BROOKSVILLE - Kori Frederick decided on the spelling change about five years ago.
Growing up, the Hernando senior's given name, Cory, often was mistaken for a boy's, so she changed it to something "more feminine."
Funny that Frederick would find herself mixed up with boys, since she has been mixing it up with them much of her life. From the time she was in middle school, Frederick has played against men from her church. Since she was the shortest player and only girl on the court, she learned to hold her own by boxing out.
"I had to go out there and get my respect," said Frederick, a guard/forward.
She still does. Though she is a co-captain and Hernando's top 3-point threat, it is Frederick's defense - particularly her ability to box out - that sets her apart from her peers.
"She will push you all the way out from underneath the basket, take no prisoners underneath," Hernando coach Pete Lahey said. "She'll push you right on out if she can."
Playing against Crystal River's Lacey Lyons, who averages 23 points and scored 44 earlier this year against Leesburg, Frederick recently played what Lahey called "the best defense I've seen in a couple of years."
"(Lyons) scored," he said, "but it wasn't without some nice shooting on her part."
When she's not playing defense, Frederick does some nice shooting of her own. Though prone to streaky shooting, she is Hernando's most consistent threat from the perimeter with a 30-percent mark from 3-point range. She shot 75 percent from beyond the arc against Wildwood and 66 percent against Crystal River.
"I like shooting 3s," Frederick said. "I think it's a good part of my game, something that comes naturally to me. I try really hard not to force it up. If somebody's on me, I'm not going to shoot it, because it's not a good shot for me."
Frederick keeps track of her shooting, often returning home after games to review videotape and write down the shots she's taken and those she's missed. Though she takes pride in her offense, a hard-fought rebound means more to her than any 3-point attempt.
"Truthfully, my favorite thing is boxing people out," Frederick said. "I like the contact, being able to position yourself and try to get the rebound."
Frederick learned to box out from her father, Keith, a former high school player in Ohio. He built a half court outside the family's home where the two often retire after games and spend up to eight hours on Sundays.
"He taught me everything I know," Frederick said. "He's an awesome basketball player, so he tries to teach me. Everything I've learned out here is from him."
Now, Frederick's father is trying to help her find a place to play in college. Grinnell and Ohio Northern are among the schools that interest her.
Though she received Times All-Citrus/Hernando honorable mention as a volleyball player, the 5-foot-5 Frederick said basketball is her true love.
"I'm not really built to be a volleyball player," she said.
