Kayley Swinton is back on the court.
The 19-year-old Haines hoops player has been signed to a partial basketball scholarship by Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls, Ore.
A sophomore, Swinton attended the school for one year and was shooting on an outdoor court when she caught the notice of Scott Meredith, head coach of the Lady Owls basketball team.
“I walked out of our gym one evening a couple months ago and there was this kid shooting baskets by herself,” Meredith said in a press release. “I watched two shots and knew she had played somewhere. I invited her to an open-gym where I watched her play. It was obvious she had been coached and I liked what I saw in her game.”
Swinton said in an interview this week that she played intramurals and open gym her freshman year, and watched some of the women’s team’s games. “Over the year I could tell I was missing playing basketball, even playing intramurals. So when (Meredith) called me to offer me a scholarship, I was really interested in doing it.”
Swinton started playing with the women’s team in June. “By playing with them could tell it was a close-knit team. I’ve gotten to know them over the last couple weeks.”
She said she plans to spend the summer working in her family’s store and training for the basketball season. Kayley’s mom, Sarah Swinton, played basketball for Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Ore. after leading the Haines High School Glacier Bears to a state championship.
Swinton was a two-time all-state selection at Haines High. During her senior season, she served as team captain and averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game. Swinton is studying toward a career in physical therapy.