House Resolution 176

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING LAYLA CARTER ON BEING SELECTED AS MISS BASKETBALL FOR CLASS 5A BY THE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION AND THE 2023 VICKSBURG POST GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, Vicksburg High School senior guard Layla Carter was named Miss Basketball for Class 5A by the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) and the 2023 Vicksburg Post Girls Basketball Player of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Layla is the daughter of Kimberley Vaughn and Larry Carter, Jr., and she models her game after her favorite basketball player, Kobe Bryant, whose main lesson is to never be satisfied with yourself but to always be better, so she tries to continuously better herself, both on and off the court; and

WHEREAS, at a young age, Layla began playing basketball at the Vicksburg YMCA, where her father helped develop her skills in the beginning, and later, she met trainer, Alexus Stirgus, who helped take her talent to another level; and

WHEREAS, Layla went on to play at Vicksburg Junior High School before dominating on the ninth-grade team in 2019-2020, leading the Missy Gators to an undefeated season under freshman Head Coach Deatra Cable; and

WHEREAS, during her freshman year, Vicksburg reached the Class 5A semifinals, and since then, she has averaged 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two and one-half steals per game in her sophomore and junior seasons, and she averaged 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks per game during her senior season, and her team won 81 games in her four years as a starter; and

WHEREAS, during her senior year, Layla's team, the Missy Gators, finished 25-6 and won their fourth consecutive MHSAA Region 4-5A tournament championship under the leadership of Head Coach Troy Stewart, and she was selected as a Dandy Dozen in both her junior and senior year and earned the reputation as one of the quickest players on the court; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her natural talent, Layla has an unparalleled work ethic, and to help become a better basketball player, she not only plays on the AAU circuit but also runs track, which helps with her speed, conditioning and quickness on defense; and

WHEREAS, she may be a senior basketball star now, but her career on the court is far from over, as she has signed to play Division II basketball with the University of Southern Arkansas in Magnolia, Arkansas, where she will be reunited with assistant coach and her former trainer, Alexus Stirgus; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend outstanding Mississippians, especially those such as Layla Carter, whose hard work and zealous dedication to her team have brought honor to the Vicksburg community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Layla Carter on being selected as Miss Basketball for Class 5A by the Mississippi High School Activities Association and the 2023 Vicksburg Post Girls Basketball Player of the Year, and extend best wishes for continued success in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Layla Carter and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.