Basketball: Daysh hits the ground running

Tauranga's Makayla Daysh is making her mark on the US basketball scene. Photo / File

Makayla Daysh has made a major impact at the start of her second season of a four-year full athletic scholarship with Chadron State University, Nebraska.

The former Tauranga Girls' College student was named in The All Nebraska NCAA D2 second team - a significant selection in the highly competitive college basketball system.

"I am basically (one of) 10 kids chosen out of all D2 NCAA schools in Nebraska," Daysh said. "If you are named an All Nebraskan it means you were selected to be a part of the All Nebraska Division 2 team. There are 10 players split into two teams and I was named in the second team as the forward.

"Coming back for my second year was a lot easier just knowing a lot more people. In the last few weeks I have made a lot of new friends. We are in our third week of pre-season which is always hard.

"We are averaging 40-degree heat right now and have had a few trainings outside. We start the season on October 15 which is exciting with our first scrimmage on the 20th.

"I'm excited for this season. We have seven returners and six new players, we are looking fast and athletic, which will be great to bring into the RMAC."

Last year's pre-season was a shock for Daysh, who had never gone through such a rigorous testing before.

"It involved lifting weights three to four times a week and conditioning three times a week. Pre-season was probably the hardest thing I've physically done. Some of my team mates were sick by the rubbbish bin. But it pushed you mentally to give your all and never give up."