Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

For the last two seasons, Youngor Kehleay has patiently waited for her time to come on the Rutgers-Newark women’s basketball team.

Kehleay has played a valuable role as a lightning quick point guard with a deceptive jump shot and a tenacious defensive approach. But Kehleay allowed her older teammates to take on the responsibilities of being the Scarlet Raiders’ leaders.

But now, after the Scarlet Raiders lost six key players to graduation, it’s now time for Kehleay to arrive as a team leader.

“I think I have to step up as a leader,” said Kehleay, who began her senior season with the Scarlet Raiders last Monday. “It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m handling it pretty well. I don’t think it’s going to be too hard. Yes, it is a new role, but I have the ball in my hand, so I’m like the quarterback in football. I have to be the leader.”

Rutgers-Newark head women’s basketball coach Kevin Morris knows that Kehleay has to play a more prominent role this season, if the Scarlet Raiders are going to continue to build on the winning success they’ve enjoyed in recent years.

“No question, Youngor has to be one of the keys to our season,” Morris said. “She’s played an integral part in what we’ve been able to build, because she’s been consistent, she has great speed, she’s totally unselfish and she guards the ball well. She’s also made some really big shots over the years and started her share of games. She has a commitment to winning.”

But frankly, that’s not going to be enough for the 2008-09 season.

“Youngor has to be more vocal,” Morris said. “She can’t afford to have an off game. She can’t score four points and think that would be enough for us. We need about 12 points per game from her. She’s the main point guard and she’s going to have the ball all the time. How she goes, we’ll go. It’s that simple.”

But Morris has faith in Kehleay, who came to R-N from Monmouth Regional High School in Eatontown, N.J., three years ago.

“She does her job,” Morris said. “She doesn’t get nervous and doesn’t get rattled. I have a lot of confidence in her.”

“I really appreciate the trust that he has in me,” Kehleay said of her coach. “He knows that I can step up to the plate and contribute. But that helps my confidence that he has confidence in me. I feel like I’m ready. It’s been three years in training. This is my last year and I definitely have to be a better player, by being more vocal and trying to lead by example.”

Kehleay said that she worked on her overall game in the off-season, knowing fully well that she had to do a little bit of everything – and then some – for the Scarlet Raiders this season.

“I worked a lot on my shooting and I think I’m shooting the ball better,” Kehleay said. “My long range shooting game is so important, because if someone comes out to defend me there, I can put the ball on the floor and go by them. I also need to hit the long range shots, because most of our better 3-point shooters are gone.”

One aspect of the game that neither the coach nor Kehleay have to worry about is her defensive relentlessness.

“I think defense is my strong point,” Kehleay said.

“I know she’s always going to give her all on the defensive side,” Morris said. “She’s the backbone of our defense.”

Morris said that he has encouraged Kehleay to look to score more.

“No question, we want her to shoot threes,” Morris said. “We need her to be aggressive as a scorer. She’s a tough match-up for defenses, because she can shoot it so well and when they get up on her, she has the ability to go buy them. That’s what we need.”

Morris knows Kehleay’s playing time will dramatically increase. She played 18 minutes per game last year, averaging 5.5 points and 2.8 assists. Those numbers will rise this season.

“We need her to be on the court for about 28-to-30 minutes,” Morris said. “She has a good motor and has the experience to know when to pick her spots to go and push the ball.”

“I feel like I have to work on my conditioning more,” Kehleay said. “I try to give as much as I can. But I’m definitely a better player than I was. I can feel that I’ve made that advancement.”

Kehleay is majoring in psychology, with a minor in sociology. She plans to get into some sort of social work when she earns her bachelor’s degree from R-N in May.

Morris loves Kehleay’s personality.

“She has a good sense of humor and the other players simply love her,” Morris said. “She’s a team-first kind of kid. She never gives me a problem. She’s always put the team first, but now, it’s her team. The other kids see that. No question, she has to be the leader. The team has to respect what she has to say. They do and they will. And in this sport, leaders just take over.”

“I just want to be a leader all around,” Kehleay said. “I like the idea that I have this responsibility. It’s definitely different, but I know I’m ready.”