How did you spend your summer vacation?
State College sophomore Kyla Irwin spent hers in the gym, shooting baskets.
Taking part in the Little Lions’ 10,000-shot club, Irwin and her teammates challenged themselves to shoot 10,000 shots between April and the start of basketball training camp in November.
Irwin was also an all-star volleyball player for State College this fall, so she had those duties, too.
But she got her 10,000 shots in.
That shouldn’t come as a complete surprise; Irwin has been on everyone’s radar for the last several years, and she had a fabulous breakout freshman season in the lane for the Little Lions last winter, averaging 19 points and 11 boards a game as State College went 9-5 in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth and 14-9 overall, falling to Altoona in the District 6-AAAA semifinals.
Irwin, a 6-1 forward with a game polished beyond her years, picked up where she left off on Tuesday, pumping in 28 points — including a first-quarter half-court buzzer-beater 3-pointer — in State College’s 66-46 romp at Central Dauphin in the Commonwealth opener for both teams.
Here’s a cool kicker: Irwin plays for her parents; mom Bethany is the Little Lions’ head coach and dad Rob is the team’s assistant coach.
Her brother Patrick plays quarterback for State College.
Bethany, now in her 21st season as the Little Lions’ head coach, played for Rene Portland at Penn State, where she was a 1,000-point post scorer.
So Kyla has her own personal tutor — and that’s why a lot of folks eagerly awaited her arrival to the varsity level.
She hasn’t disappointed so far, and she’s only going to get better.
It’s a family affair with the Irwins — and it’s Kyla’s time to shine.