by By Dan Ninham
Maleighya Estes is a member of the White River Lady Tigers 2020-2021 South Dakota State Basketball Champions. She was selected Second Team All-State and was named to the All-State Tournament Team.
Maleighya scored a game winning shot in the semi-finals with seconds remaining to put the Lady Tigers into the championship game. The team beat the number one ranked and undefeated team in the state 57-37.
She has offers from a few colleges but is leaving her options open through the summer before making any commitments. More offers will be coming.
Maleighya Estes, 17, is from Lower Brule, SD. She is a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.
“I compete for myself, my father and my people that don’t have the same opportunities as I do,” said Maleighya. “When I was in fifth grade, I remember I wanted to be as good as my boy cousins, so I told my dad and we haven’t left the gym since. I’ve just played basketball.”
“My main athletic accomplishments are to get quicker and get my overall game at a higher competition level,” said Maleighya. “Before every game I pray with my spirit rock and remember who I am playing for and remember that the game is the greatest value to me.”
“My dad is my positive influence,” said Maleighya. “He knows my game, my mindset, my head and my in and out. To prepare I am in the gym all week doing workouts by myself or with my friend Joe. I didn’t change nothing according to the pandemic.”
“Mal, as she’s known by, started playing basketball at a young age,” said dad John Estes. “She’s always been good at what she does and puts a lot of effort and hard work into things just like she does with basketball. She grew up around cattle and horses her whole life and I believe being around that has created a lot of toughness for her. A lot of people don’t know that about her.”
“She loves being on her horse and working cattle, especially going to brandings. She has competed in kid’s rodeos while growing up, entering events like barrel racing, pole bending, and flag races. I even let her ride bulls a couple times and one of the times she actually won the bull riding! Her favorite event was the wild pony race, it consisted of three team members, the anchor, the mugger and the rider. She was the team’s mugger and did well at it. They were the High Plains National Wild Pony Race Champions in 2017,” added John.
“Maleighya’s been operating tractors since she was 11 years old,” said John. “She put in a lot of hours in the summertime putting up hay, and operating different types of equipment.”
“Maleighya is known as a basketball player but she also strives to be just as good in the classroom,” said John. “She carries a 3.9 GPA and is always up for academic challenges. She puts her school first before anything.”
“She’s been a starter on the varsity basketball team since she was an 8th grader, and was team MVP,” said John. “For the Love of the Game award winner and Miss Offense are some of the rewards she has received in high school basketball. She scored her 1,000th point as a sophomore and is currently pushing 2,000 points. She is using her basketball skills to hopefully get her through college. She plans on going into orthodontist school or doing an athletic training master’s program. She prides herself on hard work and dedication, she doesn’t like to fail and if she does, she figures out a way to succeed. That’s what separates her from a lot of others.”
“Maleighya Estes is always working to get better as she’s in the weight room or in the gym every chance she gets working to improve,” said Eldon Marshall, White River HS Athletic Director and highly accomplished head varsity boys’ basketball coach. “She loves to compete and wants to be the best. She’s very respectful and has that drive that not many players have, she always wants to get better and she has the talent and work ethic to be the best in whatever she puts her mind to. Most importantly, she takes care of business in the classroom and is a great student, she’s a great role model and leader by example.”
“Coach Bouman taught me to be a better defensive player,” said Maleighya. “He taught me pressure defense and to play with my feet. He helped me a lot this year to develop into the player I am now.”
“Maleighya has been a great leader for our basketball program,” said Jared Bouman, head girls’ basketball coach, White River HS (SD). “She’s our vocal leader in the locker room and on the floor. She continues to work hard in the classroom and on the court to be the best she can be. She’s always in the gym and is motivated to keep improving.”
“Coach DeShawn is very passionate about the game,” said Maleighya. “He loves every bit of it, he believes in everything he is doing and I trust him because he is so clear about his reason why he does what he’s doing. We built trust within each other quick and he loves competition along with winning.”
“For a short tenure so far with Unity basketball, she has played eight games with us,” said DeShawn Joseph, coach of Unity basketball. “Maleighya is a fierce competitor with D1 basketball ability. She carries the art of the lost midrange jump shot with the prettiest and extremely effortless shot I’ve yet to coach. Yes, I’ve coached some straight shooters!”
“Maleighya will go to play basketball for a major basketball program and she will get her orthodontist degree in the process. She has a desire to help her people and she will do just that with her own practice to help Natives Americans with dental health,” added DeShawn.
“Maleighya comes from a long line of hard workers and basketball thoroughbred family,” said DeShawn. “Her dad John is a hard-working man doing this for his daughter. Nothing but blessings from all the support she receives also. Our first story on Maleighya for Unity Facebook page eclipsed over 20k views and over 150 shares to show Indian Country she is one of the best in the land!”
Decision time is coming for Maleighya to make a college commitment. The spring and summer AAU circuit is here first.
Hi my name Luana Herrera I live in Ignacio, CO. My grandson is Jalen Michael Estes, his father is Michael Glen Estes he to is enrolled in Lower Brûlée Tribe. Congratulations