Anna Drakeford is the state's fourth leading scorer at 27.9 points per game. (Paige Whitney/Rise Up Sports)
Mercer County senior Anna Drakeford knew she would have to carry a much bigger load on a young team this season after graduation and transfer losses off last year’s team that got hot late and won the 12th Region championship.
However, even the Thomas More signee admits she never quite expected to be having the season she is.
Drakeford is averaging 27.9 points per game — the state’s fourth best mark. She is hitting 56.9 percent (144 of 253) from the field — the state’s 33rd best mark which is remarkable for a point guard who has to take a lot of contested shots since she’s made only nine 3-pointers in 15 games. Drakeford has been to the foul line 122 times — eight times per game — and has made 93. She’s even pulling off 6.4 rebounds per game.
“I am just trying to pay really hard and know that I need to play really well in order for us to play well as a team. We lack experience and I just know that’s what I have to do,” Drakeford said. “Luckily our team is gaining experience and getting better.
“Obviously we want to win every single game but the games we have lost have taught us a lot about ourselves and how to win more games.”
Drakeford has figured out how to score even though she’s the focus of every opposing defense. She’s a relentless competitor who is not afraid to take the ball inside and take shots through contact.
“I just try to get to the rim all I can. If I can’t get to the rim, one of my teammates should be open because they are sagging off on me,” Drakeford said. “But a lot of my points also come from steals on defense and transition points from us pushing the ball. I really like to push the ball and get up and down the court.”
Drakeford played in only 19 of Mercer’s 31 games during the 2021-22 season after injuring her knee in the 12th Region Tournament title game (she averaged 13.4 points per game) the season before but helped the Titans get back to the regional final. As a junior she averaged 16.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game during the 2022-23 season when Mercer went to the state.
She’s glad she took the COVID year since she missed two AAU seasons due to injuries and believes the extra year has helped her grow as a player and leader.
“Our team is so young overall and inexperienced that I have had to learn to lead younger, inexperienced players and that’s been good for me,” she said.
She will play her college basketball at Thomas More because “there was nothing I didn’t like about the school” and the coaching staff showed more interest in her than any other school did.
“I do like that they are a very successful program. We really have not got into what my role will be but I am hoping to play point guard. I know I definitely won’t have to score as much as I have had to do this year,” Drakeford said,
She has no regrets about her career despite COVID and injuries and believes adversity made her develop into a better player.
“I probably wouldn’t go back and change anything,” she said.
Drakeford has amassed 1,797 points in 164 career games along with 552 rebounds, 421 assists and 228 steals.
She has to be considered the top candidate to be the 12th Region Player of the Year and a Miss Basketball finalist based on the numbers she’s put up for Mercer (10-5).
“It would obviously be cool to be considered for Miss Basketball. The state of Kentucky has a ton of great basketball players and it would be great if I am considered but if not I don’t really care because there is nothing I can do about it,” Drakeford said. “If I am considered I would be extremely happy and grateful.”
She’s more worried about trying to help the Titans get to a fourth straight 12th Region title game, something they have shown they can do even when not picked as one of the region’s best teams.
“We have got to continue to grow and play together as a team,” Drakeford said. “Obviously our goals are still the same as every year. I think anybody is beatable on a given night. We have really good teams in the region and I think it is one of the toughest regions in the state but if we keep improving I think we could surprise a lot of people.”
