Wheelersburg graduate Kaylee Darnell scores during a recent game this season for the University of Rio Grande RedStorm women. Darnell is currently third in scoring average in the nation in the NAIA and recently set a new record for the program’s most career points. (Photo Courtesy of the University of Rio Grande Sports Information)

Rio Grande’s Darnell stellar career includes

program’s leading scorer to accomplishments

By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

RIO GRANDE  — Kaylee Darnell stepped onto the Newt Oliver Arena basketball court in the Paul R. Lyne Center, took a few dribbles and sent a ball in the direction of the rim.

SWISH!

It was a sweet sound, one that Rio Grande fans, coaches and players would become accustomed to hearing because it would be repeated thousands of times over the next four years.

That sound was even better toward the end of this season.

She scored 31 points in a 93-87 win over Oakland City in the River States Conference Tournament that gave her the program’s record of 2,289 points, one more than the previous record holder Stacey Riley.

She followed that up with 21 points as she helped the RedStorm upset Shawnee State 60-51 in the RSC tournament title game and avenged the two regular season losses at the hands of their arch-rival.

Despite all her accomplishments, 33-year veteran head coach Dave Smalley said Darnell is a humble player.

“One of the most quiet performers I’ve ever coached and she plays extremely hard and has the stamina to play 40 minutes which is rare,” said Smalley, who has coached and seen plenty of great performers while racking up more than 700 career wins.

“Offensively, she handles the ball well, she can get to the glass, she has a sweep pull-up jumper and a solid 3-point shot. She sees the field well, unselfishly distributes the ball and is deceptively quick.”

And Smalley said Darnell doesn’t rest on defense in order to help her on offense,

“Defensively, she has adjusted well to our defensive schematics. She draws opponents first or second quickest guarding assignment and works well in our pressing schemes.”

Darnell’s list of accomplishment rivals any Christmas list that Santa has checked every year:

• Most career points 2,310

• Second all-time in free throws made

• Second in triple-doubles 3

• 15th all-time in rebounds

• 8th all-time in assists

• Only player with 2,000-plus points, 600-plus rebounds, 400-plus assists

• Career high 36 points (26 in 2nd half, 18 in 4th quarter) in win over Indiana University-East

• Eclipsed 2,000 career points in 82-71 win over Brescia University on Jan. 18

• 10-time River States Conference Player of the Week

• 3-time RSC first team

• 3-time RSC Player of the Year runner-up

• RSC second team as a freshman

• Currently No.3 in entire NAIA with points per game at 23.2

When Darnell was getting close to the 2,000-point plateau, she was made aware of it but kept her focus on the game.

“I knew I was getting close.The coaches do a good job of keeping us up on the records and everything like our point guard who was getting close to breaking the all-time assists record,” said Darnell.

“They were keeping me updated on how close I was getting to 2,000. So, I kind of had a feel when I was going to get it, but going into the game I needed 20 some points and I didn’t keep track of my points in the game. I hit it with a free throw at the very end of the game.”

Darnell had a big week when she scored a career-high 36 points on Thursday and then notched her 2,000th point on Saturday.

Although she was made aware of her career point total, the individual game high was a surprise.

“I don’t keep track of my points. I had no idea of how many points I had. I was pretty hot that game and my teammates did a pretty good job of getting me the ball and the coaches did a good job of calling plays for me. It was awesome. It was a good feeling,” she said.

The 5-foot-6 Darnell had other opportunities to attend NCAA Division 2 and other NAIA programs, but she preferred attending Rio Grande.

“What stood out the most about Rio Grande is whenever I came here it was kind of like a family atmosphere. They really welcomed me when I came for my visit. One big thing that encouraged me to take this offer was it was close to home,” said Darnell.

“I’m a big homebody and close to my family and this would give me my best opportunity for my family to pretty much come to every game. There’s been very few games that I’ve not had one person at. It’s been cool going home on weekends and it’s easy for my family to come to my games. That’s really nice.”

All her accomplishments were just the product of Darnell’s strong play over a period of four years. She admitted her goals entering college were few and team oriented.

“I would say coming out of high school I was trying to start as a freshman and I was able to make that happen. The long-term goal was to win conference championships and we’ve done that the past couple of years,” said Darnell.

“Having lost twice to Shawnee, we didn’t have the chance to win the regular season conference championship, but we still had the conference tournament championship.”

And Rio Grande did just that as Darnell scored 21 points in a 60-51 upset of Shawnee on the Bears’ home court.

Smalley said he didn’t have any great expectations of Darnell as a freshman. He said with sophomores you’re thinking that eventually they become a sophomore.

But Darnell proved she was no typical freshman.

“Freshmen coming out of high school need time to adjust to the physicality of college ball. Freshmen usually go through peaks and valleys learning curves. But not Kaylee Darnell,” said Smalley.

“She hit the floor as a frosh playing like a college seasoned veteran. Like ‘Wonder Woman,’ she leaped over the common hurdles that talented freshmen go through. She exceeded our coaching staff’s expectations.”

Darnell — a true four-year player with no red-shirt season — has started every game in her career. Smalley said she has been a great player, a great leader and a great person.

“She came in with a ‘roll her sleeves up’ and come to work everyday. No issues, no excuses. She was invested in her academics, clinicals, athletics and our women’s basketball program. She is a great teammate and a coach’s dream player,” said Smalley.

“We are blessed with the addition of KD. She’s a quality person and a complete team player. She has awesome family support. She has a ‘Rock Star” reputation to her family, friends and fans in the Wheelersburg area.”

Rio Grande will begin play in the NAIA tournament next week and Darnell  plans to savor her final games for the RedStorm.

“We’re excited about it. I always think that the postseason is the most exciting part of (the season). Win and you keep going. Lose and you go home. I feel we have a really good group of girls.  We all want to reach one goal, so I’m really excited,” said Darnell.

With the NAIA tournament the only basketball left in her Rio Grande career, Darnell is looking to fill the void in her life.

“I really don’t remember a life without basketball,” said Darnell. “It’s definitely going to be different. Given the opportunities, maybe coach when I’m finished. That’s something I’m going to look into.”

Darnell has already had some feelers from both the high school and college level to coach.

“I’ve had an offer from both, so it pretty much will be which one fits me the best,” said Darnell, who is going to graduate with a degree in healthcare administration.

“Coaching will probably be my side gig. I’ll probably work a full-time job as an X-ray tech,” said Darnell.

Kaylee said her parents Neil and Becki as well as her brother have been the most influential persons in her life and have helped mold her as an individual and as a basketball player.

Dad played basketball at Green and her brother Dustin played football and basketball at Wheelersburg.

And since both siblings played basketball, it begs the question of who wins in a backyard one-on-one game?

“That’s a tough one. We’re both very competitive. We’ve had tons of battles back in the day. I think it would be split. He’d win some and I’d win some. But he’s in medical school and doesn’t get to play very often. He’s pretty much washed up,” she said with a chuckle.

There’s that SWISH sound again.