogers’ prowess on the block has played an integral role in her team’s success.
Rogers played a starring role last week, scoring 22 points in a victory against Tupelo and adding 18 points in another victory against South Panola in Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 2 action.
For her accomplishments, Rogers is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
“The coaches and my teammates always encourage me to keep pushing no matter what,” said Rogers, who is averaging 18.6 points and at least 10 rebounds per game. “I have been down about my size in the position I play, but they always motivate me to keep pushing and keep going.”
Rogers said she would get down about her lack of size because she felt it would prevent her from realizing a goal of playing basketball in college. That changed after to game against Tupelo when Rogers talked with Meridian Community College women’s basketball coach Jocelyn McGilberry.
“I was in awe about it because I didn’t think she would come to me,” Rogers said. “To see someone sees potential in me, that is great. That is an honor.”
Rogers credits teammates Holly Westbrook and Kyla Temple for challenging her in practice so she is ready to go against bigger post players in games. She hopes to get a chance to show McGilberry she can do that at the next level. She said Monday she plans to visit MCC after wondering if she would attract any interest from college coaches.
Rogers had doubts about her recruitment because she said she spoke with McGilberry earlier in the season and was told her size might be something that played a role in her not receiving any interest from colleges. But Rogers said McGilberry saw against Tupelo how she was able to work against taller defenders, which changed her perception about her ability to be a “big girl.”
“I could be a lot more aggressive and stronger to actually be a ‘big girl,’ ” Rogers said. “I could have been more aggressive mainly on defense last week.”
Hairston has watched Rogers grow as a starter in each of the past three seasons. She said Rogers has improved as a ballhandler and has a better understanding of how to use her quickness against bigger defenders. She said Rogers’ confidence has increased as her skills have matured.
“She has what we call a ‘Shimmy Shake’ that is her signature move,” Hairston said. “It creates some space when she is being defended against a bigger players and helps her score. She is not one-dimensional. She has a lot of stuff in her arsenal that she can use depending on the size of the post player we have to go against.”
Hairston said Rogers has attracted double- and triple teams and has continued to score and rebound. She said Rogers’ production forces opponents to decide if they want to guard her or Zaria Jenkins.
Hairston feels Rogers has the potential to fill a role similar to the one former East Webster High standout Quantesha Patterson is playing as a freshman at East Mississippi C.C. At 5-11, Patterson is leading the Lady Lions in scoring (21 points per game).
“She has really worked on her skill level and her confidence,” Hairston said. “She has always been able to score, but some games she wasn’t as confident. Now she is fearless. It doesn’t matter who we are playing. She just feels like she can score.”
With each game, Rogers admits she feels more like a post player, even if she doesn’t truly fit the bill as a “big girl.” She hopes to realize an opportunity to play basketball in college so she can continue her maturation and keep finding ways to beat bigger defenders.
“It has been a great experience with the girls,” Rogers said. “I really wasn’t expecting to come out with this successful of a season.”
Columbus (18-5) will wrap up the regular season with games against West Point (today) and West Lowndes (Friday). Hairston said the Region 2 tournament will begin next Tuesday and will be played at Hernando High.
“We always had the potential,” Rogers said. “We just had to play together and support each other 100 percent.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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