From basketball hater to All-american player
TAMUT’S Williams inspired for more after program’s historic recognition
TEXARKANA, Texas — One of Texas A&M University-texarkana’s own sports stars has received top recognition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Third-year student Kayla Williams is the first TAMUT women’s basketball player to ever be named an NAIA All-american.
Hailing from San Diego, California, Williams feels like she fits in well to the unique location of the southern United States.
“Everyone was telling me it was going to be a culture shock but it really wasn’t, everyone is so kind,”
Williams said. “I’ve always said, ‘Yes ma’am, Yes sir.’ People always assume I’m from the South. So I fit right in here.”
As Williams walked through campus during her interview, she would wave, smile and greet everyone she came across.
“I just like saying hi to everyone,” Williams said. “It’s just the right thing to do.”
Williams’ father, Tommy Lee Williams, got her into playing basketball when she was in sixth grade, after playing softball for several years.
“I hated basketball,” Williams said. “I enjoyed watching but I never wanted to play, I just didn’t want to run back and forth.”
Williams said it took her two years of playing to begin enjoying shooting hoops and running across the court.
The basketball player of eight years cites her parents and her junior college coach Leigh Marshall, from Palomar College, as her main influences. Williams said her mother, Nerliza Jimenez, has supported her from day one.
“Even though she didn’t know what she was doing, she would just go to my games and watch,” Williams said.
Of Marshall, Williams said the coach put lots of trust and faith in
her, during a time when Williams’ own confidence was shattered.
“I was a pretty good player in high school, I didn’t put my all into it, but humbly, I was the best person on the team,” Williams said. “My coach would never recognize me for MVP awards and all the parents were like ‘Whoa, how did you not get that?’”
Marshall always believed in her, Williams said.
“She recruited me and said, ‘I see so much potential in you,’” Williams said.
Williams said she didn’t know that she was selected as an All-american until friends began to tag her on social media and TAMUT posted about the feat.
“I was really shocked by it,” Williams said. “I’m just so blessed and thankful that I got it, because I know it’s a huge recognition, I didn’t think this would be accomplishable for me.”
Williams said she is preparing to apply for the Nursing program at TAMUT, as her mother is also a nurse.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always loved just helping people,” Williams said.
Ronnie Howell, the former Interim head coach for women’s basketball at A&m-texarkana, said Williams was gifted offensively.
“She became a really good rebounder, she had many double figures in 26 out of 29 games,” Howell said.
The former interim head coach spoke of a time when Williams stepped up after a player was injured in January.
“She kind of upped her game after that, kind of took the role as more of a better player for sure,” Howell said.
Williams said she one hundred percent wants to continue playing basketball in the future.
“Hopefully, I will keep growing my playing level, my skills,” Williams said. “I would love to play in the WNBA.”
Williams said she plans to enter the Women’s National Basketball Association Combine, which is an invitation-only combine for top college seniors, free agents and overseas players.
“Women’s basketball is really opening up the last few years,” Williams said. “So whatever it is, I’m hoping I can continue to play basketball in my future.”