Meet The Husky Freshmen: Khayla Rooks
August 25, 2017 | Women's Basketball
The University of Washington women's basketball program welcomed five freshmen in 2017-18 who will look to contribute in their rookie debuts. GoHuskies.com will introduce a member of the Husky freshmen class in the weeks leading up to the season.
At 6-foot-1-inches, Khayla Rooks is a strong, versatile forward who hails from San Marcos, Calif. As a senior at Mission Hills High School, Rooks led her team to a fourth consecutive San Diego Section title. The Grizzlies won the Open Division championship with a 65-47 victory over No. 2 Bishop as Rooks contributed 11 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists.
As a junior, she averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and six assists and finished runner-up for the CIF San Diego Section Player of the Year. Rooks led the Grizzlies to a CIFSDS Open Division title game victory over La Jolla Country Day and then a win over Windward in the SoCal Open Division playoffs.
As a freshman, she averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and three assists before hitting 16 points, 12 rebounds and five assists as a sophomore.
Q: What are you most looking forward to heading into your freshman season?
A: I'm most excited for competing every game with my teammates and seeing how far we can go. I'm also looking forward to meeting new people and trying out new subjects that weren't offered in high school.
Q: How would you describe your game?
A: I would say that I am more of an all-around player. I am very versatile. When I was younger, I was one of the smaller kids so I played guard and developed those skills. As I grew up, I was more of a big and learned how to play with my back to the basket. My versatility makes it a hard match-up for players.
Q: Where is your favorite place to hang out in Seattle?
A: My favorite places are definitely by the water, the gym or at the airport. The airport is significant because I don't like flying but I love watching airplanes take off and land. It's my happy place where I can just think to myself.
Q: Why did you choose the number you wear?
A: My number is actually usually 20 and I have always worn 20 throughout my life. It's my birthday and my favorite number but it was taken so I chose to wear 22. The reason I chose 22 is because it's my brother's number and he is my best friend and one of the people who I look up to… literally (he is 7'2).
Q: What is one random fact that people wouldn't know about you?
A: I was a tap dancer and a ballerina. Also, I was in acting school.
Q: What are your goals for the upcoming season?
A: My goals are to prove doubters wrong, make it to the NCAA tournament, and lastly, be selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.
Q: What is the best moment of your basketball career so far?
A: Making history in San Diego by leading my team to four consecutive CIF Championships.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of sports?
A: Some hobbies are taking pictures with my camera, hanging with friends and family and going on tons of trips and adventures.
Q: What is your dream job (not including playing basketball)?
A: I want to become a pharmacist or an actress when I am all done with basketball.
Q: What are some of your earliest memories of playing basketball?
A: Playing two-on-two in the backyard. It would be me and my dad versus my brother and cousin. You know who would always win that one. Also, I remember I would go to all my brother's games in his uniforms, sit on the bench, and at every timeout or break I would run on the court and shoot.
At 6-foot-1-inches, Khayla Rooks is a strong, versatile forward who hails from San Marcos, Calif. As a senior at Mission Hills High School, Rooks led her team to a fourth consecutive San Diego Section title. The Grizzlies won the Open Division championship with a 65-47 victory over No. 2 Bishop as Rooks contributed 11 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists.
As a junior, she averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and six assists and finished runner-up for the CIF San Diego Section Player of the Year. Rooks led the Grizzlies to a CIFSDS Open Division title game victory over La Jolla Country Day and then a win over Windward in the SoCal Open Division playoffs.
As a freshman, she averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and three assists before hitting 16 points, 12 rebounds and five assists as a sophomore.
Q: What are you most looking forward to heading into your freshman season?
A: I'm most excited for competing every game with my teammates and seeing how far we can go. I'm also looking forward to meeting new people and trying out new subjects that weren't offered in high school.
Q: How would you describe your game?
A: I would say that I am more of an all-around player. I am very versatile. When I was younger, I was one of the smaller kids so I played guard and developed those skills. As I grew up, I was more of a big and learned how to play with my back to the basket. My versatility makes it a hard match-up for players.
Q: Where is your favorite place to hang out in Seattle?
A: My favorite places are definitely by the water, the gym or at the airport. The airport is significant because I don't like flying but I love watching airplanes take off and land. It's my happy place where I can just think to myself.
Q: Why did you choose the number you wear?
A: My number is actually usually 20 and I have always worn 20 throughout my life. It's my birthday and my favorite number but it was taken so I chose to wear 22. The reason I chose 22 is because it's my brother's number and he is my best friend and one of the people who I look up to… literally (he is 7'2).
Q: What is one random fact that people wouldn't know about you?
A: I was a tap dancer and a ballerina. Also, I was in acting school.
Q: What are your goals for the upcoming season?
A: My goals are to prove doubters wrong, make it to the NCAA tournament, and lastly, be selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.
Q: What is the best moment of your basketball career so far?
A: Making history in San Diego by leading my team to four consecutive CIF Championships.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of sports?
A: Some hobbies are taking pictures with my camera, hanging with friends and family and going on tons of trips and adventures.
Q: What is your dream job (not including playing basketball)?
A: I want to become a pharmacist or an actress when I am all done with basketball.
Q: What are some of your earliest memories of playing basketball?
A: Playing two-on-two in the backyard. It would be me and my dad versus my brother and cousin. You know who would always win that one. Also, I remember I would go to all my brother's games in his uniforms, sit on the bench, and at every timeout or break I would run on the court and shoot.
Players Mentioned
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