Unsung Hero McDermott

Maya McDermott has been a rising star around the state of Iowa for years. Her journey as a female athlete started when she was just six-years-old. It all began at the YMCA in Johnston, Iowa where she first picked up a basketball, and she changed her pathway of life forever.

For years, Maya played under her dad as a coach, and he helped navigate her through the ways of the sports industry. Growing up, she wasn’t quite sure which sport would take her the furthest, and if you ask her she will even tell you she was more of a natural on the soccer field than the basketball court. However, as she got older, a love for basketball grew inside her that would make her decision for her.

Moving on from her days in the YMCA, Maya finally got her first chance to put on a jersey for her hometown Johnston in sixth grade. From sixth grade to eighth grade she continued to play under her dad for the Johnston Basketball Club, but when Maya entered high school she knew that she had to play at a higher level. Following the 2016-2017 season at Johnston High School, the All Iowa Attack (AIA) basketball club would become Maya’s new home for high school.

Throughout the next four years, she reached new heights in her basketball game facing future Power-5 players, including Angel Reese, the MVP and national champion of the 2023 Women’s NCAA tournament. To top off her time with AIA, she would eventually debut in the National Championship playing in front of Kevin Durant. This was such a special moment for these girls because it was one of the best NBA basketball player’s of our generation coming to support women’s high school basketball.

To this day, Maya still credits her time playing AAU basketball to being one of the biggest influences on her choice to continue her career into college. However, Johnston Dragons deserves plenty of credit for bringing Maya McDermott to shine at the University of Northern Iowa.

In just her first year as a Johnston Dragon during the 2016-17 season, Maya would eventually only start in just 50% of the games; however, she tallied 268 points making her third on the team in scoring. She would also accumulate 74 assists which brought her second overall on the team. Leading two of the major categories as just a 14-year-old, it became obvious very early on that McDermott would shine as a Dragon through the next 3 seasons.

Her sophomore and junior years she was a full time starter, leading the team both seasons and finishing with 910 points accumulated in those two seasons. But, her junior year she fell short losing in the semifinals of the Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament. She left proud, but defeated and even hungrier heading into her senior year.

2020 would be the year Maya McDer- mott led the Johnston Dragons to create school history within female sports. They had never reached the level of the State Champion Title, and she was there to lead them every step of the way. Although she would take a back seat in leading the team in scoring throughout the season, she claimed the title of All-Tournament Team Captain for the 5A IGHSAU tournament.

Even with these crazy stats and honors throughout her four years at Johnston and with All Iowa Attack Basketball Club, she would only be recruited by three Division One schools. University of Northern Iowa, South Dakota, and Milwaukee would top the

“It’s stressful but it’s fun because there’s nothing like it. You have to find your second home. Nothing is perfect but you need to stay optimistic and keep your options open. I had to learn to be a great listener,” McDermott said about the recruiting process throughout high school. She would eventually have South Dakota and Western Kentucky reach out to her, but only after she already signed her letter of intent to represent the University of Northern Iowa Panthers.

Maya came to Cedar Falls in the Fall of 2020 and had an immediate impact on the team. In just her first year of college, she would be named to the MVC All-Freshman team and receive MVC Newcomer of the week that January. She finished the season with 136 points, 31 rebounds, 43 assists, and seven steals. Due to COVID and the eligibility changes, in Maya’s second season she would still only be considered a “freshman” in the eyes of basketball. She put up even better stats as she got more comfortable on the court and in her purple and gold. During the 2021-2022 season, Maya played in all 34 games and finished the season with 185 points, 41 rebounds, 59 assists, 24 steals and one block.

The biggest thing Maya focuses on as a student athlete in this generation is the balance between having good mental health, good grades, and being able to keep her basketball game at such a high level. This generation has changed so much since the new Name, Image, and Likeness rules were introduced to the NCAA. Now that athletes can get paid to play their sport, the world is completely changing. It makes it harder for college athletes to want to try hard in school when the way they make money is by training harder and being a star athlete.

Today’s society battles so much when it comes to mental health and being a student athlete begins to add even more pressure. “One thing I make sure of is having my priorities straight as a student athlete. Yes, I want to focus on my athletics and academics but being in my early 20s I want to focus on my mental health equally as much,” said McDermott. “As a 21 year old, I’m an adult, and I have to make the right decisions on and off the court. Mental health is equally as important as physical health.”

What’s your favorite college basketball memory?

“My 2 buzzer beaters against Drake this year and beating them!”

As a full-time student studying Digital Media Leadership, she finds her balance by blocking out times for everything. Each day there are set times for class, homework, basketball, and relaxing, so she focuses on doing her best during each of those periods and moving on from that part of her life for the day.

While she still has three years left to play as a Panther, Maya has some goals she wants to accomplish. When I asked her what was the one goal she just had to have before she took off her panther jersey for the final time, it was simple, “I want an NCAA tournament appearance.” Her accolades and this goal are not possible without the continuous support she gets from her family and friends.

“My family and my circle has supported me through all the ups and downs. I don’t believe you can “fail” in this sport. I believe you have really high moments and really low moments but at this level you need to find a good median and stay there. It’s all about consistency and finding the circle who supports you for you,” McDermott said. She leans constantly on her friends, teammates, and family because being a well-known athlete and insanely busy 21-year-old can take a toll on a person’s friendships, mental health, and overall well-being.