Westmoore basketball player Kyiah Prestridge is expecting to have a massive sophomore year after averaging 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals in her debut year.
“This is the year I can go to work and just get downhill, get a bucket and shoot my 3s,” Prestridge said, “also, make the right passes and get my teammates open shots.”
Prestridge holds offers from Oklahoma State, Kansas State, SMU and Tulsa, among others.
“Kyiah can play any position on the floor and get the job done,” Westmoore head coach Kierra Lang said. “She is the last to leave in the gym after practice daily. She is smooth off the dribble with a mid-range jumper and great finishes at the rim. She sees the floor really well and knows how to draw two defenders and find the open person with ease.”
Prestridge started playing basketball at a young age.
“I started playing at the [YMCA] when I was 4 and then I carried on to play with my dad up until sixth grade with the Swarm,” Prestridge said. “Then, I played with BTR and I played with more other teams, and now I’m finally playing for a Texas team called ProSkills 17U EYBL.”
Prestridge credits the early influence of her parents in gravitating towards basketball during her youth.
“[My dad] definitely is a big part of how I started playing basketball, and my mom, too,” Prestridge said. “They both played. It’s been running in our family for a long time and just continues to play and everything is amazing.”
Prestridge’s grandfather played and introduced the game to her father and his siblings.
“On my mom’s side, her side was a really big softball part, then my mom was like, ‘hey,’ to her dad, ‘I want to play basketball,’ so they ended up doing that, and my mom and dad ended up meeting at UCO,” Prestridge said. “Now, me and my siblings are all playing basketball.”
The oldest of three, Prestridge is setting a good example for Aaliyah, a Brink eighth-grader, and 9-year old King.
“Me and my sister work out together. My brother comes to every game and supports me. He shouts me out every time I hit a 3 or, you know, just getting a tough bucket or just doing the stuff that I do out there,” Prestridge said. “It’s fun having them watch me play, and it’s fun seeing my little brother and my little sister grow up just like me.”
This year, Prestridge expects to make a run at the state tournament under the first year direction of Lang, whom Prestridge and her teammates affectionately call ‘Coach K.’
“She’s been a tremendous help for us this year. She’s pushing us to the best of our ability,” Prestridge said. “Coach K has helped me a lot talking to college coaches and asking the right questions for my recruitment. She’s been a big help for me, and I can’t wait to see what she does for us this season.”
After high school, Prestridge plans to pursue a degree in either sports broadcasting or health science while achieving her Power 5 basketball dreams.
