Profile of Mahalia H., by Nakeya

All Star Player Mahalia H.  

At the age of two Mahalia picked up her first basketball and ever since she has been playing basketball. Her mom and dad both played basketball in high school. “It runs in the family” said Mahalia.   She was highly encouraged to play. She was born to play basketball.

“In elementary she was pretty brutal,” said Reece P. Even at a young age, Mahalia took basketball very seriously.

Her favorite memory in Junior High was when they were undefeated, and won all the games. “It was a good feeling.”

Mahalia plays on the Scarlet basketball team for the Arlee High school. The position she plays is a post. Her job is to grab the rebounds and make the bunny shots. Mahalia said “Usually the person being the post is always the biggest player.”

She has been on the varsity team all four years.  She helped her team take second in districts in 2011 and they went on to divisionals.  

When she is getting ready to play games she preps herself by getting in the zone by listening to music.

As good as a player she is, Mahalia has not been born with her skills. She practiced and practiced all the time. She still practices to be a good player. “She has been pushed a lot to be a good player,” Said Sam L.

She considers herself as a good player but not the best she can be. She told me “I just try to do my part on the court, and win games.”

“I have gave her some pointers but I helped her practice, we mostly play one on one,” said Sam Leonard.

Throughout Mahalia’s life she has gotten some awards. Such as being picked for the Mission All Star game, being on the Denver team and going down to Australia. “ She is very capable to go where ever with basketball, but she still needs to learn and getting better with a good coach” – Sam L.

When she went to Australia and Denver she said that it has changed her life. “I got to go to other places and see the world.” 

 “She is very motivated; she should defiantly play college basketball, “Said Reece P.

 Even though she loves playing basketball, she has decided to tie up her basketball and not play in college.

“I would love to play basketball in college,” She said. Her number one priority right after high school is to go to college and have her dream job, to become a lawyer. 

Some of her friends think that she would make it in college basketball and go to a lot of places.

If she ever decides to play basketball in college her friend Reece would love to go to her games “That way I can get free court tickets”

Mahalia has a future to become a great basketball player and maybe even to become famous.

 “She has the momentum and can defiantly be in the WNBA” – Reece P. 

“She has an opportunity, her abilities will shine through and have a chance to get out of this town and play with better people.” – Sam L.

She will always have basketball in her blood. No matter where she goes in life.