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'My energy is my biggest asset': Q&A with Cape Fear's Elon commit Jayda Angel

james f. moore jr., fayetteville observer
·5 min read

It's been a special season so far for Cape Fear's girls' basketball team through nine games. Over the last three seasons, there's been a lot to be excited about when watching the varsity crew in Vander, with the main attraction being the Colt's Elon commit, senior Jayda Angel, who is averaging 33 points a game, the highest average in North Carolina according to Max Preps.

Through the first handful of games, the Colts have been red hot going (9-0, 2-0 United 8) to start, and they aren't expected to slow down any time soon with the hopes of winning the conference for a second consecutive year, and most importantly making it to the state championship game, where they fell short last season in the 3A East Regional Round, losing to 57-50 to Rocky Mount.

Last week, I sat down with Cape Fear's star guard, Jayda Angel and asked about this season's success, getting over the playoff hump, and her future at Elon.

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As a player, how have you progressed since your freshman year?

Angel: I feel like the biggest difference in me and my game is my work ethic. When I came to Cape Fear, I began working on my game because I wanted to take Cape Fear to the next level. A lot of people asked me why I wanted to come here, and that I should leave.

When did you start to get recruited and getting the recognition that you think you deserved?

Angel: The summer of my freshman year while playing for EYBL Flames. My last tournament of the summer I received a call from Lamar University and got my first offer. After that, it woke me up and I instantly wanted to get better and get more.

Why did you choose Elon University?

Angel: It felt like home. I love the coaches. Coach Smith really knows what she's doing, and I loved that she was an alumni of UNC Chapel Hill. I just immediately knew on my visit that I could play there.

What's your biggest asset to the team this season?

Angel: My energy. If I'm getting down because of bad play, then I know the rest of the team will get down with me, so I try to maintain that.

What is your style of leadership and how does it affect the team?

Angel: I think it's picking them up when they feel down. If they're missing shots and start to get in their heads, I can pull them to the side and talk to them and they can relate to me a lot more than a coach.

Who on the team makes your job a lot easier on the floor?

Angel: I'd say Teralyn (Harris). Her leading energy, and her energy on the defensive end brings us a lot in the game and makes it easier to play.

According to MaxPreps, you're number one in scoring in NC (33.6 ppg), and number 15 in steals (6.5 spg). What comes to you more naturally, scoring or playing defense?

Angel: I'd say both. I definitely put more effort in scoring, but defensively, I've put in a lot more work this season.

What's the difference between this year's team and last year's team that lost in the Regional Round of the playoffs?

Angel: We got down early. We panicked. It was a very packed-out game with a lot of talking on the side and we couldn't handle it. When we beat Richmond this year, one thing I preached before the game is not getting down on ourselves when we're challenged, and that's the most important thing for us going into the playoffs.

You're arguably the best basketball player in Fayetteville, where do you rank yourself talent wise?

Angel: I still think I need to work on more. I don't really want to argue and say that I'm the best in the city, but I never really think about stuff like that. I'm humble about stuff like that. I just love the game.

What do you want to work on individually before getting to the next level?

Angel: My mid-range game. I want to take more mid-range jumpers because naturally I like to drive in the paint. At the next level, I know a lot more people are going to try harder to stop that and possibly injure me.

Going into the second half of the season, what's Cape Fear's number one goal heading deeper into conference play?

Angel: Winning conference back-to-back, because I don't think we've ever done it. Not even the boys, so I want to make sure we do that.

The future Elon guard has scored 30-plus points in her last seven contests. Here are her stats for those games.

  • Dec. 1 vs. Triton: 40 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals

  • Dec. 13 vs. Red Springs: 37 points, four rebounds, five assists, six steals

  • Dec. 15 vs. Lumberton: 36 points, nine rebounds, four steals

  • Dec. 19 vs. Seventy-First: 40 points, eight rebounds, six assists, 10 steals

  • Dec. 20 vs. Pine Forest: 34 points, seven rebounds, four assists, five steals

  • Dec. 21 vs Richmond: 33 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, nine steals

  • Jan. 5 vs Purnell Swett: 38 points, nine rebounds, five assists, 11 steals

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Q&A with Cape Fear's star guard and Elon commit, Jayda Angel