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It didn’t take long for Bloom’s Jayla Tyler to make leadership an important part of her game.
That came last season, when she was named a team captain — as a freshman.
“One of the things we were looking to do is shape our culture,” Blazing Trojans coach Sherman White said. “We wanted our program defined by the culture we were trying to build, and Jayla embodied that in terms of her commitment, her dedication, her work ethic.
“All of that was supported by her play. She’s been a leader from day one.”
The 5-foot-6 shooting guard, who played the point as a freshman, has reprised that leadership role as a sophomore starter and captain at a different position.
She has helped build Bloom (14-4, 2-1) into the type of team that just finds ways to win, a trait that will be important in Southland Conference play.
White considers Tyler the heart and soul of his team, and in many ways, that began last season as a freshman. What was that experience like?
“It was … interesting,” Tyler said with a smile. “At first, it was scary. I was nervous, but once I got the hang of it, I got comfortable with it and led my team — coming to practice, working hard and leading by example with my coaches.”
That has carried over to this season. Consider a Dec. 18 win in double overtime, a 68-67 Southland Conference decision over Rich Township.
Tyler helped the Trojans overcome an 18-point deficit by scoring 14 points. She complemented fellow sophomores Kamryn Turner and Kay-Kay Williams. Turner scored 33 points and Williams had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Ten days later in the Hillcrest Holiday Classic semifinals, Bloom beat Rich Township again, with Tyler contributing seven points, three rebounds and five assists in a 60-52 win. The next day, Bloom lost 56-51 to Stagg in the championship game, but Tyler was tough with six points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
“She is very aggressive,” Turner said of Tyler. “She carries our aggressiveness onto the floor, and it just sparks the whole team.”
Aggressive is the operative word, according to Williams.
“She brings the energy,” Williams said of Tyler. “She always communicates how to do stuff if we do it wrong. She’s very helpful.”
Tyler started playing basketball at age 5 with AAU program Angels Athletics. She had always been a point guard, which helped her gain leadership experience.
She said the key in that role was directing traffic on the court, making sure her team was always in position to score and understanding that in many ways, all eyes were on her, including opposing players and coaches.
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Her dad, Justin, was a big part of her development as a point guard. She played the point last season before moving over to shooting guard for this season, but either way, she’s knows her team is looking to her and she shows them the way.
“We had a significant nine-game improvement, and Jayla was one of the key pieces in that,” White said of last season’s 15-15 record. “We’re looking to continue that same upward movement.”
Tyler also has big plans for this season and beyond. She wants to play for South Carolina in college and then in the WNBA. Her plan is to study medicine or law.
But that’s the future. Right now, she’s focused on winning conference and making a deep playoff run. White said Tyler would “run through a wall” and lead her teammates through it.
Sophomore guard Evonna Blades nodded in agreement.
“Jayla plays a big part in leadership,” Blades said. “She really gets us going and sets the tone. We need that teammate who is there and shows support.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.