Ninety Six running back Zay King and girls soccer player Kemy’Jah Moore each signed college letters of intent on Wednesday.
King is headed to Newberry College, while Moore will play at USC Sumter.
King has been a Lakelands football star throughout his career with the Wildcats. Running past and through defenders, the two-time All-Lakelands selection led all running backs in rushing yards the past two seasons and topped the entire North-South all-stars in yardage this past December.
King’s high school football coach, Mathew Bennett, said Newberry is “getting a steal.”
“Pre-portal, I think Zay’s a knockdown Division 1 prospect,” Bennett said. “I think he could have been a Group of Five-type talent. For him to be available for Newberry, I think it’s huge for them and I think they recognize that. They know they’re getting a kid who can come in and play.”
Bennett described King as big, tough and fast, with exceptional blocking skills, phenomenal balance and an ability to make impressive runs.
King said it’s a blessing to sign with a college and feels fortunate to have been given the opportunity. He expects to be a hardworking student-athlete and a dedicated player.
“It’s God’s gift,” King said of getting the scholarship. “He doesn’t give these chances to too many people, so it feels like a blessing to be one of the people he chose.”
Moore has been passionate about the game since the seventh grade. She credited her teammates and coaches for fostering her love of the sport and considers playing college soccer to be a major personal and athletic achievement.
Moore has maintained a solid belief in divine guidance throughout her journey.
“I thank God for it all,” she said. “He’s just been allowing me to succeed in certain things and it’s helped me grow a lot as a person and as an athlete.”
She said she has prepared well for the college experience and is eager to contribute to the team.
Ninety Six girls soccer coach Kayla Duncan said Moore is the type of player who will do anything for anyone on the team. She praised Moore for her versatility and dedication.
“She’ll play whatever position I ask her to play, and she’ll play it the best that she can,” Duncan said. “I think her confidence carries her a long way. So, no matter what she does, she believes that she can do it, and she makes herself better all the time.”
Duncan said Moore continuously works on self-improvement and has a positive attitude, high expectations for herself and her teammates, and that her commitment to her faith and team will greatly benefit her and her college team.
“She’s a person who serves the Lord, serves her teammates and is going to work hard all the time,” Duncan said.
