Poised Guard Allows Her Game to Make All the Noise

Lincoln guard Ar’Jayla Elder is an important piece of a Lincoln team hoping to contend for a state championship. (Image: Miss Ari Photography)

A 50-point night on the hardwood is no easy feat. Adding 13 rebounds and seven steals completes a stat-line that most athletes can only dream of in high school, college or even as a professional.

For Lincoln junior Ar’Jayla Elder – that night and such a stat line became a reality on the last day of November when Elder and her teammates faced tough competition from DeSoto. Lincoln would win that game 81-48.

Most impressive about the performance is the fact that Elder’s disposition during the game would suggest that it was just another day at the office. She would score and hustle back on defense over and over. Her teammates had to tell her how many points she’d scored and how she was approaching 50.

“Whether she has five points or 50 - you’ll get the same reaction out of her,” her mom Trish Elder says. “She’s modest in the most beautiful way and we just love that about her.”

For the 16-year-old Dallas native, basketball is her love language.

Elder gives her attention to the game, and she welcomes the consistent lessons the game returns to her. Perhaps it’s that teachable nature and overall adoration for the game that have earned her a position in the starting lineup for the storied Lincoln basketball program. Elder could care less who gets the shot, so long as the team is taking the best shots.

“Our connection on the team is really good,” the shy teenager reflects when asked about her team’s chemistry. “There is no jealousy among us. Everyone just clicks.”

The Lady Tigers are currently on an impressive winning spree, having cemented the deal in 19 consecutive games to start their season. While some wins have been by 20 plus points, there have been nail-bitters that caused the team to dig deep and be more intentional about their collective efforts in crunch time.

“We can’t win with just one person – it’s a team effort,” Elder explains. “We must stay consistent and play hard all the time, blocking out all the outside noises and distractions.”

While wisdom does tend to come with age, the ever-so-calm teen has been privy to such messages of discipline and dedication her entire life. Both her parents are former basketball players in the Dallas area. They have invested in more ways than a few to ensure their daughter has opportunities to excel in the sport she expressed interest in as a little girl.

“I tell her all the time – you have to show people who you are and what you’re made of,” her mother emphatically inserts. “She has the ability to take over a game at any time, and she can also be a great facilitator on the court. I just keep telling her “‘You’re one of one.’”

It’s the constant reminders of her abilities that motivate Elder on the court. It’s knowing that her support system is in the crowd cheering her on that makes the quiet floor assassin crack a smile during timeouts. rare that her entire household isn’t cheering her on from the stands. Her father, mother and 11-year-old sister are all staples at Lincoln games. Her older sister currently attends Texas Tech, but never misses a game when in town.

The Elders has cultivated a lifestyle of happiness and support for their three daughters, and it translates on the court for their basketball star. She’s simply at peace when playing basketball and it’s obvious.

The Elder Family excitedly supports Ar’Jayla in all her basketball endeavors. (Image Provided by Trish Elder)

While she has plans for a lifetime affair with the game she was drawn to in the third grade, Elder knows the importance of a quality education. She speaks fondly of her English class and her teacher Ms. Roybiskie who she says makes writing so much easier.

Her coaches will never have to worry about her performance in the classroom, because Elder never misses an assignment. “I’m really organized,” she says. “And I make all A’s and B’s.”

With her focus on the court and her commitment to excelling in the classroom, there is no doubt she will continue to draw interest from universities around the country.

Much like her decision to attend Lincoln was based on a gut emotion of what “felt right,” Elder explains that her dream school will be the place where she feels instantly that she belongs.

“I want to go somewhere that is truly the right fit for me and to a team that truly wants me there,” says Elder. “Distance from home doesn’t matter, if I’m able to play and succeed.”

It is rare that Elder gets rattled by big moments in a game; by people or even by daily issues that will frustrate the average teenager. There is one dynamic of the world, however, that will get her talking for hours and that’s animal cruelty.

The self-described “chill” personality owns a pet lizard named Milo. “I love all animals, but I picked a lizard because lizards are chill like me,” Elder laughs.

She’s not sure what she’ll major in when she gets to college, but she’s certain it’ll involve working with animals. The unwavering passion for animals is admirable for such a young person. Her mom remembers a special conversation when driving them home one day. Elder was maybe 12 years old and told her Maybe one day when I’m in the WNBA I’ll open a pet clinic and hire someone else to run it while I play basketball.

She does indeed see herself in the WNBA one day like her favorite player Arike Ogunbowale. For now, however, the focus is on earning a state championship with the Lady Tigers. 

“I’m having fun,” Elder says. “I just want to play well, be a good teammate and make good decisions on and off the court.”