The article below originally appeared in The San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.

Growing up in a tough neighborhood in East Palo Alto, Erica Hayes knew she had to overcome plenty of adversity to rise to the top.

And that’s exactly what the College of San Mateo sophomore has accomplished. No matter where she ends up next year — most likely at a four-year university on a basketball scholarship — Hayes has already accomplished so much off the court by simply surviving. She’s done it by not following the crowd and giving in to peer pressure.

“(I have an appreciation of life everyday) and tell myself each day that I’m never going to get this day back because I have not lived a privileged life,” Hayes said. “I saw a lot more (stuff) than I probably should have, but I managed.”

Hayes, a Menlo-Atherton High graduate, grew up with five other siblings, including three older brothers who taught her to be tough on and off the court. Hayes said gun violence was commonplace in her neighborhood, and there were plenty of other distractions and temptations, too. But all of that simply motivated her to use sports as a vehicle to better herself.

“It motivated me to do better in basketball,” she said.

Hoops provided an escape for Hayes, whose sport of choice growing up was soccer. But once the 19-year-old took up basketball in the seventh grade, she hasn’t looked back. Now she’s the best player and unquestioned leader for the Bulldogs (2-2), who went from unranked to No. 12 in the Northern California top-20 poll after last Saturday’s 78-70 win over previous No. 14 American River.

Hayes was simply unstoppable, finishing with a college career-best 31 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. The 5-foot-8 shooting guard was 14 of 20 from the floor, consistently got to the basket off dribble penetration and pulled up to knock down jumpers on the fast break.

She was also a force defensively, wreaking her usual havoc with her agility, length and quickness. In other words, Hayes did it all, something that CSM coach Michelle Warner has come to expect.

“Going into that game I knew she was going to be hot,” Warner said. “Erica was a good player last year but is even better (this season). She’s much more composed and sees the floor better, which is why she’s getting four to five assists a game. She’s letting the game come to her and finding her spots.”

Hayes had a partial scholarship to play at Jackson State in Mississippi but didn’t want to live too far from home. She then chose CSM over City College of San Francisco, and that single choice has reinvigorated the CSM program.

Hayes was part of a strong recruiting class that paved the way for the Bulldogs to make their first playoff appearance last season in five or six years. Warner couldn’t be happier that Hayes picked CSM because sometimes it only takes one player — a special one at that — to turn a program around.

And Hayes had done just that with the Bulldogs, who are poised to have another strong season and make the postseason. Always one to let her actions do all the talking, Hayes has become more of a vocal leader as well. Last year Warner told her star player that her teammates would follow her lead. So if she was going through the motions at practice, then the rest of the team would, too.

“Hearing that, I knew I had to come in this year with a whole new mindset,” Hayes said. “I’ve always been one of the more silent type because when I get emotional, it tends to take me out of my game. But I’ve learned when to speak up and still be able to keep my head in the game. Speaking up has been one of my goals since I really never talk.”

When Hayes has her outside shot going, there’s not much opposing teams can do to stop her. Hayes possesses a quick first step and anticipates about as well as any player in the state. She has a knack for getting in the passing lanes and coming up with steals that few other players could even think about coming up with. Hayes always knew she had a talent for the game, but her confidence level wasn’t always there.

But after a stellar senior year at Menlo-Atherton in which she averaged 16.3 points per game en route to winning the Daily Journal Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year honors, Hayes knew she was one of if not the best player everytime she took the floor.

“I have to believe in myself, or who will?” Hayes said.

It’s that core belief and determination that has allowed Hayes to become one of the best junior college players in Northern California.