Makiyia was another player I was glad to see back at the Cardinal Classic. She is deceptively quick off the dribble and did a great job getting into the teeth of the defense, showing excellent touch on a floater and making good use of the backboard on a short jumper. Makiyia was up for the challenge on defense, using active hands to force turnovers, and held her own when switched onto bigger players in the post.

Makiyia is a lead guard you can trust with the ball in her hands because of her ability to run the offense and avoid turnovers. She makes smart decisions, reads defenses well, and plays with poise and control. A high-level facilitator, she makes life easier for her teammates while also being capable of asserting herself offensively when needed. Makiyia is also a strong perimeter defender as well. During her junior season, she averaged 11.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

AAU Team: WV Thunder Smith S40

Next Stop: LIVE! at Lakepoint

Makiyia had a big week in her first three games back from injury, making an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. She opened the stretch with 15 points, three steals, four assists, eight rebounds, and five deflections against Great Crossing. She followed that with a team-high 21 points, along with three steals, three assists, eight rebounds, and five deflections in the 2A Section 5 semifinals against Mercer County, earning All-Tournament Team honors. Makiyia capped the week with 17 points, four steals, four assists, six rebounds, and six deflections in a home win over Western Hills, where she was named Player of the Game.

A top-10 prospect in the class of 2027, Makiyia proved why in her first travel season on the UAA circuit with WV Thunder 16U Spreen, consistently playing at a high level. She enters her junior season at Franklin County holding six college offers, including five at the Division I level.

Franklin County star Makiyia Wheeler Makiyia Wheeler 5'5" | PG Franklin County | 2027 State KY continues to draw Division I attention, recently adding two more offers to her list. After an unofficial visit and standout performance at UMBC’s elite camp, she picked up an offer from the Retrievers. Just days later, she impressed enough at Austin Peay’s elite camp, and earned another D1 offer. Makiyia now holds four Division I offers, with more likely to come before the start of her junior season. Her recruitment is heating up, and she’s definitely a name to keep on your radar.

Franklin County star Makiyia Wheeler Makiyia Wheeler 5'5" | PG Franklin County | 2027 State KY showed out at the Raatz Fence/O’shea Classic yesterday. She had a game-high 17 points, along with 6 rebounds and was named play of the game in a 10-point win over a tough Cooper team. Makiyia picked up her 2nd D1 offer from UAPB last week then helped lead her team to 2A State Championship.

Makiyia Wheeler Makiyia Wheeler 5'5" | PG Franklin County | 2027 State KY moves back into the top 10 and is now the #6 prospect in the class of 2027. She works tirelessly on her game and is the true definition of a “Gym Rat”. Earlier this month she picked up a NAIA offer from the University of Pikeville, followed by a D1 offer from Bellarmine University, and went on a unofficial visit last week to Lindenwood University a D1 school located in St. Charles, Missouri. (Featured Image)

Makiyia was impressive to say the least and I love when she plays fearless and competes with a chip on her shoulder. She is a stellar ball handler with a lightning-quick first step that allowed her to get to any spot she wanted on the floor. She had some nice press breaks, did a great job finding driving angles to attack, and was unafraid of contact. She closed out well on defense and always got a hand up to contest shots at the perimeter. She sacrificed her body and took a charge in a pivotal part of the game as well.