VIDEO: Kailyn Brooks Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – With the beginning of the 2016-17 women's basketball season one week from starting, a two-part series will analyze the Lady Eagles position groups. The final part focuses on the backcourt with senior guard Kailyn Brooks (Lafayette, Tenn.).
Of the four seniors from the 2015-16 season, three were at the guard positon in Tatum Burstrom, Jai Jai McLaughlin and Kianna Sedlacek.
Burstrom, coach Mike Mincey's assistant coach this season, graduated as the program's all-time leader in made three-pointers with 254, a tally that ranks fourth in South Atlantic Conference history. The Maryville, Tenn. native finished her playing days ninth in school history in total points with 1,234. She started 100 games in career and averaged in double figures during each of her four seasons.
McLaughlin made 91 starts while filling the stat sheet with 7.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per night during her four seasons. The Knoxville, Tenn. native finished with 360 total helpers to rank seventh in school history.
"I definitely learned from Jai Jai that hard work and dedication will get you a lot," Brooks said. "That's the way you should approach every day in practice. Tatum taught me a lot. She was more of the quiet leader. Jai Jai was more of the voice. With the combination of the two, I learned that you can lead with your voice and there's a lot that can be said when you're not talking. I'm really excited to have Tatum back on board with us and to continue learning under her."
Brooks led the 2015-16 roster in total points averaging 13.8 per night to rank ninth in the SAC. Her 71 made three-pointers ranked third as she led the league and ranked 13th in the country by making 43.8 percent of her long distance dedications. The 71 triples ranked one behind Ashley Tipton's 2008-09 program record for made three-pointers in a season.
The Lafayette, Tenn. native ranked 8th in the league in assists per game with 3.1 and first in assist-to-turnover ratio with a 1.84 clip. The guard notched 21 double-figure scoring nights including seven nights with at least 20 points. Three times during the year Brooks racked up a career-high 25 points including in the final game of the season at Newberry in the SAC Women's Basketball Championships.
Entering her senior season, Brooks needs 224 points to become the 18th member of the 1,000-point club.
"Those are definitely big personal accomplishments," Brooks said. "I'm excited that I have the opportunity to reach those but I know that by reaching those I'll be able to help propel my team forward in some of the bigger goals. It is big personally for me to reach those goals but it is bigger to know that those things can help my team."
The rest of the group sees four returnees and a pair of newcomers fill out the backcourt with one senior, four sophomores and one freshman.
"They have really stepped up," Brooks said of the younger players. "In those guard positions we just need someone to step in and make those shots. The hustle from Jai Jai is going to be missed so we need the rebounding there. Bri [Smith] has the potential there and [Ashton] Wykle is going to hit some shots."
2015-16 All-Freshman Team honoree Kayla Newman (Alcoa, Tenn.) started 25 games for the Lady Eagles a season ago to average 6.6 points per night and 3.8 rebounds to go along with 28 steals and nine blocks.
Sophomore Briana Smith (Nashville, Tenn.) played in 27 contests a year ago by averaging 15 minutes per night and tallying five double-digit scoring efforts to post five points per evening.
Sophomore Ashton Wykle (Greeneville, Tenn.) logged 10.5 minutes per game in 24 appearances as a three-point shooter off of the bench knocking down 14 on the year.
Senior Carly Pippin (Sevierville, Tenn.) was limited to just six games as a junior and has averaged six minutes per game over her 40 career contests.
Lee transfer Haris Price expects to battle for a starting job this season after being named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year last season. With the Flames, the Gatlinburg, Tenn. native tallied 10.6 points per game, 4.3 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game and 2.4 rebounds per night in 29.2 minutes of action.
Overall, Price scored in double figures 15 times in 30 contests and finished the season ranked fifth in the league in assists average while ranking 18th in points per game.
