Kennedy High School senior Morgan Martin is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Martin, a 6-foot-1 forward, is one of the top players for the Kennedy girls basketball team, which is ranked No.8 in Class 5A with a 7-1 record.

Martin is averaging 12.4 points for the balanced Cougars, shooting 54.8 percent from the field and 79.5 percent at the foul line. She is averaging 10.8 rebounds, which is second-best in the state in Class 5A, and has blocked 14 shots.

Martin transferred to Kennedy from Quincy (Ill.) Notre Dame last year, but she suffered a knee injury and appeared in only two games for the Cougars. She was an all-state player in Illinois and has signed a national letter-of-intent to play at Eastern Illinois University next season.

Here is our Question-&-Answer session with Morgan Martin:

MSR: What is your favorite individual highlight in sports?

MORGAN: My favorite individual highlight in sports would have to be my All-State selection in Illinois during my sophomore basketball season. I also enjoyed winning the Illinois State Track and Field Discus Championship as an eighth grader.

MSR: What is your favorite team highlight in sports?

MORGAN: My favorite team highlight in sports would have to be two back-to-back Illinois State Basketball Championships and being ranked 36th in ESPN's Powerade Fab 50 national poll during my freshman and sophomore seasons.

MSR: What are your future goals in sports?

MORGAN: My short-term future goals are to help the Kennedy girls basketball team to a successful season and a competitive showing at the state tournament. I also look forward to participating in track and field in the spring.

My long-term future goals are to help the Eastern Illinois University women's basketball team win the OVC Championships and make appearances in the NCAA tournament. If at all possible, I'd like to play professionally overseas after my collegiate career.

MSR: Who has had the biggest influence on your sports career?

MORGAN: My parents have definitely had the most positive influence on my athletic career. They, being my first coaches, were and still are always my biggest supporters and hardest critics. Having been collegiate athletes, they have instilled in me my work ethic and molded me into the person and student-athlete that I am today. My mother has made a tremendous amount of sacrifices to give me opportunities to enjoy myself, improve and succeed with athletics.

MSR: What are your favorite classes in school?

MORGAN: My favorite classes in school would have to be Advanced Placement Psychology and Calculus. I've always enjoyed mathematics and sciences because I've had interesting, helpful teachers! Kennedy is a great high school and I look forward to being well-prepared for my Pre-Med curriculum in college next year.

MSR: What has been your favorite community service project?

MORGAN: Our basketball team last year adopted a few families to give Christmas gifts to last holiday season, and we also hosted fundraisers for local churches and shelters. We have many loyal fans and supporters, so I look forward to giving back even more through volunteer work this season!