Keajah Wilson signs NLI with Lenoir CC

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on June 16, 2014 1:48 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- Keajah Wilson didn't pick up a basketball until she was in eighth grade.

Even then, it wasn't by her own accord that she tried out in middle school.

"People told me I should play because I was tall," Wilson recalled. "I just needed something to do."

Wilson channeled all of her energy into the game and developed a passion that hasn't stopped growing. Midway through her senior year she realized she wasn't ready to give up the game and wanted to play in college.

Lenoir Community College head coach Tad Parson bought in to what he considers a rising stock, Wilson signed a national letter-of-intent to play for the Lancers next season.

"She has no idea how good she can be just yet," Parson said of the 5-foot-10 Wilson, whose game relies mostly on her raw athleticism. "She's got a high ceiling. She hasn't even come close to her potential yet."

Wilson played in the post for a small Southern Wayne team this past season. She averaged 5.3 points per game, and was third on the team in rebounds and steals.

Her biggest contribution to her team was defense. Wilson often guarded the best player on the opposition, and could guard anyone from the point guard to the center.

She plans to carry that same mindset into college with her.

"I can help the team with my defense, I'm pretty good defensively," Wilson said. "And then as I go I'll get better offensively."

Wilson's intangibles -- athleticism, work ethic and passion -- attracted Parson more than anything. The point of junior college is to develop a player's skills so they can move on after college. Parson knows he's got a lot of positive things he can teach Wilson.

When Wilson visited LCC for a tryout two weeks ago she immediately made a positive impression. She walked into the gym and asked to guard Lenoir's Jordan Hill -- the nation's leading scorer and an all-region selection who will be going to Fayetteville State.

"I was excited to cover her because I knew she was going to make me better," Wilson said.

"As a coach you love that you see she's fearless," Parson said. "(Hill) intimidated a lot of people this year because of her size, but (Wilson) didn't back down. She got of physical down there, too."

She'll continue to play the post positions when she gets to campus this summer, but the plan is to transition her to a guard where she'll be better suited given her size.

Wilson doesn't care where she'll play and hasn't paid much attention to the other aspects of college, either. She knows classes will be tough and she's ready to work.

"I just want to get there and play," Wilson said.

She will.

Parson has scheduled a practice the first day Wilson arrives on campus.