NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt sophomore guard Mikayla Blakes is more than just a baller. She's also a sister.
Blakes is the kind of sister her brother, Jaylen, proudly brags about often.
Jaylen, who played college basketball at Stanford, has watched her grow into the player she is today. Starting with pickup games at home in New Jersey to hitting game-winning shots on consecutive days while playing at Vanderbilt and Stanford.
He pushed her to be the best from a young age, literally.
"It was very physical because I wouldn't like to be pushed around," Jaylen said. "Besides that, he's really like, who I look up to just training-wise and work ethic-wise."
Mikayla is breaking away from the competition in her sophomore season, tallying new accolades often. She was named first-team All-America by the Associate Press and is the 2025-26 SEC Player of the Year.
Players to watch in 2026 women's NCAA basketball tournament
The duo reunited this season as Jaylen is home from playing professionally in Israel for Hapoel Galil Elyon while rehabbing a torn ACL in his knee.
Advertisement
"This is going to be his first time watching me in the March Madness tournament," Mikayla said. "This year was his first year actually watching me play a game in person, but we're on the phone 24/7."
Her support system extends beyond her brother. Her parents have been in their corners throughout their whole college careers.
"They made a pact with us that at least one parent would be at each game," Mikayla said. "It's kind of full circle, and everybody's here for me today, so I'm just excited."
The constant support has helped shape Blakes into the player she is today.
"The thing I learned from [Jaylen] is just to stay consistent and know who you truly are," Mikayla said. "You're going to go through ups and downs a lot of the time and rely on your family."
To most, Blakes is one of the SEC's biggest stars, but to her family, she is the sister and daughter they have supported every step of the way.
Lily Grace Kilgoreis a student in the University of Georgia's Carmical Sports Media Institute.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes' rise into Women's NCAA Tournament