TWIN FALLS — These days, dozens of college coaches want Kaylee Headrick’s talents.
Headrick’s phone illuminates multiple times a day with text notifications from coaches across the country — all requesting her skills for future seasons.
“It gets overwhelming,” Headrick told the Times-News.
Why wouldn’t coaches want the sophomore? A 5-foot-10 College of Southern Idaho guard/forward whose relentless rebounding and scoring ability earned her NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American status, a reward for her individual work combined with CSI’s national semifinal season.
“She is just a competitor,” CSI head coach Randy Rogers told the Times-News. “She hates to lose. Loose balls. Rebounds. She just doesn’t want to lose. Hates to be embarrassed.”
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Now, as she navigates her four-year recruitment, Headrick provides a key piece of consistency for the No. 4 Golden Eagles, who debut with four returnees and 11 newbies on Thursday at 5 p.m. against Northwest College at CSI Gymnasium.
Oh, the demands after an All-American year. A visit last week to Boise State. One to Colorado State a few weeks ago. Offers from the Broncos and Rams. She said most of the interest is coming from Mountain West Conference schools. Fitting locations for her outdoorsy hobbies such as hunting, fishing and hiking.
That’s the reputation an All-American brings as Headrick enters her sophomore season as the only returning women’s SWAC player with such honors.
“When I got that award, I was obviously kinda proud of myself, but I think it just led me to focus on this year and working harder and my goal to get that award again,” Headrick said. “Just to push my expectations of myself.”
Her recruitment, in many ways, can be viewed as a parallel to the team. Several unknowns after the program’s second-highest finish (CSI finished as national runners-up in 2005). Fans know what CSI and Headrick accomplished last season. And the possibility of what could be accomplished adds intrigue.
Where will Headrick land?
“This next step of committing to a school is a big step in my next part of life so it has been stressful, but it has also been kinda rewarding to see coaches at the next level reaching out and their interest,” she said.
Who will emerge as the team’s top players? Can the Lady Golden Eagles return to the NJCAA semifinals for the program’s third time?
Questions to be answered in time. This season brings many new faces. New roles, especially for Headrick, who becomes a locker room leader for the freshmen after serving the opposite part last season.
“It has been a little bit harder I would say to kinda gel on the court, especially having to learn plays again and get everybody on the same page,” Headrick said. “So, it has been a little bit harder but I think these tournaments that are coming up are gonna help us a lot and just figuring all that stuff out.”
And now the freshmen will look up to players such as Headrick.
“She (Headrick) helps with the plays,” freshman Falon Bedke told the Times-News. “If you don’t know the plays, she will help you.”
Rogers’ squad welcomes four-year transfers Jayden McNeal (Eastern Washington) and Jamisyn Heaton (Colorado Mesa), who provide experience and leadership.
This will be a squad, Rogers said, that will rely on its defensive prowess — just like last year’s team. And leave it to Headrick to gather more rebounds. She led last year’s team in scoring (10.5 points a game) and rebounding (nine per game), and Rogers said he expects the same, thanks to her ability to chase her shots and beat everyone to it.
“She is such a great timing rebounder and her ability to get back off the floor when she hits the floor,” Rogers said. “It’s like bounce, right back up to get that next shot. If she misses a shot, she is probably gonna be the one to get the rebound.”
Headrick plays with a scrappy style she said she learned with her older siblings. Athletic sisters who were bigger and stronger than her. So, she just competed.
A woman who also hits the gym a few times a day outside the mandated practice schedule.
“She is still working on things,” Rogers said. “She is working on some decision-making once she does drive. But take what she brings to our team at every position, because I can accept all the mistakes in the world but if the effort is bad, it is hard. If the effort is good, we will try to correct the mistakes.”
Much like the Golden Eagles in 2022-23, a team of “grit” and strong players.
“Our defense was the reason we got to the national tournament and our defense is why we won some games in the national tournament,” he said.
And as another season begins, Headrick said she wants to remain undefeated at home for the third straight season, return to the national tournament and work as a team, even if things don’t always go their way.
But don’t just focus on Headrick. Don’t forget the other fellow returners Izzy Arave, Brayli Jenks, and Jill Lungren, a high school teammate with Headrick.
“I think they will all be fun to watch,” Headrick said.