In the event that anyone attends a Richmond Hill High School Lady Wildcats basketball game, they are likely to see the #12 running fast, fighting for boards, playing tough defense and scoring baskets. That athlete would be junior standout Mmekom Inyang.
“I feel like my gameplay helps the team in a number of ways,” Inyang said. “I play hard and fast for them at all times. I try to pick everyone up through my game and lift them up with encouragement. When we are all in a good mood, we all play better as a team, so I try to work really hard for them.”
Helping lead the Lady Wildcats to an impressive 11-3 record through the first half of the season shows exactly how vital she is to the team, and just how important it is that she plays in that way, so her teammates can feed off of her.
That hard work paid off via an award in a tournament over Christmas break, in the Danny Black 2023 Christmas Classic. Inyang was able to pick up an award for the ‘Most Outstanding Player of the Game’ as she helped lead her team to a 2-0 record.
“That really meant a lot to me, like a lot,” Inyang said. “It was really big for me and my confidence. I began to see myself differently after winning that award. I am way more valuable than I was giving myself credit for. I was really unsure of the impact that I was having, but that award showed me that other people are taking notice as well.”
Inyang enjoys the sport and is having fun doing it, but those are not the only reasons that she plays, and not the only driving factors behind why she is such a force on the hardwood.
“This is much bigger than me,” Inyang said. “I play for my teammates and my family. When they are happy, it makes me happy. I want my family and friends to be happy, and I feel like they are when I play. The game is also an accomplishment for myself as well, but ultimately, I play for them.”
While Inyang is enjoying high school sports, she is also keeping her eyes on her future, where she would like to continue her athletic career in college, while also getting her degree.
“I want to go into the medical field,” Inyang said. “I am unsure what exactly I want to do because the field is so broad, but I just enjoy helping people. I would like to either play basketball or run track at the next level. Before this season, I just wanted to do track, but this season changed my views on that. I really feel so close to my teammates and we all have a great bond. I want to play basketball now, when I really did not want to as much before. This season and team changed that view.”
Inyang and the Richmond Hill Lady Wildcats (11-3) will host the Valdosta Lady Wildcats on January 5 to begin region play. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.