Even though the school year is over, many talented high school athletes continue to look for a home to play college baseball next season. A few are currently playing baseball for the Sanford Spinners, while others in other sports are also weighing their options.
One of them was Lee County’s Kelyce McSwain, who played her freshman season at Lee Christian School and was an NCISAA 1A All-State selection, then moved across town to Lee County High, where she finished her high school career and played a major role in the Lady Jackets’ turnaround.
McSwain signed a national letter of intent with Wake Tech last month and will join the Lady Eagles for their 2024-25 season. The 6-foot-10 McSwain is expected to provide depth in the middle for Wake, which last year had just one player who was 6-foot-1 or taller. The team went 18-12 despite that and lost just four sophomores from its roster.
Lee County made the NCHSAA 3A state playoffs during McSwain’s junior and senior seasons, and McSwain averaged a double-double both years, averaging 11.9 points and 11.3 rebounds per game as a junior and 15 points and 13.3 rebounds per game as a senior. In 2022-23, Lee won the Yellow Jacket Christmas Classic title and posted a 14-10 record, her first winning season in seven years. A year later, injuries to key players limited the Lady Jackets to an 11-12 record, but the team again made the playoffs.
She had two 20-20 games as a senior, both against Pinecrest. She had 22 points and 21 rebounds when the Patriots beat Lee 59-53 on Jan. 10, but then had 20 and 20 in the Feb. 6 rematch, which the Lady Jackets won 61-46. Her season high in rebounds was 22 in a win over Southern Lee, and her season-high point total was 24, along with 18 rebounds, in a Dec. 29 win over Hoke.
She had a terrific two-way game as a junior, posting 16 points, 20 rebounds and six blocked shots in the championship game of the Christmas Classic on Dec. 30, 2022. She had double-doubles in the semifinals and final of that tournament, giving the Lady Jackets eight wins in their first nine games.
McSwain was a tri-captain of the 2024 team, along with Gillian Garrison and Lily Currin.
She committed only three fouls in her career and averaged only two fouls per game, a remarkable total for a player who was very active on the rebounds and averaged 1.4 blocks per game.
