Kosciusko senior Diamond Rayford signed last week to play basketball at Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel.
“When I went on my visit, everybody there welcomed me and it was like a home environment,” she said. “It reminded me of a home away from home.”
Rayford, 5-6, played guard and forward for Kosciusko. “She's the true epitome of a student-athlete. She believes in education first and athletics is just a bonus,” said coach Cory Guyton, “She's a gifted young lady from a good background. She will represent Kosciusko School District well on her next journey.”
Guyton said the strength of her game is defense. “She has good quickness. She will fit in well on the defensive end.”
Rayford was also on the track team and in the band at Kosciusko. In track, she ran the 100, was a long jumper and ran on the 200 and 400 relay teams, At last years' 4A state meet, she was fourth in the long jump with a leap of 15-8½. That was a quarter of an inch short of earning a bronze medal.
Rayford plans to major in secondary education, with a minor in physical education. Her goal is to be a math teacher and a basketball coach.
Southeastern Baptist is a private Baptist Bible college that competes in NCCAA Division II.
