South Side’s Askins solidifies future by signing with Murray St.

Jaidynn Askins has been in constant communication with the coaching staff at Murray State since her younger days in high school.

Playing AAU ball in the spring and summer and being a part of a high-profile high school program like South Side - including playing a role in is undefeated state championship run as a sophomore two years ago - will help an athlete’s college prospects.

Fortunately for both Murray State and Askins, she liked the coaching staff and the campus at Murray State.

She committed to the Lady Racers last March after her junior season at South Side was complete and honored that commitment in November by signing with them.

“It was an easy choice to do that because Murray State was one of the first to show interest in me, and they never acted like they weren’t interested,” Askins said. “When they could be in contact with me, they were.

“And if I ever contacted them, they were quick to respond, and it’s been a great conversation back and forth ever since we started talking.”

Askins said she felt like committing as early as she did simplified her final offseason as a high school athlete.

“That allowed me to just focus on getting better as a player and what I need to do to improve to help them when I get there next year,” Askins said. “But doing that work helps me get better for my AAU team and for South Side now.”

Askins is expected to be the leader for the Lady Hawks this season as a senior and one of the few remaining players that contributed on the court to the state championship.

“The team we had that year was full of great players that all did their job, and then last year was a brand new team because we lost the seniors and a couple others and brought on another large class of freshmen,” Askins said. “Now all those players are sophomores, and we’ve all got experience together because we didn’t lose that many players off last year’s team.

“So hopefully the older ones who were here that saw what it took to win the championship can help the younger girls who weren’t here for that see that we’ve got to work for it. Because it’s our goal to get back there and compete for another championship. I want to win another one before I’m out of here.”

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news