’28 WR/DB showed out during his Freshman campaign
His name is Kaijain Hayes and we would suggest you learn to spell it. Hayes is a guy who killed it his freshman year with production one doesn’t usually see from a freshman player. Hayes contributed in multiple phases of the football program and he is a guy we easily see contributing in seasons upcoming in all three phases. Athletes like Hayes make programs. You need as many as you can get.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, KPGFootball
Morton’s Gap, KY: “Life imitates art” is often attributed to Oscar Wilde, who wrote in his 1889 essay, “The Decay of Lying,” that “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.”
Art both influences and shapes how we understand the world. Wilde argued that life imitates art because life craves the expression found in great art.
We don’t know about all that. Then again, we aren’t anywhere close to as brilliant as was the late Oscar Wilde.
We do know there are some similarities between the fictional character, “Willie Mays Hayes” from the movie, Major League, and Hopkins County Central’s Kaijain Hayes.
Both Hayes just showed up at “Training Camp,” one an unheralded free agent signing and the other a freshman just out of middle school. Willie Mays Hayes arrived in a Volkswagen Beetle dressed up as a Rolls and Kaijain either caught a ride from a parent, friend, or teammate.
Mays claimed to play like the great “Willie Mays” and run like “Hayes.” Kaijain would have that “run like Hayes” part down pat.
Willie Mays Hayes became a stalwart in centerfield. Kaijain became a stalwart in the defensive backfield, which is often likened to a football version of playing in the outfield.
Kaijain Hayes became a stalwart in the Storm’s defensive backfield in ’24
Friday Night Fletch
The similarities go on and on; but the reality is Kaijain Hayes really figures to become and round into a superstar on the KHSAA level. What our Hayes did this past season, his freshman season, really was the stuff about which some people make movies.
It was forecast, before the ’24 season started, that we should all “keep an eye” on Central’s “Hayes.” The prediction was Hayes would see time both at receiver and on defense in the secondary. Looking back on that forecast with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, the prediction was money.
Hayes got seven (7) games of varsity run and made the most of it. Hayes gained 11-yards on one carry. Hayes caught a pass. Hayes had a pick-six covering 79-yards. Hayes registered 27-tackles.
How do you like those apples? Like his movie counterpart but on a high school football roster (which all contend with having to find adequate playing talent), Kaijain Hayes turned out to be a breakout star.
What will he do going forward? Will he lead his Storm to a championship like his fictional character lead the Cleveland “Indians” to a league title? Perhaps.
You know, life does have a way of imitating art. Or so we have often been told.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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