Wakefield girls basketball
With Wakefield girls basketball coach Danielle Blackburn, senior Kayla Harris (left) signed to play basketball at the University of South Carolina Aiken Monday afternoon.
Wakefield's Harris signs with Aiken
Wakefield senior Kayla Harris knew the University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball program was for her the moment the Pacers coaching staff mapped out their future together.
"They had a plan for me," the Wakefield forward explained. "They told me where they saw me at. I just felt like I was welcome and it made it much easier."
Although Harris' commitment to the Pacers wasn't official until Monday's signing day ceremony in Wakefield High's Media Center, the senior was set on Aiken just days after her August visit to the school's campus.
"When I went there, I just fell in love with it," Harris said. "I didn't want to go anywhere too big and it's a smaller school. I liked the community around it. And I really liked the coaches."
Pacers head coach Mike Brandt, coming off his third consecutive 20-win season, reminded Harris of her Wakefield high school coach.
"Aiken's coaches are the type of coaches who are going to push you, and make you better," she said. "I saw a lot of Coach [Danielle] Blackburn in their head coach."
And Brandt was equally taken with Harris, who earned All-Conference recognition following a stellar junior campaign, averaging 12 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals a game for the Lady Wolverines.
For Harris, Monday's signing is the culmination of several years of hard work. It's been a steady transformation as Harris started out as role player as a sophomore and worked her way into the starting lineup last season on Wakefield's Cap-7 Conference championship squad. Now, she's a college commit as a senior.
"I'm just so excited because I have been waiting for this day so long," Harris said of her commitment. "It means so much to me, I have worked so hard to get here."
Harris follows a long line of Lady Wolverines who have left north Raleigh and played college basketball. Last year, Harris played along side Kelsey Evans and Sarah Wollett, who headed off to Elon and Wingate, respectively. And two years ago, former Lady Wolverines' Kristen Hanzer (UNC-Wilmington) and Kaila'Shea Menendez (Western Carolina) made the move from Wakefield to the collegiate ranks.
"Seeing them go on to play in college really motivated me," Harris said. "I told myself 'I want to be able to do that one day.'"
Former Millbrook basketball standout Hannah DeGraffinreed is a sophomore on the Aiken basketball team.
The Pacers are coming off a 22-12 season, and play in the Peach Belt Conference.
During Kayla Harris' signing ceremony, the Wakefield senior posed for a photograph with Deron Medley, Karen Medley, Wakefield assistant athletic director Riggleman and Wakefield girls basketball coach Danielle Blackburn.
