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Above the Rim

The Dispatch plays 21 Questions with Michigan Miss Basketball Finalist and

McDonald’s All American Nominee Mayla Ham of Wayne Memorial High School

By Courtney Conover CC: Summarize this past bas-
Mayla Ham, 17, was getting her ketball season—your final high
hair done when she received some of school season—in one, two, or three
the best news of her life: Her coach words.
called to inform her that she was one MH: That’s hard. I would say to-
of five finalists in the running to re- gether—that’s the word I would use
ceive the state’s most prestigious to describe our team. And that’s be-
basketball distinction: The 2023 cause after the games we lost, we
Michigan Miss Basketball award. never got down on each other, we
“Oh, my gosh. I just felt so… never put the blame on anyone else.
happy!” recalls Ham, a member of We really tried to come together to
the Wayne Memorial High School var- figure out how we could fix the prob-
sity girls basketball team. “I was so lem to be better for the next game.
excited for myself because I felt like And that kept us together as a family.
all the hard work I had put in [had CC: What are three components
paid off], and I got recognized for of your training regimen that are
something that I’ve always wanted to non-negotiable?
be a part of.” MH: Eating—and I’m not picky,
And here’s perhaps the best part: and I don’t have a special diet. But I
This wasn’t the first time Ham had really like chicken wings. I also listen
received the kind of recognition re- to music—I usually listen to old
served for a top-tier athlete. Earlier school R&B. My third is sleeping! Be-
this year, in January, Ham’s coach fore every game I have to take a nap,
had informed her that she had been especially after the school day.
named a 2023 McDonald’s All Amer- CC: You walked right into my
ican Nominee. next question: How many hours of
“I was excited about that as well!” sleep do you get each night?
Ham, a senior who graduates this MH: I would say five…at most.
spring, said. “I love to see my name I’m not a morning person—like, at
among such great players.” all—but I can stay up late at night-
Ham, who lives in Canton, is in time and not be tired.
phenomenal company. This year’s CC: You have a different respon-
class of McDonald’s All American sibility than a student who just at-
nominees follows in the footsteps of tends school every day and then goes
all-time legends such as Shaquille Wayne Memorial varsity girls basketball Head Coach Jarvis Mitchell with Mayla home. It requires motivation, organ-
O’Neal, Candace Parker, and Kobe Ham. Photo by Ryan Wright ization, and other attributes to juggle
Bryant. Only 722 of the nation’s high the demands of being a student ath-
school basketball players received Team All-Kensington Lakes Activities drives her as a student-athlete. lete. What is the most challenging as-
the honor this season. Association (KLAA) selection. pect of that?
And Ham is one of only four rep- Ham, whose heart originally be- Courtney Conover: How tall are MH: Having been at Wayne Me-
resenting the great state of Michigan. longed to the sport of gymnastics, you? morial all four years, I guess I’m just
“Acquiring accolades like that is began playing basketball in elemen- Mayla Ham: 5’8” used to it. It really hasn’t been chal-
good, but it’s even better when you tary school—primarily because her CC: How old were you when you lenging. The schedule is well thought
have a kid who really, really embod- friends were doing it. played your first game? out: Go to school, practice, work out,
ies what you want out of a kid,” The rest, as they say, is history, MH: I was in third grade. and go home—and we actually have
Jarvis Mitchell, head coach of Wayne and Ham is now headed to George- CC: What position do you cur- study hall before our practice. Then,
Memorial varsity girls basketball, town University. She’s the first mem- rently play? we have the rest of the day to our-
told WXYZ Channel 7 back in March. ber of the graduating class of 2023 MH: I play a wing/shooting guard. selves.
“[Ham] comes to work every day, to sign with the Hoyas. And George- CC: Did you always play that po- CC: Name three things about bas-
works hard, and is humble. She has town head coach James Howard sition? ketball that keep you coming back
gotten better every year.” couldn’t be happier. “Mayla has a MH: I used to play forward be- for more.
That’s an understatement. very high basketball IQ and handles cause I was usually taller than every- MH: The competitiveness, the
Ham set the freshman record for pressure very well. She is a shut one. But as I got older, everyone work that you have to put in, and
rebounds with 18 in one game in down defensive player that fits very started getting taller than me. But just how fun it is. I really love basket-
2019, led the Lady Zebras to a pair well into our defensive philosophy." my ball handling skills got better, ball.
of final four appearances in 2021 The Wayne Dispatch recently and my shooting skills got better.
and 2022, and was a three-time First caught up with Ham to learn what That’s when I transition to guard. See Basketball, page 4
The Wayne Dispatch · May 2023 · 3