Next season, and in the years to follow, Kayla Gordon will be slashing through the paint for the Trinity Western University Spartans.
Gordon, a Grade 12 student at Cedars Christian School, has committed to the Trinity Western women's basketball team, which competes in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association. The five-foot-11 forward is one of Prince George's elite high school players and is coming off a summer in which she helped Team B.C. to a third-place finish at the Under-17 national championship tournament. In that event, she averaged 11.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game and was selected as a second-team all-star. Gordon has been part of the Team B.C. program every year since she was in the U-14 age group.
Spartans coach Cheryl Jean-Paul is thrilled to have Gordon as a future cornerstone of the TWU program, which is currently in a building phase.
"We are really excited to have Kayla join our program," Jean-Paul said on Trinity Western's website. "She is a tremendous basketball player, such a solid individual, and we will definitely benefit from her presence both on and off the court. Playing with the Basketball B.C. provincial teams has really brought out her ability to stand out and define herself as an athlete who has a lot of potential to be a significant player at the next level."
Gordon has also established herself as a leader of her high school team, the Eagles. In each of the past two seasons, she has been the club's MVP and has been named a first-team all-star at the single-A provincial championship tournaments. The Eagles claimed silver medals at both those provincial gatherings and will take a run at gold when they host the 2013 tournament, March 6-9.
In the classroom, Gordon maintains an 'A' average. At Trinity Western, she plans to study corporate communications.
"For the Spartans to sign one of the top players in the province is a huge step forward," added Jean-Paul, whose club has struggled to a 2-8 record so far this Canada West season and is tied with the expansion Mount Royal University Cougars for last place in the Pacific Division. "With her great academic standing and with a solid faith background, TWU is going to provide a great environment that will continue to foster her growth as a person."
Gordon said on the TWU website that she is "very excited" about her basketball and academic future.
"I can't wait to experience everything this program has to offer, and everything I have to offer in return," she said. "As well, I look forward to learning from the highly-renowned professors at such a prestigious university. I also feel that God has called me to TWU and that this university is exactly where I am supposed to develop my gifts and abilities."
Cedars coach Al MacDonald won't be surprised if Gordon evolves into an impact player at the Canada West level.
"Kayla has been an impressive team leader both on and off the court," he said on the website. "Her athletic gifts and spiritual contributions are numerous. In addition to being very coachable, she exhibits great all-round basketball abilities. Her play can best be described as dynamic. We have required Kayla to perform many roles on our team. Each season she continues to exceed our expectations."
