The High Point University women's basketball team welcomes two new faces this upcoming season in and Kayla Stephens and Jiselle Thomas. Stephens sat down with HighPointPanthers.com's Courtney Leopold to discuss going from high school to college.

HIGH POINT, N.C. - It is game week for High Point University women's basketball, so its time to get to know the Panthers' fresh faces beginning with Kayla Stephens, a guard from Lexington, N.C.
 
Q: What made you choose HPU?
Well, I went on a visit my junior year. Immediately when I came here, I fall in love with the campus. The campus is beautiful. When I met the team and the met the coaches it felt like home and that was the biggest thing. As soon as I got here, it felt like somewhere I could be for four years.
 
Q: How easy was it to assimilate once you got onto the team here at HPU?
It was pretty easy. That was my biggest fear. I've seen a lot of basketball movies when they've been really mean to the freshmen. This team really welcomed me and Jiselle onto the team and they've treated us like we are a part of the team and a part of the family.
 
Q: What differences in the game have you seen from the high school to college level?
There are a lot of differences. It's definitely a different pace. In high school there's a lot of walking the ball up the court, slowing things down, a lot breakdowns. In college everything is fast-paced, quick and you're constantly pushing the ball. Especially practices are a lot different. The whole practice you're just pushing the entire time.
 
Q: Is there anyone in specific that has made an impact to you?
I would say basically all of the seniors. I roomed with Bre Davis over the summer so she definitely helped me get accustomed to the college life. During practices it's mainly the seniors that really help to push me and get me through certain situations so Kat Harris, Bre Davis, Kennedy Currie, and Hunter Fleming they've helped me out a lot.
 
Q: What is your personal goal for this season? What are you most excited about this upcoming season?
It's my freshman year so I wanna learn as much as possible and learn from the seniors because we are going to be losing four seniors. I hope to learn from them and hopefully get some playing time and make a difference. I'll try to bring some of my speed to the table and see what I can do in terms of helping.