Malaina Hackley
Malaina Hackley
About Malaina
Expert Analysis
Jeremy Brooks | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
Hackley and company have started off this Winter winning most of their contests as they move into the middle of January. Hackley has been playing like PG #1. She isn’t her team’s top scoring threat but she is her teams best creator and facilitator, guard defender, and source of energy when the ball is in her possession. She knows how to run her teams offense and they are having a lot of success because of that so far this Winter. I really hope that Hackley gets a chance to play at the next level, she is definitely good enough. She just needs to find somewhere to fit in and then she can work from there. She plays intense ball and she knows how to make other around her better, which is all that matters.
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Coming off of her best high school season to date,
Malaina Hackley
Malaina
Hackley
5'0" | PG
Roosevelt | 2026
State
IA
has started off things running this past few weeks. In Waukee last weekend, Hackley was dishing out assists off the drive and lining up shots from the catch around the outside. Whenever she would catch she would get down-hill in a hurry, looking to find a fellow teammate in stride. This strategy worked a good amount of the time as she beat her opponents down the floor and try to set up anyone else that might be with her. All in all, it’s been a respectable start to Hackely’s AAU season on the road. If she continues to have showings like this, she is going to like it might lead to in the recruiting aspect of things.
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Read EvaluationJeremy Brooks | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
We have said for a few years that if
Malaina Hackley
Malaina
Hackley
5'0" | PG
Roosevelt | 2026
State
IA
got a chance at the Varsity level, that she could put up some impressive numbers. Hackley transferred to Roosevelt and started this season for her Junior campaign. She averaged 9.5 PPG and 3.2 APG, while helping her team to an overall 13-10 record, 10-0 in conference, ending things as 2025 Iowa Alliance Conference Champions. Hackley has a quick handle, a nifty passing ability, she is willing to mix it up with anyone that might be bigger than her, and she doesn’t turn the ball over too much when it’s in her possession – a major key when you are a PG. Defensively with her size, she plays scrappy. She gets into her opponent and does a great job of beating them to their spots as they attack off the dribble. The difference she makes defensively is noticeable from a distance and that says it all. Moving into this Spring Hackley moves into the Top 75 once again at #73.
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Read EvaluationJeremy Brooks | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
Big move this offseason from Malaina Hackely to transfer to Roosevelt. With this transfer, I’m not sure if Hackely will need to sit out any time but either way, when she is back, she is going to be a huge plus that they have gained. I am a firm believer that Hackley is one of the best passers in the state for her PG position. She understands how to open up the floor, she drives with elite vision, and she knows to bounce pass the ball compared to throwing it in the air – helping her get more passes through on a regular basis. This should be a a great season for high school ball and I can’t wait to see how Hackley does in her new environment.
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“One of the smoothest players I saw throughout this first day competing was
Malaina Hackley
Malaina
Hackley
5'0" | PG
Roosevelt | 2026
State
IA
of
Kingdom Hoops
. Hackley has been a shifty and creative PG, that can get to anywhere on the floor she wants off the dribble. In her first contest of the day, she has been getting to the hoop at Will, dishing out some nice assists, and working hard defensively to stand out. This season at Roosevelt she should cook as a starting Senior and I can’t wait to see that because she has been in a ton of work up until this point.”
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Read EvaluationJeremy Brooks | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
This past weekend at our first live period of the Spring,
Malaina Hackley
Malaina
Hackley
5'0" | PG
Roosevelt | 2026
State
IA
showed out as a top performance at the UJSN Windy City Classic. Hackley would be described as a fast-twitch, smooth Point Guard, that can pass at an elite rate, while also being able to finish around the rim when she has an open look. Hackley is a prospect out of the 2026 Class in Iowa and she is going to have a chance to make her mark on the hardwood this Winter at Roosevelt High School. If she can come in and compete right away, I’m sure she will be a Day 1 starter, showing her worth almost immediately. This past weekend, Hackley was essential in her team’s success. She was doing her usual thing producing with the ball in her hands, always making the right choice when it boiled down to it. A promising start to her AAU season, that I’m sure she can build on moving forward into May.
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Read EvaluationJeremy Brooks | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
From an evaluation stand point, Hackley is one of the best passers throughout the State of Iowa, regardless of Class or Age group. She is a shorter player, that understands her role within her team and she is always willing to help out a fellow teammate. Hackley is elite in her knowledge of the game. She understands that she has to do certain things, that others don’t because of her size and she doesn’t let that get to her. I was very confused as to why she didn’t receive a jersey last season on her Varsity roster as she was clearly better then some of the other prospects that were put in front of her but she didn’t let that impact her. She stayed positive and kept on working. With whatever team she is on within this program, she should have some really nice moments. This is a prospect that I would personally recommend to any college coach at the D3 level right now. She makes the most with the chances she see’s the floor and I hope that she continues to keep this positive outlook on things. If she can keep that up, she is going to be in winner in life and that’s all that matters.
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Read EvaluationJeremy Brooks | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
The best passer in the state that you haven’t seen yet. I’m confident in saying that I have not seen a better passer at the high school level throughout Iowa than
Malaina Hackley
Malaina
Hackley
5'0" | PG
Roosevelt | 2026
State
IA
and she isn’t even on a varsity roster yet. Hackley is the definition of a pass-first PG. She has a powerful handle with the ball on a string helping her create off of the dribble and she is selfless enough with great vision to always find an open teammate. When you watch Hackley play, it stands out to you that she isn’t the tallest player on the floor but I actually think it helps her. She has the ability to make bounce passes across the court that I’ve only seen at the collegiate level because of her knowledge and the coordination needed to make it work. I’m not sure if we will see Hackley with a varsity jersey on to start their Playoff run in a few weeks but we should. She is certainly good enough.
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Read EvaluationJeremy Brooks | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
This next player isn’t on a varsity roster this season but she is such a good creator and passer, I had to include her. The individual that I am talking about is
Malaina Hackley
Malaina
Hackley
5'0" | PG
Roosevelt | 2026
State
IA
of Ankeny. Hackley only stands at 5’0, so her dribble and passing ability needs to be spot on or else longer defenders will tip the ball. In the events that I saw Hackley perform in prior to this season, she was tearing up her opponent off of the dribble, usually ending the play with a nasty bounce pass to an open teammate on the other side of the floor. Hackley won’t get a chance till next season is what it’s looking like but let me tell you, she is one of the best passers in the entire state, no questions asked.
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Read EvaluationJeremy Brooks | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
I first had the chance of seeing
Malaina Hackley
Malaina
Hackley
5'0" | PG
Roosevelt | 2026
State
IA
perform at our PGH IA Top 250 last month and I was impressed by her performance. After that and seeing the film from this past weekend, I am confident in saying that Hackley is one of the best passers in the state. She maybe undersized but she makes up for it with her passing ability and knowledge of the game.To be a great passer, you need to understand timing, situations, and your own ability to a T. Not to mention, there aren’t many 1 on 1 situations, guard wise, where I would pick another player to stop Hackley in the open court. Just to stay in front of her is a challenge, never-mind about the passing stuff. This winter is going be intense across high school basketball. A lot of players are really locked in, including Hackley, and because of that, the competition level should be at an all time high.
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