MaxPreps Weekly Honor Roll, presented by the United States Marine Corps: Kayla Sykes, ACIT

Late-game heroics are the specialty of Kayla Sykes. 

The junior on the Atlantic County Institute of Tech (Mays Landing, N.J.) girls basketball team won two games in a matter of four weeks during the 2017-18 season just before the final horn sounded. One was a buzzer-beater from nearly half court.

"The buzzer-beaters this year were over two tough, great teams," Sykes said. "I will remember that for the rest of my life."

Sykes has a flair for the dramatic.

But Sykes didn't just have two big games this season, she was consistently great every contest. She averaged 15.1 points per game and drained 56 3-pointers in 24 games. Sykes also climbed into second place on the school's all-time scoring list with 933 points.

"I don't think she could have had a better season," ACIT coach Jason Vander Ryk said.

All of her postseason accolades, Sykes was named first-team all-Cape-Atlantic League and team MVP, get overshadowed by her clutch shots with the game on the line.

Sykes, who hit a buzzer-beater at halftime as a freshman, scored her first dramatic shot on Jan. 22. ACIT trailed inter-conference rival Absegami 34-33 when Sykes stole an inbounds pass under her own hoop and converted a layup with 6.2 seconds remaining. ACIT hung on for the exciting one-point victory.

One month later, Sykes was at it again. With her team down 37-35 against Egg Harbor Township on Feb. 20, an opposing team's player missed the back end of a one-and-one and Sykes pulled down the rebound with 5 seconds remaining.

"I pushed the ball as hard as I could and I just got two steps beyond half-court and I just made it," Sykes said. "I didn't know if it was going to go in or not, but you've got to have confidence that it will."

Sykes said the ball looked good in the air. It hit nothing but net as the horn sounded to give ACIT a 38-37 win.

"I was going crazy," Sykes said. "I was hitting the floor and everything. Jumping up and down.

"I didn't know I was able to do it, but I did it."

Sykes had a strong season individually and as a team. ACIT went 17-10, which is a nice accomplishment for a program that's only in its sixth season.

"Some people doubted us, but we proved them wrong," Sykes said. "We actually broke the school's record for most wins in a season."

Learn More: Semper Fidelis Athlete of the Month presented by the Marines

The 17-year-old did everything on the court for ACIT. She tallied over half of her made field goals from beyond the three-point arc. According to her coach, Sykes has a great ability to shoot outside as well as slash to the rim.

"I think if you're going to leave her out there to shoot she will hit them all day," Vander Ryk said. "As soon as you come out to guard her, she's definitely going to attack the hoop."

Sykes had six games this season where she drained five or more 3-pointers. She works diligently on perfecting her long-range game.

"Some of the workouts I do, if I don't make a certain amount of 3s, I have to run around and so some suicides and push myself to get better," Sykes said.

Sykes has always been a sound shooter. Ever since Vander Ryk noticed her in a basketball camp as a seventh-grader, the coach knew he had a special player.

"It's a kid who eats, breaths and sleeps basketball," Vander Ryk said. "She's such a competitor and she's just always working on her game. After practice she just goes to workouts, she plays AAU year-round. She just always wants to get better. She's never happy with where she's at. She has high expectations for herself."

When Sykes enrolled at ACIT as a freshman, Vander Ryk knew he had his shooting guard for the next four years. Sykes was in the starting lineup in her very first varsity game. Just three years later, she's approaching the school's scoring record.

Every time Sykes goes into ACIT's gymnasium she looks up and sees two banners – one recognizes the school's scoring leader. Sykes is sitting at 933 points, less than 300 points from breaking that mark. If she stays healthy her senior season, Sykes' name will almost assuredly stand atop the list.

Sykes has really enhanced her game the last two years by playing AAU ball for Philly Triple Threat. Through that program, Sykes has been able to travel up and down the East Coast as well as take on teams from around the country.

"They've really helped me out with my defense and getting me stronger and also getting my confidence better," Sykes said. "I think it's all just about confidence on the court."

Playing for Philly Triple Threat has also opened doors for Sykes on the recruiting front. This summer will be important for Sykes as she tries to attract interest from big-name programs.

Vander Ryk said Sykes is primarily getting looks from Division II schools, including Bloomfield College in New Jersey. Her coach thinks if she is impressive during the AAU season, smaller Division I schools will take notice.

"She's going to be a great addition to any college program," Vander Ryk said.

Schools are also going to attracted to Sykes because she's great in the classroom. Her GPA is better than 3.0 and she takes two honors courses.

It's not uncommon for Sykes to be up until 1 a.m. on a school night wrapping up her homework.

Sykes enjoys volunteering for school-related activities. She'll be coaching an upcoming autism awareness basketball game and she has helped raise funds during a dodgeball tournament that benefited Sister Jean's Kitchen in Atlantic City, N.J. During the holidays, she serves food at a homeless shelter.

"I like to give back," Sykes said. "There's always people that are less fortunate than me, and I would like to see them as happy."

Just a couple months ago, Sykes added a new cause to fight for. In December 2013, Sykes' aunt, Carol Small-Smith, died of cancer. The two were extremely close, and Sykes wanted a way to honor her aunt. The Sykes family came up with the idea to have a basketball tournament to raise money for cancer research at St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Sykes approached Vander Ryk about the idea.

"I knew it was very personal and important to them and I just said, ‘Yeah, let's do it,'" Vander Ryk said.

The five-game tournament was held in January and Sykes helped lead ACIT to a victory in the nightcap. The event was a success, bringing in $1,500.

"It was a very good experience," Sykes said. "I'm glad I got the honor to do it. I'm always thinking of my aunt. She's really the reason why I started to play basketball."

And why she ends games so strong.