A Natural Talent

Freshman Kailyn Gilbert shines on varsity team.

A+Natural+Talent

Averaging 30 points per game through the first four games of her first season on the Tampa Prep Girls Varsity Basketball team, Kailyn Gilbert has captured the attention not only of Tampa Prep, but the rest of the bay area.

  Gilbert has been playing basketball since she was very little, but the thing that got Gilbert into basketball was her dad.

“When I was little, my dad used to play a lot and I was forced to come with him. So I eventually just picked up and got into [basketball],” Gilbert said.

  Gilbert is currently ranked 40th in the state of Florida, only at the age of 14. Before Prep, Gilbert used to play for one of the best AAU teams in the nation,  Skills Center Lady Elite.

“Skills Center Lady Elite is where I played for six years. We got a lot of exposure by many college coaches,” Gilbert said. Skills Center Lady Elite is a local Bay Area team, where top players like Gilbert show their skills and get lot of college attention.

  With all the attention on basketball, Gilbert still aspires to do well on the academic side.

“I want to keep my grades up, because without education I won’t go anywhere in life.” When asked about why she came to Prep she responded by saying, “Just it’s environment of how it was similar to my old school. I mainly came here for the education, the basketball comes later.”

  Gilbert has carried the Tampa Prep Girls Varsity team to a strong start with a 4-1 record. Gilbert and the varsity team next play on December 20th against Bishop McLaughlin High School.