Elphege Bergeron
June 13, 2018
Locals say Alberto was a successful "dry run"
June 13, 2018
South Lafourche High School junior Makayla Bynum is an undersized, but incredibly skilled guard – one of the top local players in the Class of 2020.
She makes up for her lack of size with heart, hustle, basketball IQ and the ability to stretch defenses with unlimited shooting range.
That sounds an awful lot like NBA veteran Jason Terry, who despite standing just 6-feet, 2-inches has been an impactful combo guard for 19 seasons at the professional level – one of the best 3-point shooters in the history of the game.
Coincidentally enough, fate brought Bynum and Terry to one another through AAU basketball and the NBA great saw a lot of himself in the Lady Tarpons’ guard. And now, with Terry’s faith in the junior guard, Bynum is going to be competing at one of the most prestigious AAU basketball camps in the country this summer – a chance to showcase her talents to a wider audience.
Bynum recently played in a tournament in Texas and while there, she impressed Terry and scouts with Adidas Basketball, who selected her to be part of the Adidas All-American Camp at the end of June in California.
While at the camp, Bynum will be competing with some of the best players in the country. At the end of the process, Adidas Basketball will select a team and bring
them to Europe to play against top players next summer.
Bynum, a rising junior guard, has played at the varsity level for the past two seasons at South Lafourche High School – a team which made deep playoff runs in each season. She said being picked for the camp is an honor and knowing that such a prestigious NBA player likes her style of play makes the process even sweeter.
The trip is fully funded and will be of no expense to Bynum.
“Knowing I’m 1 of about 65 girls around the country to be selected to be an Adidas All-American and being able to attend their camp is an honor,” Bynum said. “Having the opportunity for a chance to play in Europe next summer shows me that my hard work is paying off.”
Bynum is a gym rat. She is incredibly dedicated to the game of basketball.
With the Lady Tarpons, she’s been a top reserve – not because of a lack of ability but because the team’s been loaded with upperclassmen talent and multi-year returning starters.
Bynum has provided the Lady Tarpons with energy off the bench, extra shooting and also an additional on-ball defender. She was a huge part of a South Lafourche team which made the Top 28 last season and in the State Semifinals game against Neville, Bynum played well – one of just a few Lady Tarpons to shoot the ball well on a tough offensive day for South Lafourche.
That success is due to hard work. Bynum competes every practice and every game like it’s her last. When not in season, she also spends hours in the gym working either alone or with trainers to make sure that she’s always sharp and getting better in her craft.
“I’m constantly in the gym bettering myself,” Bynum said. “I’m working on ball handling, shooting defense and all aspects of my game. I’m also working on getting myself faster and stronger for the up-coming season.”
And one way that Bynum will be able to ensure that she’s ready for her junior year is through this camp, which will show her where she stands against some of the top players in the country.
Bynum said she was in awe when she learned that Terry, himself, nominated her for the honor. She called the coach an “amazing” person.
Terry still plays in the NBA and spent this past season with the Milwaukee Bucks. But in the offseason, he’s very involved in youth basketball. The day he saw Bynum play was literally days after his own season ended in the NBA Playoffs.
“Coach Jet is amazing,” Bynum said. “He’s very nice and motivational. He is extremely dedicated to youth sports and uses his position and knowledge of the game of basketball to help young athletes such as myself to pursue our dreams. … Knowing he could’ve chosen anyone to nominate to the Adidas Committee, but that he chose to nominate me, is unbelievable.”
And it’s a sign that the Lady Tarpons have another possible star in bloom in their hoops locker room.
Bynum said she knows that the 2018-19 basketball season will be a huge step up for her – from a reserve player to a starter and also likely one of the team’s top options on both sides of the floor.
Bynum said that with Traya Bruce, Victorianna Nelson and other graduating seniors gone from the program, the team will have a bit of a different look, but the expectations for the program will not change.
She said through hard work and dedication, she believes the team can accomplish its goals and continue to make the community proud.
“Of course, my ultimate goal is to win a championship,” Bynum said. “But as a team, we have to put in the work and make ourselves better individually and as a team to work our way there.”
‘Coach Jet is amazing. He s very nice and motivational. He is extremely dedicated to youth sports and uses his position and knowledge of the game of basketball to help young athletes…’
