Kiyley Flowers has been to three universities in just four years. Her latest stop is at Eastern Illinois University, where she said she is the happiest she has been in her college career.
A lot has gone into Flowers decision to go to Eastern.
Flowers started playing basketball at just 4 years old in Independence, Missouri. She said her parents signed her up for Amateur Athletic Union basketball when she was in second grade.
Flowers continued to play through high school up until her senior year alongside playing club basketball for KC Lady Run GMC. Flowers said that club basketball was a much better experience for her than high school basketball.
“I liked the AAU side more, and I feel like the AAU side, the team I played with and the coach I played with, allowed me to be the player I am now,” Flowers said.
Flowers ended up not playing her senior year of high school. She said that she was committed to St. Louis her sophomore year but ended up decommitting from there during her senior year.
During Flowers’ senior year, she had to find a new college. The issue was that it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Flowers said that she did not have much time to find a new college, but Grand Canyon University seemed to be the best fit.
However, the university wasn’t the fit she thought it would be, she said. Flowers ended up falling out of love with the game during her freshman year. She said she lost the spark to play basketball.
Flowers ended up transferring to Southeast Missouri State University, where she said she found her love for basketball again.
“When I played again, I was like, ‘This is what I was missing last year,’” Flowers said.
However, Flowers said the feeling did not last long. During her junior year, she said that many of her teammates were not as focused on the court.
“There was just a lot of drama,” Flowers said. “It was just like, I’m here to play basketball. And I feel like that’s the last thing I’m doing.”
Now, Flowers is at Eastern.
“That’s what led me to EIU,” Flowers said. “I feel like I’m able to thrive on the court, off the court and enjoy it.”
Head coach Marqus McGlothan said that Flowers’ performance on the court made him want Flowers to come to Eastern badly.
“On the court, just her speed, her tenacity and her impact on the defensive end was big,” McGlothan said.
Flowers has been one of the best defenders in the OVC for the last two years. She was first in steals at SEMO.
She said she has always enjoyed being more of a defensive player rather than an offensive one.
“I’m not a big scorer. You’re not going to see me going out averaging double digits every single game,” Flowers said. “And I feel like me being on the defensive ends and being able to just read the IQ of the other players and read and blow up the plays that they have, that’s kind of where I’m able to succeed.”
McGlothan said Flowers is a great player who plays hard.
“I mean, part of it is a God-given ability, just the ability to anticipate, react how she does,” McGlothan said.
Flowers has made an immediate impact at Eastern. Averaging 3.33 steals a game, Flowers is ninth in the nation in steals. Flowers also has had at least one steal in 51 consecutive games.
Flowers was worried about transferring to Eastern at first, as she has played against some of her teammates before. However, the team got along great since she transferred, she said.
“We all have I think a great connection off the court,” Flowers said. “We’re around each other all the time. It definitely is like a real family.”
Flowers said that she is finally in the right place for her. It has taken her a while, but for her last season Flowers said she is happy to be at Eastern.
Patrick Schmitz can be reached at 581-2812 or at pfschmitz@eiu.edu.