Labels

The Molly Kimmel Interview (Boiling Springs, PA)

 


Name: Molly Kimmel

Hometown: Boiling Springs, PA

Height: 5-9

Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward

High School: Boiling Springs (PA)

Graduation Class: 2025

GPA: 4.0

AAU Club: Mid Penn Motion HGSL

Status: Uncommitted

Recruiting Email: mkimmelrun@gmail.com

BOILING SPRINGS, PA -- Molly Kimmel is a 5-foot-9 Guard from Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. She's a rising senior at Boiling Springs High School, and runs with Mid Penn Motion in the Hoop Group Showcase League. Having a breakout junior season, Kimmel averaged 18.3 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 steals for the Bubblers to earn a Mid-Penn All Conference first-team selection, Carlisle Sentinel's All Sentinel first-team, and a PennLive Big 15 second-team selection. Kimmel is also a multi-sport standout athlete for Boiling Springs' field hockey and track & field teams. 

The RPN caught up with the 2025 recruit to discuss life growing up in Bubbletown, a breakdown of her game and preparation heading into the last chapter.

Let's see what Kimmel has to say 👀

Molly Kimmel Interview
When did you first start playing basketball?
  • "I started playing basketball in fifth grade. My brother and I would always play one-on-one in our drive way together after school. I always had a competitiveness to beat him, so I decided to play to get better. It was the best decision I ever made."

How would you describe your game from the skill standpoint?
  • "I am definitely a player who likes to push the ball in transition and get quick easy layups. Rebounding is very important to me. I like to rebound, outlet that ball, then run down the floor for quick transition buckets. I play aggressive defense to create turnovers, and be able to turn that into quick layups. I use my athleticism and speed to beat defenders, and get to the rim. I also can pull up and take short jump shots."

How was life growing up in Bubbletown?
  • "I enjoyed growing up in Boiling Springs as I played a lot of sports growing up. Have really enjoyed that I could play multiple to not only focus on one. I liked how it is a smaller town, and pretty much knew everyone in school. The only downside was that when I was younger, there weren’t a ton of opportunities to play basketball. Until I was in fifth grade and could play on the travel team. Nowadays it is very different."

How was your junior season?
  • "We went 12-10 this year and were really close to making the playoffs. We just missed it. We lost a lot last year with three seniors who started, and a junior got hurt and couldn’t play who started as well. We had two incoming freshman that ended up getting a ton of minutes. We only played one girl off the bench, so basically every game, we played with six girls. So considering all that, I would say we did pretty good. Of course, I wanted to make the postseason, but that’s the goal for next season. Personally, I thought I did well this year. I was the team's leading scorer, rebounder and played just about every minute of every game. I also averaged 18.3 points per game, and 12.5 rebounds per game."

The RPN takes time to evaluate every player that's invited into the system. Focusing on addressing, while discussing the strengths of a player and the improvements needed to make in their game. Elaborating on a question I asked earlier, how would you evaluate yourself at this point in your career?
  • "Yes of course. I would say the five best things I do are rebounding on both sides, finishing at the rim, pushing the ball in transition, getting steals and being able to hit outside of the paint. I am able to grab rebounds and then burst through the defense to get into our offense. The production showed as I averaged 12.5 rebounds a game last season with 3.5 being on offense, and 9 being on the defensive end. A lot of my 18 points per game came from finishing in the paint. With me either finishing near the rim with a layup off two, or a mid range jumper if needed to pull up. If I miss the first layup I am able to get the rebound and put it back up. My athleticism allows me to be able to jump up to grab the rebounds, and I can also read the defense to be able to make steals. I averaged 4.4 steals per game, which also allows me to push the ball in transition."
  • "There are a couple of things I need to work on." Kimmel continued. "I would say my three point shooting being consistent and shooting with confidence. I also sometimes play too fast getting sped up. That allows me to make bad passes, or dribble into traffic through unnecessary motions. I will work to clean this up as I go further in my journey."

