About Malaiya
Expert Analysis
Matthew Martinez | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
Castro is an energetic player and one of the deadliest threats from three-point range in the Class of 2026. In fact, she happens to be the active leader with 166 made treys across 108 games. She effectively relocates to open areas and consistently knocks down contested shots in catch-and-shoot situations for the Wildcats, a key reason why she has recorded 14 games with 20 or more points throughout her career.
She has averaged 10.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for Lovington, amassing 1180 points — a mark that ranks her third in her class, and 239 rebounds, 190 assists, and 192 steals on top of that.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Martinez | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
Castro is a high-energy player and one of the deadliest threats from three-point range in the Class of 2026. She effectively relocates to open areas and consistently knocks down contested shots in catch-and-shoot situations.
Castro has played in 110 games for the Wildcats throughout her career, recording 14 games with 20 or more points. This past season, she achieved a new career-high by averaging 12.3 points per game. She has now averaged double-digit points for the third consecutive season and has made 31 or more three-pointers in four straight seasons.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Martinez | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
To date, Castro is the only Combo-Guard from the 2026 Class and one of two players from the 4A Class to have surpassed 1000 career points. This achievement puts Castro is rare territory, and in the upper echelon of scorers entirely.
In 108 games played for the Wildcats, the clever Castro has totaled 1180 points, 239 rebounds, 190 assists and 192 steals.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Martinez | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
Castro has solidified herself as a prominent and reliable option for Lovington by totaling 1050 points and 153 ‘treys’ in 97 games played.
A career 10.8 point per game scorer, Castro shoots 36 percent from the floor, and 29 percent from three-point range.
The sharp-shooting Castro reached 1,000 points in a 28-point performance at Chaparral on Jan. 24
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Read EvaluationMatthew Martinez | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
Castro is a Floor Spacing Slasher that is a reliable double-figure scorer for Lovington. Malaiya finished second amongst the 2026 class in 3PM, totaling 39 ‘treys’ in 23 games played this past season. The CG shot 27 percent from distance and 39 percent overall, averaging 11.6 points per game for the Wildcats.
For her career, Castro has played in 72 games and has averaged 10.2 points, shooting 36 percent from the field.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Martinez | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
For the 2023-24 season, Castro connected on 39 Three-Pointers — the second most amongst the 2026 class — at a 27 percent clip in 23 games played. The 2026 CG is a career 10.2 point per game scorer and 28 percent shooter from behind the arc, totaling 107 treys in 72 games for the Wildcats.
Castro is a hard-worker, who maximizes her minutes on the floor thanks to her ability to play both on-ball and off-ball. Malaiya gives Lovington flexibility in terms of their sets and rotations but most importantly, provides much needed floor spacing.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Martinez | Prep Girls Hoops Scout
The Lovington Wildcats (13-14) entered the 2023 Playoffs as a No. 13 seed in 4A and came so close to pulling off a March Madness upset vs No. 4 Hope Christian. A key reason as to how and why it nearly happened, was due to Malaiya Caastro. The only player from 4A to average 10+ PPG on the year, erupted for 16 pts vs the Huskies, showing her ability to score in a variety of ways just as she did all year. Castro has a nice stroke from behind the 3PT line and is money from the wings and corners.
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