Jayla Dixon '22 Recruiting Profile

Hello, my name is Jayla Dixon. I am in the class of 2022 at Crete-Monee High school.  I’m a 6.0 Power Forward varsity starter on the womens basketball team.

 I am a student athlete. With “student” being first. My mother has her PhD in education and her employment is to prepare students for post-secondary education.  Therefore, I have no alternative but to excel in the classroom first then on the basketball court.

Basketball was the first sport I ever played. I started playing basketball in 2nd grade. Since then, I knew I wanted to keep playing because that is when I fell in love with the game.  My entire basketball career I had to play a “big” because I was always the biggest person on the court. My coaches used me to rebound and put back shots. That role made me a strong rebounder and I score well off missed shots and that was easy for me.

 When I entered high school, I knew I had a great chance of being on varsity. As a freshman starting on varsity, I knew I wasn’t going to be the only big person on the court. That is when my basketball IQ had to change. Instead of being a 4 or 5 and just being used as a rebounder and offensive scorer on missed shots, I had to learn to effectively play the 3 and to compete with girls who played the 3 position all their career. Not wanting to lose my starting position, I spent additional hours before and after practice and on weekends working on my mid-range shot, dribbling and moving without the ball. I am happy to say I am effective at the 3 as well as in the post.

I'm a great defensive player. I average 3 blocks per game. I have been told my entire basketball career that I am a great hustler and hard worker. I been called a “work horse” not sure what that means but I give my all on the court. I am not afraid to take a charge, get on the floor for a loose ball and I get back down the court like well for my size.

I am looking to continue my first love (basketball) at a college that supports and promotes academics, and where I can push myself on the basketball court. I want to be at a university that desires a player that is coachable ,a  great team player, who can be a leader on the court and supporter on the bench, someone who can score in the paint and plays well around the rim, a player who rebounds well both offensively and defensively with a consistent mid-range jumper. My mother is my biggest fan. I know she would be really proud if I am able to continue my basketball career, earn a degree and become a productive self-sufficient college degreed woman.