Being a multi sport athlete, each sport translates into one another more than we think. What does it mean to you playing multiple sports and the lessons you have learned along the way?
  • "Playing track and field hockey helps me have a break from basketball. So when I come back, I realize why I love the sport so much. When I was a freshman playing field hockey, the seniors that were there made me want to play. They were so kind, friendly and I felt welcomed. I was coming in not knowing what to expect. It helps me with basketball by making sure everyone feels included, and that I take the time to get to know all the other girls. Not just the ones I play with. A lesson I learned from track is about the mental aspect of the game. Track is a very mental sport and it has taught me not to doubt myself when I play basketball."
  • "Within last season," She continued. "My field hockey team was named Mid-Penn Co-Divisional champs in the Capital with (Bishop) McDevitt. We also came fourth in the District 3 playoffs, made it to the second round of states and finished 18-4. For track, I placed second at Mid Penn's, fourth at Districts and qualified for states in the 100 meter hurdles."

You’re still at a very early stage of your career. What kinds of things are you doing to make yourself the best player you can be?
  • "I have a ball handling workout that I do everyday and keep track of it on a paper. Every month the drills change. I also try to shoot 300 shots everyday. I try to lift every other day at Planet Fitness. Then we have open gyms four days a week really focusing on skill development. I also have AAU practice twice a week and tournaments on the weekend. I try to make sure that everyday I do something with a basketball."
Molly Kimmel's July Schedule with Mid Penn Motion


Who would you say is your favorite basketball player and why?
  • "My favorite player right now is probably Paige Bueckers. I remembered seeing her on social media before she got hurt, and I couldn’t wait until she was able to play again. Getting to see her in this year's March Madness was exciting. She is my favorite player because she is not just good at one thing but many. She can get to the rim, rebound, get steals, and shoot the three. She inspired me to keep working in the areas that I need to work on in my game."

Who would you say is your role model?
  • "I would definitely say my dad. He has had the most impact on my basketball career and I look up to him. He is always willing to rebound, and had advice for when I have a tough game. He grew up playing basketball, knows a lot about the sport and I trust him when he gives me advice, or shows me a new drill to help me."

What do you believe are the greatest challenges most players are facing today?
  • "I think it is a lack of confidence. I have seen players who are really good start to doubt themselves, and you can see it affects their game. They start getting in their head and second guess shots, or won’t take shots cause they think they will miss it. I think all players at one point can say they have second guess themselves, and it can really affect how you play."

What is one important lesson you've learned from your time as an athlete?
  • "An important lesson I have learned is to be grateful for everything even the small stuff. I am healthy and hopeful it will stay that way. My parents can afford AAU, drive me to places, and have the time to be at tournaments so I can have the opportunity to play. I can get new basketball shoes when I need them. I know that not everyone has that. It is important for me to remember to be grateful, and to pass all I have been given forwards. I get to play basketball with my friends, and get to make memories with them. There’s not more I could ask for."

What is the outlook heading into next season?
  • "My outlook is to go to the postseason this year. My schools team hasn’t been to a playoff game in a while, and I really want to go to postseason. I’m gonna put the work in now to make sure I can do everything possible to get us that spot. I also want to play in college, and can find a school that fits what I am looking for."

Thank you MK for taking the time to talk to me. Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation for people? Any last words?
  • "Thank you as I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to help me. I would just say to keep your head up and never stop. You don’t get it right the first time. Nothing great comes from things being easy in life. Thank you again!"

Media Coverage on Molly Kimmel
Mid-Penn girls basketball final leaders: Scoring, 3-point goals, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots through end of 23-24 season https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/basketball/2024/04/mid-penn-girls-basketball-final-leaders-scoring-3-point-goals-rebounds-assists-steals-and-blocked-shots-through-end-of-23-24-season.html






Twitter @molly_kimmyy

Labels:
Location: Boiling Springs, PA 17007, USA