#1 Mikayla Blakes

NIL on Opendorse

Career Honors

• USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Year (2024-25)
• WBCA All-American Second Team (2024-25)
• USBWA All-American Second Team (2024-25)
• ESPN All-America Second Team (2024-25)
• The Sporting News All-America Second Team (2024-25)
• The Athletic All-American Second Team (2024-25)
• Associated Press All-American Third Team (2024-25)
• WBCA All-America Honorable Mention (2024-25)
• SEC Freshman of the Year – Coaches (2024-25)
• USA Today SEC Newcomer of the Year (2024-25)
• All-SEC First Team (2024-25)
• Seven-time SEC Freshman of the Week (2024-25)
• SEC Co-Player of the Week (Feb. 11, 2025)
• Four-Time USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week (2024-25)
• Two-Time AP Player of the Week (2024-25)
• Three-time TWSA Player of the Week (2024-25)

As a Freshman (2024-25)

• Appeared in 33 games with 32 starts in her first season at Vanderbilt
• Averaged 23.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game
• Joined Khamil Pierre (20.4 ppg) to make up the only pair of teammates in all of NCAA Division I to average over 20.0 points per game this season
• Her 23.3 points per game led the Commodores and was the highest scoring average among all NCAA Division I freshmen
• Lead all freshmen nationally in seven categories
• Ranked second in the SEC in scoring (23.3 ppg), free throw percentage (88.5), points scored (769) and free throws made (193)
• Named SEC Freshman of the Week a program-record seven times (Nov. 19, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Feb. 18)
• Became the first freshman to win SEC Player of the Week since Candace Parker (’06) with her co-player of the week selection on Feb. 11)
• First Commodore to be named AP Player of the Week (Feb. 4 and Feb. 18)
• Twice scored 50-plus points in a game over a 17-day stretch, first with 53 points at Florida on Jan. 30, then had 55 points at Auburn on Feb. 16
• Her 55 points at Auburn set an NCAA single-game record for most points scored by a freshman, surpassing the 54-point total scored by Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne during her redshirt freshman season in 20
• Her 53 points at Florida were briefly an NCAA single-game record for most points scored by a true freshman
• Twice set the SEC and Vanderbilt women’s basketball single-game scoring records
• Scored 30-plus points in five games and registered 20-or-more points in 20 games
• Ended the 2024-25 season on a 19-game double-digit scoring streak
• Dished out 3-plus assists in 19 games and had three or more steals in 15 games
• Made three or more 3-point field goals in a game eight times, and a season-high of seven trifectas at Oklahoma on Feb. 20
• Led Vanderbilt in scoring in 16 games and assists in 10 games

The Blakes File

• 2024 McDonald’s All-American
• Attended Rutgers Prep in Franklin Township, New Jersey
• Participated in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game, where she scored 13 points and hit a pair of 3-pointers for the East team
• The 2024 McDonald’s All-American Games Knockout Champion
• The third McDonald’s All-American that has signed with Vanderbilt during head coach Shea Ralph’s tenure, joining Jordyn Oliver (2019) and Justine Pissott (2022)
• Highest-ranked prospect to sign with Vanderbilt under head coach Shea Ralph
• A five-star recruit according to HoopGurlz/espnW and ranked No. 8 nationally in the Class of 2024
• 2024 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year
• Jordan Brand Classic All-American
• Represented Team USA at the second annual Nike Brand Hoops Summit
• Led the Rutgers Prep to a 24-5 record during her senior season and averaged 20.4 points, 3.6 steals, and 3.2 assists per game
• Guided Rutgers Prep to three-straight New Jersey Non-Public B State Championship games, winning the state title as a sophomore
• Played for the Philly Rise on the under-17 Nike EYBL circuit, the same program that Justine Pissott played for as a prep player
• A 4.0 student at Rutgers Prep
• Chose Vanderbilt over Indiana, UCLA, Stanford, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Rutgers
• Daughter of Monroe and Nikkia Blakes
• Her brother Jaylen played basketball at Duke