WEST POINT — A Division I player has to have “it.”
Scoring, rebounding, passing — all facets of basketball are important — but there”s something about a player who can be a team leader and push it to even greater heights.
Kelsei Ewings was that player for the West Point High School girls basketball team this season.
She”d always been an explosive scorer and a threat to pull the trigger from anywhere on the floor, but she became a complete player as a senior.
Ewings, who will play basketball at the University of North Carolina A&T, averaged 27 points, five assists, and three steals a game to lead West Point to a 20-5 record and a district title.
Ewings, the 2010-11 Dispatch Large Schools Player of the Year, entered the season with a goal to improve her all-around game to get to the next level. The process started four years ago when Ewings stepped into the starting lineup. Ewings” coach, Jemmye Ann Helms, saw her potential to be a standout when she took over as head coach.
“She is a great athlete and can play any sport,” Helms said. “What sets her apart is her first step is so quick. She improved from her junior to senior year as far as creating her own shot and not forcing it. We battled that early because she was so young. I know when she gets to college she”ll get bigger, and I don”t see her losing that quickness when she gets in the weight room.”
Ewings and Helms shared a close relationship because the latter was known for her shooting ability as a prep and college player.
Anytime Ewings” form was off, Helms knew what was wrong.
Outside of shooting, Helms knew what Ewings was lacking to become a complete point guard and get to the next level.
“I was mentally mature in ninth grade because that”s how I was raised, but my game wasn”t there yet,” Ewings said. “Coach helped me mature my game. Ninth grade, I was just out of control, kind of reckless with the ball. By 12th grade, she showed me how to notice other point guards on TV, and coach taught me when to recognize when to do what. That and a lot of repetition prepared me for my senior season.”
Ewings, who guided her team to the playoffs in all four years, feels like her leadership improved this season because she finally felt other players would take her seriously. She”d always been the team”s point guard, but up until this season she was always surrounded by older players.
“I was always a leader in silence,” Ewings said. “Since they were older, I didn”t think they would listen. I would just say stuff but really wouldn”t follow up on it confidently. Since I was the oldest this year, the players listened to me. They wanted to win a district title, too. This year, it was just like they were so determined to win. Not a whole lot knocked us down.”
The team effort was most evident in West Point”s district title win against Oxford, Ewings said.
“We played together and played one of the best games ever that night,” Ewings said. “That night, I can remember me being so zoned. I can only feel my body being tired until after the game. I was determined to lead my team to victory. They played right along with me and we got a district championship.”
West Point”s district title was the first for Ewings and anyone on West Point”s roster. Ewings and the Lady Green Wave also hosted a first-round playoff for the first time under Helms (against Indianola Gentry).
Ewings will enter her freshman season at UNC A&T with a bit of a chip on her shoulder because her recruitment didn”t pick up after another dominant season.
At 5-foot-4, Ewings is an undersized guard and likely wasn”t on larger programs” radar because of her size.
“As a short person, I”ve always got to prove myself to somebody,” Ewings said. “They look at my posture and say, ”OK, she”s no threat.” I have to constantly be competitive. I have a chip, but I”m very happy about the school I”m going to. Me being a small player, (larger schools) probably would have sat me on the bench because of my size.
“Going to A&T as a point, it”s like my ninth grade year all over again. I”ve got to fight again.”
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