Miami High School junior guard Paisley Young does not shy away from pressure. As the varsity point guard for the Lady Wardogs, she embraces having the ball in her hands, even when it means taking the blame for mistakes.
“I play point guard and the most difficult thing about this position is that I always have the ball in my hands, so I make the most turnovers every game,” Young said. Instead of dwelling on miscues, she views them as chances to grow into the leader her team needs.
Young said her biggest strides this season have come in her composure and leadership on the floor. “My biggest improvement in my game this season is how I carry myself on the court and how I lead my team,” she said. That growth has been vital for a Miami program competing in a tough Oklahoma girls basketball landscape under head coach Kalee Baxter.
Adversity has been a theme for the Lady Wardogs, but Young said the group has refused to splinter. “What I love most about my team and teammates at Miami is that we never give up on each other,” she said. “We have had so many setbacks this season, but nobody has given up on each other.”
On the court, Young and teammate Rhyan are the most vocal, while Zoe and Peyton Moore keep the locker room loose with constant laughter. One of Young’s favorite memories is when she and Rhyan each knocked down three 3-pointers against Holland Hall.
Her inspiration, Young said, starts at home with her mother, who shows her “love, strength, and dedication.” Away from basketball, Young runs track and plays soccer and softball for Miami, and she enjoys hanging out with friends or playing card games with her family.
A strong student whose favorite subject is math, Young points to teacher Rob Storey as a classroom favorite. She sums up her approach to sports and school with a simple motto: “If you struggle, you’re pushing yourself and if you’re comfortable you’re not doing y
