Clarke Central High School varsity girls basketball point guard Na’kia Rucker, a senior, dribbles a basketball in the New Gym at CCHS. Rucker played informal games of basketball with her brothers and strived to prove herself during informal games. “There are a few boys that treat me differently, especially when I play with older boys but it just makes me want to play better to show them that they don’t need to go easy on me.” Rucker said. Photo by Luna Reichert.
Clarke Central High School varsity girls basketball point guard Na’kia Rucker, a senior, puts her best effort into everything she does and is best known for work ethic and leading by example. With drive and an instinct for leadership, Na’kia fulfils her passion of helping others through encouraging her teammates.
“(Helping people has) been a passion ever since I can remember. I help others in basketball by pushing them to go hard and by picking them up when they’re down on themselves due to a bad game or practice,” Na’kia said.
Clarke Central High School varsity girls basketball point guard Na’kia Rucker, a senior, sits on a chair in the New Gym at CCHS. Rucker has played basketball all throughout high school and has been a leader and a helper to others and herself. “I have helped others in many different ways so it has given me new tactics to help myself.” Rucker said. Photo by Luna Reichert
Na’kia has been playing basketball since seventh grade at Clarke Middle School where she decided to join a team after growing an interest through scrimmaging.
“I’ve always played pick up (an informal game of basketball) with my brothers and the boys at school, so I thought playing for a team would be different and fun,” Na’kia said.
For Na’kia, basketball is about having the discipline to persevere through the difficulties that arise from playing a sport and listening and responding to coaches’ instructions.
“(Basketball) means being on the court with my teammates while we’re all pushing ourselves and each other to be the best players we can be,” Na’kia said. “It also means taking what the coaching staff tells us and putting it into action.”
Varsity girls basketball head coach Carla Johnson recognizes Na’kia as a leader and admires her initiative to be a leader during practice and in games.
“She’s a vocal leader on the court. She talks to her teammates and helps them. She’ll communicate with a teammate if they’re in the wrong place, or (she’ll) relay (on) information that we have given and she takes initiative,” Johnson said. “At the end of practice, (she) breaks stuff down for (the team). She took the lead, she made up a schedule for the girls, she let them know what the schedule is and what the expectations are. When coaches ask her to do something, she tries to do it with the best of her ability to perform it.”
“Na’kia really hustles and goes hard. She really does it with the intensity level that we can call gain level. (Her intensity level will) improve, (and if) it builds a lot faster, it will become more game and competition-ready.”
— Carla Johnson,
Varsity girls basketball head coach
Her energy and intensity is a fierce component of her identity that allows herself to grow on the court, which Johnson believes will help Na’kia exceed her expectations.
“When she’s (doing) the drills (and) the activities we do, Na’kia really hustles (and) goes hard. She really does it with the intensity level that we can call gain level. (Her intensity level will) improve,(and if ) it builds a lot faster, it (will become) more game and competition-ready,” Johnson said.
Na’kia uses the discipline she’s learned from basketball not only on the court during games but also in the classroom.
“There are a lot of times in games where we have to be disciplined enough to close out a game, such as taking our time when passing the ball in,” Na’kia said. “When it comes to doing my school work, it allows me to have good time management. I set a certain amount of time to do an assignment and the discipline from basketball helps me to complete it in that time.” Science department teacher Claude Gonzalez teaches Na’kia as a model student.
“She was what a teacher wants and expects from their students. She was always on time, (and) was willing to do the hard stuff that you need to do to really understand something,” Gonzalez said. “That type of thing, being a role model, is priceless in the classroom, so the other kids can look and say, ‘that’s what I have to do in order to get a decent grade.’ ”
Clarke Central High School girls variety basketball point guard Na’kia Rucker, a senior, dibbles the ball in the New Gym. Girls variety Basketball head coach Carla Johnson sees Rucker as an asset. “She doesn’t focus on individual accolades, but she’s a team player. Last year he (had) some playing time but not as much as most guards in our program. She never complained, she continued to work hard to get better individually,” Johnson said. Photo by Luna Reichert.
Na’kia recognizes her mother, Tarka Dillard, as the most influential person in her life. She admires her efforts and hopes to return the love and support her mother has given her.
“Although (my mom) has a busy schedule, she tries hard to attend (my) games. She also helps me to stay calm and relaxed when basketball and just life, in general, becomes overwhelming,” Na’kia said. “She is very hardworking, and I want to make her proud.”
Dillard wants the best for Na’kia and tries hard to show her she cares.
“Going to her games lets her know that I support her. It makes me feel good to be able to support her,” Dillard said. “I could just go on and on about my daughter — I wanted and still want the world for her.”
Instead of playing basketball in college, Na’kia plans to be involved around campus in other ways.
“Playing sports in high school is very time demanding so I imagine that college is just as, if not more demanding,” Na’kia said. “In college, I hope to focus more on classwork and get more involved in college organizations than I was able to in high school, (such as) community service, Greek life and student leadership.”
Academically, Na’kia plans to continue her drive to help others through her major and career path.
“I haven’t narrowed down something specific that I plan to study, but I know I want to go (into) the healthcare track so something like pre-med, exercise science or chemistry,” Na’kia said.
No matter what Na’kia’s future holds, she’s determined to lend a hand to anyone she passes to fulfill her sense of purpose.
“Helping others is something that I’m passionate about,” Na’kia said. “Whether it’s a smile or something like a passing test grade, seeing the product of my help is a feeling like no other.”
Story by Salai Diekumpuna
Package by Micah Shannon
