Indiana women's basketball looks like they could be a serious threat in the Big Ten next season with the amount of talent recruits are going to bring in. It was announced that 4-star Indiana women's basketball recruit Maya Makalusky has been named the Gatorade Indiana Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Makalusky is the third Indiana recruit to earn this honor in her recruiting class, as Lenée Beaumon won the award for the state of Illinois, and Jules LaMendola won it for the state of Texas. The young small forward is the first Indiana winner to commit to the Hoosiers since 1002 when Marla Inman won the award and attended the university the following year.
The Fishers, Indiana native comes to Indiana as a 4-star recruit as rated by 247Sports and is the No. 13 small forward in the country and the No. 1 player in the state of Indiana. In her senior season, Makalusky averaged 22.1 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.8 steals and helped her school, Hamilton Southeastern High, to a 27-1 record in the 2024-2025 season and reach the Class 4A state semifinals.
Makalusky shot an outstanding 49% from the floor in her season season and an even more impressive 40% from beyond the three-point arc.
Makalusky was the first player to sign with the Indiana Class of 2025 recruiting and should potentially get immediate playing time with the Hoosiers next season. With senior Karoline Striplin, one of five forwards, graduating this season, Makalusky has the opportunity to make her presence known once she gets on campus.