CHRIS GILLIAM
Sports Editor
The Kansas City, Kansas Community College (KCKCC) Lady Blue Devils snagged another Magnolia athlete Thursday afternoon.
Less than a month after signing Lady Panther Lillie Moore, the Blue Devils inked teammate Da'Kisiya Young, who signed her junior college letter-of-intent in the Media Center on the Magnolia High School Campus.
"I'm glad about furthering my careers and I'm going where I want to go," said Young, who maintained a 3.1 grade point average while scoring more than 14 points a game for Magnolia last season.
"It's an opportunity to go and do good things, and be around my good friend Lillie," said Young. "Magnolia coaches have prepared me well for this moment. They pushed me to the edge and that allowed me to do some good things this year."
The two-sport star made all-conference twice and all-state once in basketball while lettering three years.
Last season, she led the team in rebounding with 7.2 per game.
Before joining the Blue Devils this fall, Young said her perimeter shooting needs to improve, as well as her dribbling skills.
"Everything about me can be better and I'm looking to make those improvements," she said.
Regarding athletics and academics, Young advised student-athletes not to just focus on sport.
"The sport only comes if you have good grades. If you don't have good grades, you don't play the sport. It's as simple as that," she explained.
Athletic director Marvin Lindsey Jr. said Magnolia has had a multitude of student-athletes sign this school year.
"I can't count the number, but it's the most I've seen since I've been here," he said.
Lindsey gave Young the same advice he gave the others, which is to focus hard on education while in college.
"It's an opportunity to further your education through athletics. The most important thing is for you to put that hard work into the classroom as well as in athletics. I know you will do that, because you've already shown it," Lindsey told Young.
The athletic director also said, "You're not going to college to play athletics, you're going to get an education. Athletics is a means of making that possible."
Lindsey called Young the type of young lady every kid in the Magnolia School District can look up to.
"I am proud of you and we need more role model athletes like yourself for our younger ones," he said.
Coach Donnell Ford said he only got to coach Young for one season, but added he wished there were more.
The coach he assured KCKCC coaches that Young was the type of player who was willing to get into the weight room and do what it takes to become better.
"I am excited about Kisi's future. She's a team player in basketball and knows what to do in the classroom," said Ford.
He added that his former Lady Panther is a hard worker and has what it takes to be successful both in athletics and academics on the next level.