West had to battle a lot of adversity throughout her high school career, but she can hang her head high with what she accomplished. After leading Male in scoring and rebounding last season, she had to shift to a different position this season. Despite the shift and having to play through illness in the beginning of the season, West was still her team’s leading rebounder and 2nd leading scorer. She does a great job around the basket, fighting for rebounds and finishing at the rim, but she also can extend a defense with her ability to step out and knock down shots or drive to the rim. West will be playing for Asbury University next season.

West doesn’t always get the attention she deserves, but what she brings to the floor is huge. For starters, she’s a relentless rebounder. If you don’t locate her and move her out of the way, you’re going to be in trouble. However, even when she’s boxed out, she still works and is able to come up with a lot of boards. West has a variety of moves she can use when she gets the ball down low, but she can also stretch a defense with her ability to knock down shots. If the defense doesn’t step out, she shot 35.6% from 3 last season. If they do step out to guard her, she makes good drives to the rim as well. West led Male in scoring and rebounding last season and she will certainly make her presence known again this season.

When discussing the 2023 class, every scout in our group chat mentioned Ma’kiya as one of the players most deserving of a move up. West has shined in camp and AAU settings after a good showing in her Junior high school season. She is likely to see a boost in her individual stats this season at Male as well. She’s had a few schools offer already and should have more coming her way soon.

Returning for her Senior season, West was Louisville Male’es leading scorer and rebounder last season playing for a very deep team with tons of speed and talent. As a rebounder she is a star collecting the ball in every way possible. In the paint she grabs the ball with strength and power, she hustles after the long rebounds all the way to the corner and os a quick leaper woth good hands.

West is very adept at starting the break with the outlet pass or on the dribble. Her Guard skills make her a player that could potentially play Guard on the next level later in her career. But she is such a solid interior player I almost can’t imagine a Coach ot wanting to keep her at the 3 or 4 on the next level. At the 250 she made at least one assist on the up the street pass to a streaking teammate for an easy layup.

She probably hasn’t had as much interest from college coaches as she should, which can only please the coaches that have seen her. I a business where everybody seems to know everybody in the game the coaches in on West have a diamond hidden away from the rest of the world. Which… they probably don’t want me to say this but the Coaches that don’t know will be happily surprised to find this kind of talent available.

It felt like West was grabbing every single rebound on defense and offense at one point. Her rebounding is strong and while she uses her length well, the way she goes after every rebound with high intensity is what makes it extremely hard for opposing teams to keep her off of the boards. West has good touch around the rim, but she can also extend out and knock down shots. She can even knock down 3’s despite having a lot of strong post moves to turn to inside. Her recognition on her drives was another strength I saw from West on Saturday.

Ma’Kiya has been one of the biggest stock risers in the 2023 class over the last year or two and showed flashes of even more potential on Saturday. West is even more impressive when she’s being aggressive.

West actually received the 4th most votes for 7th region player of the year last season and I don’t expect anything less in her final high school season. She led a very underrated Male team as they finished 2nd in the region in the regular season last year, finishing only behind the team that actually won the 2022 KHSAA state championship. West led the team in scoring, rebounding, and 3 point field goal percentage. She has great height and length, and she’s smooth around the basket. She can finish on both sides of the rim and she can stretch the defense with her ability to knock down outside shots at a high percentage (35.6%). West is a 2-way player that consistently contests shots and plays strong post defense as well.