Senior Makayla Moore from Archbishop Mitty High School commits to Seattle University

October 07, 2021

By Madisen Carter

Archbishop Mitty High School women’s basketball player, Makayla Moore, has been playing basketball since she was a child and is now preparing for her final season of high school basketball. In the midst of her preparation, she was given the chance to take her talent to the next level as she committed to Seattle University to play Division I basketball on Friday. 

Moore said the process of committing was a long one because since she plays for one of the best high schools in the country along with one of the best AAU teams in the nation, Cal Star, it was a battle for playing time. Both teams she played for were competitive, but she was able to get in the playing time and present her skills. 

“I would say committing felt unreal. Since I was four years old I've always dreamt of playing basketball at the next level,” Moore said. “I would say it just feels amazing to be able to play at such a high level.”

Moore had another offer to play basketball at Saint Martin’s University, also located in Washington. Moore said that when she went on her unofficial visit to Seattle University, she knew right away that Seattle University was the school she wanted to commit to. She said the culture, the food, the coaches and even the Seattle Seahawks were reasons why she wanted to be a Redhawk. 

There are already some goals that Moore has in mind when she gets to Seattle University. She said that the goals she has for the team are winning the WAC Conference, as well as making it into the NCAA Tournament, which the Redhawks’ last appearance was in 2018. For herself, she wants to win WAC Player of the Year coming out of her freshman year. Along with her goals, she is most looking forward to being a part of the team. 

“I'm really looking forward to building these bonds with my new teammates, going to a completely different state, and just experiencing college life,” Moore said.

Until she makes the move to Seattle, Moore is focused on her upcoming final season of high school basketball. Last season, Archbishop Mitty High School’s women's basketball team finished with an overall record of 13-2 and even won the West Catholic Athletic League. This year, Moore wants the Monarchs to take their game to the next level and make it to the State Championship. 

“Our team has such great chemistry this year. I've seen it during our conditioning, our lifting, our open gym. We have such a great connection [including] every single person that's going to be on the team this year,” Moore said. “I feel like if we just believe in ourselves and we believe in each other, that's the most important thing: believing in each other [and then] I think we'll make it to State.”

To prepare herself for this goal, Moore has been practicing with her dad, who has coached and trained her for most of her life up until high school. Moore said her father has been an inspiration in her life, as well as her biggest motivator. He has been passionate to get her to the next level of basketball.  

Moore has also been spending time at the Unlimited Potential Basketball training facility to prepare for her upcoming season. She has been working with the coaches since July and said the main objectives she has been working on is getting her footwork down in the post and her effectiveness on offense. 

Not only does Moore want to be successful on the court with her skills, but also be able to carry on the great amount of leadership she has seen from the past players on the team.

“I want to fill in that role as a senior. I want to be able to coach the younger players [and] teach them the culture at Mitty,” Moore said. “Coach Phillips has set up such a great program for the past 20 years, even more than that. I just want to continue [to help] her program.”

The Monarch’s season will start on November 27th when they travel to Santa Cruz. Until then, Moore will be preparing and getting ready to take on her last first game as a high school athlete. Basketball has always been a big part of Moore’s life and she appreciates the game of basketball because of how constant it has always been. 

“I can just tune everything else out. I can just focus on one thing that I know is something that I'm good at, something that won't let me down, [or] something I don't need to stress about,” Moore said. “[Basketball is] something I can just keep getting better at [and] keep progressing, knowing that, ‘Hey, this is something that I love, this is something that I'm passionate about.’ I'm just [going to] keep pushing myself to keep my love for the game.”