NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt women’s basketball head coach Shea Ralph announced the signing of Mikayla Blakes, a five-star point guard from the Garden State, on Wednesday.
The Somerset, New Jersey, native is the second member of Vanderbilt’s 2024 signing class, as she joins forward Trinity Wilson, who inked her National Letter of Intent with the Commodores back in November.
“Mikayla Blakes is the definition of elite, both on the basketball court and in the classroom,” said Vanderbilt women’s basketball head coach Shea Ralph. “From her mindset to her skill set, her academic drive to her ambition as a young woman, she will elevate our program in every single way.”
Blakes is a 2024 McDonald’s All-American and 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. Additionally, she was the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Games Knockout Champion. Blakes is the third McDonald’s All-American that has signed with Vanderbilt during Ralph’s tenure, as she joins Jordyn Oliver (2019) and Justine Pissott (2022). She is the highest-ranked prospect to sign with Vanderbilt under Ralph, as she is No. 8 in the most recent HoopGurlz/espnW rankings. Blakes was the 2024 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year and named a Jordan Brand Classic All-American. Blakes represented Team USA at the second annual Nike Brand Hoops Summit.
“Mikayla is one of the most highly decorated high school student-athletes to come through our program,” said Ralph. “She has earned numerous accolades for her achievements as a basketball player, but it is the rare intangible qualities she possesses that have always been the most impressive to me. Her competitiveness and confidence, her relentless work ethic, her passion & drive to be great, and her ability to stay laser-focused on what’s important make her a perfect fit for Vanderbilt and for our program.”
The 6-0 point guard joins the Dores after an outstanding high school career at Rutgers Prep, which was ranked as the third-best team in New Jersey this past season according to MaxPreps. She led the Argonauts to a 24-5 record during her senior season and averaged 20.4 points, 3.6 steals, and 3.2 assists per game. Blakes led Rutgers Prep to three-straight New Jersey Non-Public B State Championship games, winning the state title as a sophomore. Over the summer, Blakes played for the Philly Rise on the under-17 Nike EYBL circuit, the…