Mikayla Blakes

Mikayla Blakes (born December 29, 2005) is an American college basketball player for the Vanderbilt Commodores of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

High school career Blakes played basketball for Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, New Jersey. She helped her team reach three straight New Jersey Non-Public B state finals, winning the title as a sophomore, and was twice named Courier News Player of the Year. In her senior season, Blakes was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game. Rated a five-star recruit and the number 8 player in her class by ESPN, she committed to play college basketball for Vanderbilt over offers from Indiana, Rutgers, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA, and Wisconsin.

College career On January 2, 2025, Blakes scored 36 points in a 108–82 victory over Georgia, setting a new Vanderbilt single-game record for points by a freshman. On January 19, she scored 23 points and made the game-winning shot in a 71–70 win over Tennessee. On January 30, Blakes set single-game scoring records for both the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Vanderbilt, with 53 points in a 99–86 victory over Florida. She had the most points in a game by an NCAA Division I freshman since Elena Delle Donne of Delaware in 2010. On February 16, Blakes broke the Division I freshman single-game scoring record, previously held by Delle Donne, with 55 points in a 98–88 overtime win over Auburn. She shot 23-of-24 from the free throw line and led a 15-point comeback.

Blakes was awarded the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Year by USBWA for the 2024–25 season.

Career statistics + Legend GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game FG% Field goal percentage 3P% 3-point field goal percentage FT% Free throw percentage RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game TO Turnovers per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high * Led Division I

College

Personal life Blakes' father, Monroe, played college basketball for Saint Michael's in the NCAA Division II and was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame. Her older brother, Jaylen, played college basketball for Duke before transferring to Stanford.

In April 2025, Blakes was invited to Kelsey Plum's Dawg Class, an Under Armour-sponsored camp to help top college athletes transition from collegiate to professional basketball.