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By Brian Smith

Always energetic and happy, Kayden Dooley has been Valley High School’s go-to girls basketball player as just a sophomore point guard. It’s been a process since she was young, and it came from listening to those around her, including the head coach.

Eberne Mythril defined what made Dooley such a quick study and his leader.

“If I could give one quote about Kayden Dooley, it’s her discipline,” he said without hesitation. “She has very good discipline. She listens to what I tell her to do.”

A point guard must do that for her squad to come out on top, i.e. being the floor general and the mouthpiece for the head coach. It’s been a specialized process and one that will intensify in the future.

Dooley began her love for basketball at an early age. Some young people play because their friends are playing, but Dooley knows what she wants to do with her time.

“It started with rec league,” Dooley said with a smile about her love for basketball. “Like third grade.”

“I saw my brother (Cam Dooley) playing, and he inspired me. Then, when I started playing rec league, I really started liking it. It was fun. I just always wanted to play!”

Her older brother was certainly an inspiration as an all-around athlete playing hoops and football. He was a part of Valley’s 2022 state title basketball team that went 33-0. He is now a member of the University of Kentucky football program and plays safety. Cam’s drive to be great has been passed down to his sister. Like him, she wants to stay active even when not playing basketball.

While quarterback is a primary position for Dooley while playing flag football, athleticism allows her to excel at several positions across the gridiron.

“I play everything,” she said about her duties. It’s still hoops that captured Dooley’s interest the most.

“Dribbling the basketball.” That’s Dooley’s favorite part about the sport. It should be. She blows by defenders with an elite first step and changes directions like few other high school girls players. She’s also happy to get her teammates involved whenever possible. 

Tuesday’s home contest against Beauregard saw Dooley get an assist right after the opening tip. No hesitation, she drilled a pass to Zorriah Simpson for a point-blank shot at the rim. Valley was on the scoreboard in the blink of an eye. 

After several assists and dropped 19 points against Beauregard to lead the Lady Rams to a 45-27 win. Dooley also discussed why she was motivated to play on the hardwood, as well as other members of her family being motivators.

“My mom (Nikki Avery), she pushes me real hard. My stepdad, and my family. Plus, I just have been training to get better and better.”

Dooley also began to plan her offseason to get better at basketball.

“AAU (basketball), training like every day…if I could, go in the morning and the afternoon to get me better.” 

She’s also excited to see how the college camp circuit works out. But which college camps?

“Everywhere,” Dooley said laughing. “Every college camp I want to go to, just to make myself better.”

As for what Dooley believed was next in her basketball evolution, here’s how she looked at it.

“I could work on my dribbling more, and I would say facilitating the floor. Like, knowing when to stop-and-go, and making plays to help my teammates.”

That quote came full circle toward coach Mythril’s original comments. Dooley is a selfless basketball player who listens to those around her. Combined with Dooley’s natural athleticism and love for basketball, she has a bright future.