The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Basketball Q&A: Kayla Anderson
1/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - As the 2014-15 season is in full swing, UABsports.com will sit down with members of the UAB women's basketball team to get to know them better. This week's Q&A session features junior forward Kayla Anderson.
Anderson, a native of Hoover, Ala., has returned from a season-ending ACL injury suffered at the end of the 2013-14 season. Despite missing the last five games, she still set the UAB single season record with 56 blocks. Anderson has appeared in 10 games and started the last three for the Blazers.
Q: What brought you to UAB?
A: "I'm a very family-oriented person, so I wanted to be close enough to my family so they could come watch the games."
Q: If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be, and why?
A: "Silly. My teammates always call me, `mama Kayla', because at times I can act like the mother of the team. I tend to take on the adult role of the team."
Q: Your injury last year caused you to sit out on several games last season and this season. What was the biggest challenge coming back after that?
A: "Basically just trying to get back to where I was. I got hurt towards the end of the season, and I'm just trying to get back to the peak I was at."
Q: How would you describe your style of play?
A: "I would say very bouncy. I have my ponytail up as high as I can during games just so I know that I'm bouncing."
Q: What is something people don't know about you?
A: "Well... I can juggle. In middle school I took theater class, and I couldn't act, so my teacher told me I would pass the class if I could learn to juggle for a minute."
Q: What has been the greatest reward of being on the basketball team?
A: "Just having a consistent `sisterly' environment. I'm with these girls all the time, and it's like a family. Over Christmas Break I missed them so much because we were so used to being together."
Q: Who had the biggest influence on your career?
A: "I would have to say my parents. I started out playing softball, but when I moved to Hoover, I didn't want to play anymore because I had bad allergies. My friend's dad came to me one day and asked if I had ever played basketball, so I told my parents about it, and my dad went out and bought a basketball goal and put it in our driveway. He would teach me how to shoot layups and how to shoot jumpers. He actually coached me all the way until I got to high school."
Q: What was your favorite P.E. game as a kid?
A: "In middle school we played King Pin which is like dodge ball. I loved it because I am so competitive."
Q: What would you say has been your proudest achievement in this sport?
A: "Setting the season record for block shots even though I didn't play the whole season."
Q: What do you like most about UAB?
A: "I mean, it's Birmingham- what's not to like about it? I just love being in this area. I love Birmingham. I love all the people and how nice they are."
Q: What is your favorite Coach Norton phrase... give me an impression
A: "I don't know if you could call it a phrase, but he always says, `grit your teeth and fight through it'. He wants us to have a lot of energy on the court. He makes this facial expression when he says it, and it's so funny."
Q: What is your biggest goal for this year?
A: "Academically, my biggest goal is to get above a 3.0 this semester. Basketball wise my biggest goal would be to get better each and every day."
Q: What are you looking forward to this season?
A: " Coming out of the season where we're supposed to be. I'm starting to see my teammates growing and realizing that we could actually do this. I'm just excited for us to be where we're supposed to be."
Q: What are three words to describe your coaching staff?
A: "Energetic, hyper, and encouraging. They're always bouncing and yelling, and we're all wondering where they get all this energy. It helps me because it makes me want to get pumped up."
