Mikayla Sayle: From Hampton to Hampton

Hampton didn't have to travel far for its latest recruiting prize.

Mikayla Sayle, a 6-0 Class of 2014 power forward from Hampton High and the Boo Williams Norfolk Xpress, has verbally committed to the Lady Pirates. Sayle revealed her choice via Twitter Friday morning:

Future Lady Pirate 🏀💙⚓ http://t.co/qhmcz5CLV8

— Mikayla Sayle (@sincerelyMCS) August 23, 2013

"Mikayla has a good, strong body and is very physical, not afraid of contact," Norfolk Xpress coach Morris Smith said. "She rebounds and defends well and has worked hard on knocking down jumpers from the elbow and putting it on the floor and attacking with one or two dribbles.

"If she was a couple of inches taller, I think everybody in the country would have wanted her."

Even so, there was no shortage of college choices for Sayle, who attracted scholarship offers from programs in the CAA, NEC and Patriot League in addition to a few others in the MEAC. Naturally, Hampton's hometown advantage and strong recent pedigree - four straight MEAC titles/NCAA Tournament bids - provided strong incentives. But it's not as though Hampton took anything for granted. In fact, evidently the Lady Pirates have been laying out their case to Sayle for an extremely long time.

"Hampton's been talking to her since seventh grade," Smith said.

Of course, Hampton High is especially familiar turf for Lady Pirates coach David Six, who enjoyed a wildly successful 12-year stint guiding the Lady Crabbers, a run that included national rankings and a pair of state titles. Current Hampton University star Alyssa Bennett, the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, also played for Six on the Lady Crabbers' 2007 state championship team.

"I told Mikayla if she works hard, she has the potential to be an All-MEAC player," Smith said.

Sayle provided Norfolk Xpress its second 2014 verbal commitment in as many weeks. Earlier, Braysia Hicks, a 5-11 forward from Hampton Roads Academy, pledged to sign with Towson.

Click here for more verbal commitments for the Division I schools in Virginia.