Kayla Rankin, who scored more than 3,500 career points at Perry County Central High School in Hazard, Ky., has signed a scholarship agreement to join the Morehead State women's basketball program. She will be a freshman in 2014-15.
"Our staff feels Kayla could be a special player on our team," first-year Head Coach Greg Todd said. "It is very rare to see a player have as much team success as her high school program did and reach 3,000 career points. She has been blessed to play for one of the top high school coaches in the nation in Randy Napier."
She was rated as high as the 21st best forward in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz. Rankin, the career scoring leader at PCCHS with 3,671, ranks fifth in state history in points. She also ranks in the state's career top-15 in several other stat categories, including free throws made (931 - 4th), steals (616 - 7th), rebounds (1,648 - 10th) and blocked shots (371 - 13th).
As a senior in 2013-14, Rankin led the state in rebounding average (15.1) and ranked third in scoring (27.5). A 6-foot forward, Rankin was a McDonald's All-America nominee and a Kentucky Miss Basketball finalist as a senior and was named First-Team All-State three times. She was tabbed 14th Region Player of the Year as a senior and earned five all-region nods.
Rankin helped guide her squad to three 14th Region Titles and three appearances in the Kentucky Sweet 16 State Championship Tournament. She also earned two all-state awards in volleyball.
