Jeffersontown girls’ basketball coach William Stevenson calls sophomore point guard Keyona Dyson the “engine” that makes his team go.
But considering her role, as well as her nickname, it may be more apropos to say that “Key” ignites the Chargers (7-7).
Whether passing the ball off to teammates for baskets, or scoring herself, the 5-foot-4 Dyson gets J-town rolling.
So far this season, Dyson is averaging 19.7 points, seven assists and 3.4 steals per game, while shooting 55 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free throw line.
“She carries the load,” Stevenson said.
Last Tuesday, Dyson tallied 24 points to lead the Chargers to a 60-37 win at Seneca. That came five days after she scored 36 points in a loss to Waggener. Earlier this season she scored 31 points in a win over Atherton.
“She truly loves the game of basketball,” Stevenson said. “She’s a eat, sleep, drink basketball kind of kid. If I could open the gym right now she’d be there. She’s a gym rat. It’s an overused term, but she is a gym rat.”
The Courier-Journal: When did you start playing basketball?
Keyona Dyson: I think I was 4. I started playing because my older brother (Kendall) was playing in the (YMCA) league and my dad was the coach and I just started going along and playing with them.
C-J: What do you like about basketball?
I like how it’s a team sport and off the court you develop close relationships with the people you play with on the court.
C-J: What do you like about playing point guard?
I like point guard because you can make more plays and also control the tempo. And I like point guard because you can affect the whole team.
C-J: Are you a ‘pass first’ type of point guard?
I like to shoot (from the outside), but when people start to come out on me on the 3-point line it gives me a chance to go past them and either pass it off to my teammates or go in for the layup.
C-J: You’ve been playing on the varsity since the eighth grade, was it a difficult adjustment at first?
It was kind of weird, being in middle school playing against older girls, but during the middle of the season (in eighth grade) I started catching on. Ever since then it’s been a little easier.
C-J: What’s the goal for this season?
A 10-win season, and just to get as far as possible in the district tournament and try to make it to regionals.
C-J: What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be on TV, a sports anchor, that’s always been one of my dreams. I also like to draw a lot, maybe I could be a freestyle artist on the side.
C-J: You like to read in your spare time, what are you reading now?
For class we have to read the Kite Runner, so I’m reading that right now.
C-J: What do you like to do for fun?
I like hanging out with friends, especially the team.
C-J: Who’s your favorite player?
For the girls I like to watch Candace Parker. For the boys, I like to watch Kevin Durant.
KEYONA DYSON UP CLOSE
School: Jeffersontown
Year: Sophomore
Sport: Basketball
Student-athlete: Keyona, who is a member of the Beta Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, has a 4.0 GPA. She has played on the varsity at J-town since she was in the eighth grade.
Family: Keyona, 15, lives with her mother, Julie; father, Kenneth; older brother, Kendall, 18; and younger sister, Jasmine, 10.
Jeffersontown coach William Stevenson says: “She’s a special kid. She’s started for J’town since the eighth grade. She’s a phenomenal player, an excellent leader. …She has the potential to go to college and play ball, at what level depends on how much work she puts in over the next couple of years.”