Daphne trio signs National Letters of Intent

Bryant, Hunt ink softball commitments; Miller cements pledge to Mobile soccer

By Cole McNanna
Sports Editor
cole@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 12/28/22

A trio of Daphne student-athletes confirmed their commitments to college programs during a Dec. 14 ceremony at the high school.

Softball players Kailey Bryant (Bishop State) and Taylor Hunt …

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Daphne trio signs National Letters of Intent

Bryant, Hunt ink softball commitments; Miller cements pledge to Mobile soccer

Posted

A trio of Daphne student-athletes confirmed their commitments to college programs during a Dec. 14 ceremony at the high school.

Softball players Kailey Bryant (Bishop State) and Taylor Hunt (Coastal Alabama-South) were joined by soccer player Noah Miller (Mobile) in signing their National Letters of Intent surrounded by family, friends, teammates, coaches and staff.

Bryant and Hunt helped the Daphne softball team finish 45-14 overall and second place in Class 7A Area 2 and Miller was part of the Trojans’ state championship squad that claimed the school’s first Blue Map trophy on the pitch.

Hunt and Miller also represented Daphne at the AHSAA North-South All-Star week over the summer where Hunt scored a run in Game 1 before announcing her verbal commitment to the program she signed with Dec. 14.

Bryant has been steadily relied upon and has continued to deliver, which led to her being awarded a Drop of the Hat honor along with a leadership award. She is also a member of the Little Lady Trojans Big Sister Program and a junior league umpire while maintaining the grades to be on the A/B Honor Roll.

A .300 hitter for her career so far, Bryant plans on studying aviation mechanics at Bishop State.

“Kailey, or as we call her, ‘KB,’ is always willing to help. When I call, she shows up. When her teammates call, she shows up,” Daphne head softball coach Jenny Laird said. “Whatever the situation or need, she shows up and that is a very important trait that has made her a great player and the ultimate teammate. It will also take her very far at Bishop State and beyond.”

While Hunt has been an All-County softball player the last four seasons (2018-2021), she is just as valuable in the school’s hallways as a member of the student government, peer helpers, Junior Auxiliary program and Gender Equality Committee while making the A/B honor roll with a 3.93 GPA.

“She always does the right thing in every aspect of her life,” Laird said of Hunt. “I can count on her at practices, in close games, and every day to do the small things and to do them right. She is trustworthy, steadfast, and a bright light. The Sun Chiefs are getting a great player and a great young woman.”

Entering her senior season, Hunt has recorded a .880 batting average with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs and 23 stolen bases.

A key member of the Trojans’ first state championship boys’ soccer squad, Miller has represented Daphne soccer since the beginning. He has gone on to be named to USA Youth Soccer’s Olympic Development (ODP) National Team every year since 2019 as well as the ODP South Region Team since 2018 and the ODP State Team since 2015.

After the 2022 campaign, he was recognized on the first-team all-state for Class 7A, the super all-state team that picked the best players regardless of classification as well as the South All-Star squad. So far in his career, he’s racked up 48 goals and 62 assists after he was the team’s freshman of the year in 2019, the rookie of the year in 2020 and the best offensive player in 2021.

“He’s (one) of the most fully developed and well-rounded soccer players I have had the honor and pleasure of coaching,” Daphne soccer coach Adam Burt said. “A majority of our game plan these past few years have run through Noah. He has an ability that I haven’t seen in 30 years, and he continues to amaze me daily. Noah is a local Daphne product that has come through our grassroots Daphne Soccer Program and we as a community and athletic program could not be prouder. He is going to a great program at Mobile and they are getting a phenomenal player.”