Kalayna Johnson '21 Recruiting Profile

My name is Kalayna Johnson, but people find it easier to call me by my middle name, Mya. I am a Native American from the Navajo tribe located in the northern part of Arizona. I am a 17 year-old senior that currently attends Westwood High School in Mesa, Arizona. I have been playing varsity basketball since my freshman year and I’ve been trained to play the 1-4 positions. 

Basketball is a big part of my life and has taught me many valuable life lessons. From leadership, attention to detail, planning, commitment, and humility just to name a few. The sport has become a lifestyle for myself and my family. My father began coaching when I was very young and the hours spent in the gym has afforded me the opportunity to learn the game. I first started playing competitively as a kid around the age of 5, but having to play up and against boys really helped me grow and mature quickly. 

I would like to make my family and native community proud by continuing to play in college. I would also like to be one of the very few Native American female athletes to play basketball at the next level. Being a Native American from the Navajo tribe in the collegiate platform could really help open many doors for other Native American athletes to pursue college sports. 

My goals when finishing high school is to keep my GPA up above a 3.8 and to graduate with high honors, which are my main priorities. In my family, grades are highly stressed, which I have to balance with basketball and other school activities. . I am currently in a sports medicine class and I am very interested in continuing this area of study in the medical field.