Zaya played like she came to the PGH Michigan State Showcase to make a statement. She made a huge splash, turning in a dominant all-around performance for her team. Zaya jumped out of the gym, springing up off the floor for offensive rebounds. Zaya outleaped and outworked opponents for many rebounds on both ends of the court and was a putback machine. She scored a backdoor layup, dished a great assist after drawing the help on a baseline drive, and saw a wide-open teammate after pushing the ball up the court in transition to deliver a chest pass on the money. Zaya talked on defense, got to the rim with an explosive burst on her drives, swiped the ball away for a breakaway layup with her left, and used a strong power dribble to score off two feet.

I was very excited to see Zaya on the registration list for Friday’s Michigan State Showcase. The first time I saw her play was at the Breslin Center, and wow, did she make a great first impression! Zaya was the most impactful player for Brandywine against the eventual state champs. She’s effective in the paint as a face-up driver out of the high post, can score with her back to the basket, has good passing instincts, and pops out to the perimeter to drain threes. Zaya plays strong and is a prospect who could be a major stock riser at the showcase.

Zaya had nothing short of a standout performance for Brandywine in the state semifinals against Lumen Christi. She posted a near double-double with 18 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Zaya was undoubtedly the most impactful player on the court for the Bobcats, playing with poise beyond her years. Her persistence on the offensive glass, strong finishing at the rim, defensive effort, passing instincts, length, skill, and ability to hit outside shots made a memorable first impression.

In a tough game, Zaya had a breakout performance for Niles Brandywine. She was impressive, posting a near double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds, while also dishing out three assists. Zaya led the team in the heat of battle as a freshman. She rotated from the help side to block a shot, worked extremely hard inside to score offensive rebound putbacks, earned free throws, and threw a great reversal skip pass to the corner for an assist. Zaya cut into the paint, pinned her defender, spun, and elevated to score a contested layup against an athletic defender. She stepped outside to bury a smooth wing three, screened for teammates, deflected entry passes on defense, and came flying in to snatch an offensive rebound out of the rafters. She was the newcomer of the day, making a statement on the brightest stage, and will definitely be a 2029 prospect to know moving forward.

Zaya, a freshman wing/forward for Niles Brandywine, stepped up in a big way in her team’s Quarterfinal victory over Hart, leading all scorers with 17 points. Her length and athleticism make her a constant presence, especially on the defensive end where she applies relentless pressure and turns stops into transition opportunities. Zaya’s ability to impact the game in multiple areas has been key to her team’s postseason success. As Niles Brandywine faces Jackson Lumen Christi today, they’ll be counting on her to deliver another strong performance with a chance to play for a state title on the line.