PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — College coaches are constantly recruiting players to join their team, but high school coaches are often recruiting students from their own schools to play too.
For Rockford High School basketball player Kate Higgins, joining the team changed her life plan.
She is one of the best rebounders in Rockford basketball history. This past season, she broke rebound records for both in a season and a single game.
“It’s fun. I definitely wouldn’t have expected it. I didn’t think I was going to do all this,” she said.
About a year ago, she wasn’t even planning on playing basketball.
“Watching them play and get to states was like, ‘Dang, I wish I would’ve tried out.’ Even if I made Freshmen or JV,” Higgins said.
Higgins also plays rugby. Until her sophomore year, it was her go-to sport. She plays lock, which is one of the most demanding positions in rugby.
“I knew she was an incredible athlete and knew she was a great rugby player, but I did not know, to that point, how good she was at basketball,” Brad Wilson, Rockford Girls Varsity Basketball head coach, said.
“After health class, in the hallway, (Wilson) pulled me aside in the room and talked to me about basketball. He said he’d think I’d be really good playing with them, so he wanted me to come to this training after school,” Higgins said.
Wilson saw how tough she was when she took his offer and went to a workout.
“She sends me a message, saying, ‘Hey coach. I’m not really sure I’ll be able to go.’ And sends a picture of her eye. It’s just gashed open. This is before they glued it together, apparently. I was just taken aback by the picture and assumed I wouldn’t see her for days. Then, she just shows up for the workout. It just speaks volumes to how tough she is. She was confused why she wouldn’t be able to play,” he said.
That toughness translated right onto the court.
“You’ve got to be aggressive in rugby, so it helps with being aggressive in basketball. I always want to tackle people in rugby and that really helps me be aggressive in basketball. I can do that by being aggressive by rebounding,” Higgins said.
She helped lead the Rams to the state semifinals as a sophomore. Now, she has loftier goals for both her high school career and beyond.
“I hope we can win a state championship next year. Then, beat my rebounding record again. And just try to get a scholarship for basketball,” she said.
After just one season on the team, taking the offer that Wilson presented to her may have changed the trajectory of her life. This is something that Wilson says he could see from day one.
“Yeah, I could see it the moment she stepped in the gym, just how much she enjoyed playing. Always had a smile. It was effortless for her, so I knew we had a really special player,” he said.
