Mikayla Blakes Named SEC Player of the Year & All-SEC First Team
Mikayla Blakes is the SEC’s Best
Today, the Southeastern Conference announced sophomore Vanderbilt Commodores guard Mikayla Blakes as the SEC Player of the Year and All-SEC First Team.
Blakes has been the engine for everything that Vanderbilt has accomplished throughout the season. While it takes a team effort, you can’t dismiss any truth about the program changing effect she has on this program.
“Mikayla Blakes is a relentless competitor. Most of the things that she has within her, I don’t coach what she has inside of her. And I say this every time you guys ask me a question about her, you’re witnessing something really special,” said Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph after the Tennessee game.
“Her biggest moments in this game were when we had to have them. That kid shows up every time. You know how hard that is to do?”
Mikayla continues to set the standard, and throughout this season she has shown the ability to take the game into her hands to help the Commodores to wins. In that, she became the first SEC player this century to average 30 points per game in league play.
She also became just the second player this century to score 30 or more points in five consecutive games versus ranked teams. Mikayla Blakes isn’t just another player that is a flash in the pan. She is special, and what is great for Vanderbilt and fans, Blakes will be around for two more seasons.
She didn’t go to the up and running hot programs to take an easier load. She wanted to do that at Vanderbilt and help build her own thing, the uncommon way.
“I mean it’s been a great journey. I just came here to do the uncommon thing and I think what we’re doing now is the reason why I came here, to be a part of that, to be under Coach Ralph and play with Justine, people like Justine being my teammate today,” said Mikayla Blakes. “And I don’t think I could have picked a better place to thrive on and off the court. It’s really good academic wise and athletic wise and everybody pours into us, so why not?”
Through the month of February, she averaged 33.25 points per game, and she capped that off with her 34 point performance at Tennessee on Sunday to snatch the Lady Vols’ hopes of a Senior Day win.
On taking games over, Mikayla Blakes knows when it is crunch time and can go from what looks like a quiet day to 30 in no time.
At Kentucky on February 5, Blakes went for 37 points after dropping 19 fourth quarter points to fend off the Wildcats. On the road in a great Lexington environment, she put on a show and did it however was necessary.
“I think she’s the best player in the country,” Ralph said. “The moments when we need her to do whatever it is that we need her to do, defensively, offensively, in the huddle, in the locker room, that kid shows up every moment.”
Her game knows no limit. She can score from anywhere on the floor, and my personal favorite is her drive to the basket. I know it sounds simple and step back threes are nice, but Blakes at 5’8″ has no issue taking it right to the teeth of the defense and scoring at the rim.
Now, with the SEC Player of the Year added to her collection, Blakes leads the Dores into postseason play starting with the SEC Tournament this weekend. But the conversation doesn’t stop there. The National Player of the Year debate is hot, and I believe it is Blakes’ to take. She has done it in the best conference in the country, against the best competition, and she has done it her way. The uncommon way.
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