Hines is a matchup nightmare for any players who have to guard her inside the paint. A player that can split the double team and score at will once she gets position. Athletic and linky build allows her to defend all 5 positions and score over her defenders. It is hard to believe she is only a rising sophomore as her game speaks upperclassman vibes. She knows how to get position and score and rebound in traffic. A player you have to keep from getting touches and double team to stop her. High IQ post player who can see the next pass.

I have seen Maleyah play a few (3-4) times in the past, but never without KJ Acree, who went down with an injury on the second day of the shootout. On day three it was up to Maleyah and Taylor McKinzy Taylor McKinzy 5'9" | SG Monroe | 2027 State GA to pick up the slack for Monroe against Ribault and Ware County. Hines wasted little time letting everyone in the gym know she was there in her first game of the day. You could hear oh’s and ah’s after she sprinted back in transition defense and volleyball spiked a Ribault player’s lay up attempt off the backboard sending the ball almost back out past the three point line when it came off the glass. Over the next few minutes you could see why KJ Acree herself told me in March that Hines “was next”. Elite athleticism, not good or great, Elite and standing at 6’1 she looks like she was born to play the game. She scored while being fouled twice the next few trips down the floor in emphatic and impressive fashion. She is a competitive player who took no plays off and fought through some bumps she took in the game. She has already earned multiple division one offers and that list is sure to grow as she continues to work on her overall game, something I know she has been doing a lot of. She has a very high ceiling and is nowhere near as good as she will be. She has the “it” factor and I found myself waiting to see what she was going to do next.

Hines finished the game with 23 points leading Monroe in scoring. The battle inside with her and her fellow freshman six footer Hopkins was potentially a glimpse into the future of Georgia post play as both players are turning potential into production at the right time for their teams. Both players move extremely well and use their length and wingspans to great effect. Hines has very good quickness and is bouncy around the rim. She gets up high and does it fast making her hard to block out and equally hard to defend. If she can consistently knock down shots from 10-12 feet, then Hines will be a Power Four player in college. This is something she should be able to do as she showed good form and follow through making shots at the free throw line.

Hines is a player that Acree told me her and her mom had been working out hard over the Summer so I was excited to see her play. I was not disappointed as she finished the game with 14 points and 18 rebounds for Monroe. She is the same height as Acree, but the majority of her damage was done on the block. Maleyah has footwork like a ballerina and used drop steps, spin moves, and up and under moves to great effect in the post. Hines also used her size and length to snatch several offensive boards and her quick leaping ability to get put backs fast. The upside and potential for Hines is through the roof. She received an offer from Mercer this Summer. Expect more division offers for Maleyah sooner rather than later.