The Lady Eagles begin their season with an exhibition contest at Carmichael Arena against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels on Nov. 2. The start time is set for 6 p.m. with broadcast coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening tip on the Eagle Sports Network's flagship station Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
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Carson-Newman Women's Basketball Backcourt Position Preview
VIDEO: Kailyn Brooks Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – With the beginning of the 2016-17 women's basketball season one week from starting, a two-part series will analyze the Lady Eagles position groups. The final part focuses on the backcourt with senior guard Kailyn Brooks (Lafayette, Tenn.).
Of the four seniors from the 2015-16 season, three were at the guard positon in Tatum Burstrom, Jai Jai McLaughlin and Kianna Sedlacek.
Burstrom, coach Mike Mincey's assistant coach this season, graduated as the program's all-time leader in made three-pointers with 254, a tally that ranks fourth in South Atlantic Conference history. The Maryville, Tenn. native finished her playing days ninth in school history in total points with 1,234. She started 100 games in career and averaged in double figures during each of her four seasons.
McLaughlin made 91 starts while filling the stat sheet with 7.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per night during her four seasons. The Knoxville, Tenn. native finished with 360 total helpers to rank seventh in school history.
"I definitely learned from Jai Jai that hard work and dedication will get you a lot," Brooks said. "That's the way you should approach every day in practice. Tatum taught me a lot. She was more of the quiet leader. Jai Jai was more of the voice. With the combination of the two, I learned that you can lead with your voice and there's a lot that can be said when you're not talking. I'm really excited to have Tatum back on board with us and to continue learning under her."
Brooks led the 2015-16 roster in total points averaging 13.8 per night to rank ninth in the SAC. Her 71 made three-pointers ranked third as she led the league and ranked 13th in the country by making 43.8 percent of her long distance dedications. The 71 triples ranked one behind Ashley Tipton's 2008-09 program record for made three-pointers in a season.
The Lafayette, Tenn. native ranked 8th in the league in assists per game with 3.1 and first in assist-to-turnover ratio with a 1.84 clip. The guard notched 21 double-figure scoring nights including seven nights with at least 20 points. Three times during the year Brooks racked up a career-high 25 points including in the final game of the season at Newberry in the SAC Women's Basketball Championships.
Entering her senior season, Brooks needs 224 points to become the 18th member of the 1,000-point club.
"Those are definitely big personal accomplishments," Brooks said. "I'm excited that I have the opportunity to reach those but I know that by reaching those I'll be able to help propel my team forward in some of the bigger goals. It is big personally for me to reach those goals but it is bigger to know that those things can help my team."
The rest of the group sees four returnees and a pair of newcomers fill out the backcourt with one senior, four sophomores and one freshman.
"They have really stepped up," Brooks said of the younger players. "In those guard positions we just need someone to step in and make those shots. The hustle from Jai Jai is going to be missed so we need the rebounding there. Bri [Smith] has the potential there and [Ashton] Wykle is going to hit some shots."
2015-16 All-Freshman Team honoree Kayla Newman (Alcoa, Tenn.) started 25 games for the Lady Eagles a season ago to average 6.6 points per night and 3.8 rebounds to go along with 28 steals and nine blocks.
Sophomore Briana Smith (Nashville, Tenn.) played in 27 contests a year ago by averaging 15 minutes per night and tallying five double-digit scoring efforts to post five points per evening.
Sophomore Ashton Wykle (Greeneville, Tenn.) logged 10.5 minutes per game in 24 appearances as a three-point shooter off of the bench knocking down 14 on the year.
Senior Carly Pippin (Sevierville, Tenn.) was limited to just six games as a junior and has averaged six minutes per game over her 40 career contests.
Lee transfer Haris Price expects to battle for a starting job this season after being named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year last season. With the Flames, the Gatlinburg, Tenn. native tallied 10.6 points per game, 4.3 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game and 2.4 rebounds per night in 29.2 minutes of action.
Overall, Price scored in double figures 15 times in 30 contests and finished the season ranked fifth in the league in assists average while ranking 18th in points per game.
The Lady Eagles begin their season with an exhibition contest at Carmichael Arena against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels on Nov. 2. The start time is set for 6 p.m. with broadcast coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening tip on the Eagle Sports Network's flagship station Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
