BY KELLY LEWIS
As fans fill the seats, as the referees and opposing team arrive, Kayla Raymond gets dressed in the locker room of the Merkert gym: jersey first, followed by shorts, left sock, right sock, left shoe, and finally right shoe.
This routine has not changed since high school. And as we all know every star athlete has their pre-game rituals and superstitions.
At the age of six, Raymond started playing basketball for the local YMCA in Easton, Massachusetts but she never imagined it would lead to playing for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
“Honestly growing up I never thought about playing sports in college,” Raymond said.
In 2014, Raymond began her freshman year at Oliver Ames High in Easton. In the winter she went out for the girl’s basketball team and made varsity. She said that's when the sport transformed from a hobby to a passion.
“During my freshman year, my high school coach, Elain Clement Holbrook, put things into perspective,” Raymond said. “She’s the one that pushed me to start playing AAU and from there my love for basketball really took off.”
Raymond joined Mass Premiere Swish, an AAU basketball team, during her sophomore year. From that point on she traveled up and down the east coast with her team competing in tournaments. During most of these tournaments, Raymond felt the pressure, knowing recruiters observed her every move from the sidelines.
“The recruiting process was stressful,” she said. “I was being recruited by D1 and D2 schools throughout the Northeast Region and had offers from some as well.”
Finally, in the spring of her junior year of high school, at age 17, she committed to Stonehill.
Raymond graduated from Oliver Ames High in 2018 and began her career as a student-athlete just a few miles down the road at Stonehill College.
“I chose Stonehill because of how much of a great school it is, the beautiful campus, as well as the basketball program,” she said. “While being recruited I felt like I really fit in and belonged here.”
Head Coach Trisha Brown said Raymond arrived at Stonehill as a very highly touted recruit and has since worked to raise her game to an All-American level.
“Kayla is an incredibly humble and unselfish student-athlete, which has always made her a great teammate and a player that is fun to coach,” Brown said. “Her athleticism and a phenomenal ability to score in many ways definitely sets her apart.”
Raymond completed her first season as a freshman in 2018-2019 with an average of 16.2 points per game.
Raymond may make it look easy, but she said that she dedicates roughly 15 hours a week towards basketball, including practicing, lifting, treatment, recovery, and games.
In March of 2020, during Raymond’s second season as a Skyhawk, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the NCAA was canceled for the remainder of the season.
After her sophomore year was cut short, her junior year was non-existent, as the basketball season was completely canceled. Despite the unfortunate events, Raymond persevered.
Despite only playing for three seasons, Raymond became the 33rd women’s basketball player in Stonehill history to have scored 1,000 or more career points on Saturday, February 5.
Brown said that Raymond needed 21 points to hit 1,000 during the game against Saint Anselm College, and she was confident that she would reach it during that game.
After losing 55-67 to Saint Anselm College two months ago on December 5, the women's basketball team had a point to prove, this time with home-court advantage.
In the final quarter of the game with one minute and 36 seconds remaining on the clock, the Skyhawks were up one point, 55 to 54. Isabella Santoro, senior guard number five, lobbed the ball over her defender to the hands of Raymond. Raymond quickly made a layup leading the Skyhawks 57 to 54, but more importantly putting her at 1,001 career points.
“My shot went in, and I heard the crowd screaming after, the gym got so loud so fast. I couldn’t help but smile as I was running back on defense. I was very excited, but it was the end of the game and we still needed to win so I had to stay focused while it was all going on,” Raymond said.
Santoro has been by Raymond’s side since freshman year. She said they’ve pushed each other over the four years to be the best players and was fortunate to assist Raymond with her 1,000th career point.
“When I saw her come off the back screen I had the biggest smile on my face because I knew once I passed it, she would break the 1,000 point mark! The chills that rushed my body when I saw her lay the ball in were indescribable,” Santoro said.
The game was far from over. Finally, with one second left to go, the score was tied 59 all. The fans all sat on the edge of their seats watching as the Skyhawks set up for an offense inbound play. Emily Bramanti, senior guard number 21, inbounded the ball to the hands of Raymond for a layup as the buzzer went off.
Bramanti immediately sprinted into the arms of Raymond to celebrate as the rest of the team surrounded and cheered in excitement.
Bramanti said it was an amazing moment, not only for Raymond, but for the entire team.
“I had no doubt in my mind that she wasn’t going to make the shot, I knew I just had to get the ball to her,” Bramanti said.
The Skyhawks redeemed themselves, beating Saint Anslem 61 to 59. Raymond finished the game with a total of 26 points and 1,005 career points over 60 games and three seasons.
Bramanti said that Kayla has become one of her best friends on and off the court over the past four years.
“We both challenge each other every day to be the best player we can be for the team,” Bramanti said. “I was extremely excited and happy to be on the court when Kayla scored her 1000th point because she has worked extremely hard for it and is a talented player.”
Raymond’s family, including her mom, sister, and brother were all in attendance during the game, with other relatives watching online.
“Their love and support are so special to me and I truly would not have been able to accomplish this milestone without any of them,” Raymond said.
Just as Raymond never imagined playing D2 college basketball, she wasn’t expecting to reach 1,000 career points.
“Kayla is an extremely humble player,” Santoro said.
“Going into this year I honestly was unsure of how far away I was from 1,000. I never even looked to check, someone told me about it. Not having a season last year either I don’t think I was expecting to reach 1,000 in the time that I did. It’s always been a goal in the back of my mind, but I didn’t want to try and force it to happen, it just did,” Raymond said.
As the basketball season comes to an end, Raymond said she is eligible for another year because of COVID, but instead will hang up her sneakers.
In May, Raymond will trade in her basketball uniform for a cap and gown, preparing to walk across the stage with her classmates, receiving degrees in both Criminology and Communications.
Photo courtesy Bob Blanchard/RJB Photography
Comments