Garner to continue basketball career at Friends University

Rayland Garner has picked her collegiate destination.

The 2022 Kingfisher High School graduate recently signed to continue her basketball career at Friends University in Wichita, Kan.

“I decided to go to Friends because I fell in love with everything they had to offer,” said Garner.

Friends is an NAIA-level school that competes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Coached by Dean Jaderston, the team went 22-8 a year ago.

“I loved the campus, the people and, of course, the team,” Garner said. “They had a unique bond that makes you feel at home.”

In Garner, the Falcons program gets a forward that helped lead KHS to the state tournament for the first time since 2009 during her senior season in 2022.

Along the way, she led the Lady Jackets with 14.1 points and 6.6 rebounds a game.

She shot 53.4 percent from the field and added another 2.0 steals a contest as KHS finished the year 24-6.

Garner was a first-team selection for the Western Conference all-conference team.

She also was named to the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association and Oklahoma Coaches Association all-state teams.