Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikayla Boykin.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
My name is Mikayla Boykin! I’m from Clinton, North Carolina. I started playing basketball when I was 4 years old. My father, Timothy Boykin, worked at a gym, and my brothers Michael and Marcus would go there every day to play. As a child, I always wanted to do everything my older brother Michael did. So, once he picked up the ball, I decided to pick the ball up too. I grew up playing with my dad’s all-boys team called the Clinton Ballaz. It started as a team called wing stop, where we would go to Local tournaments and play. Everyone on the team was a boy I grew up with; to this day, we still have good relationships. But I was playing in this league, and I started getting a lot of recognition over the years because this girl from Clinton was lighting these guys up. At the age of 14, I was ranked #1 by ESPN.
When I reached 8th grade, going into my first year of high school, I committed to Duke because I knew that I wanted to fulfill my educational obligations at one of the top schools in the nation. I received my first two offers from UNC and Duke; I was faced with a handful of injuries along my journey. I battled so much mentally with tearing my ACL 4 times. In my senior year at Duke, we opted out of the season due to Covid-19. We had a new coach come in, and she told me that she wouldn’t have me back for my 5th year at Duke, so my dreams of going to Duke’s Fuqua school of business were shattered, but unexpectedly my life took a turn. My grandfather passed away that February, and by May, I had decided to transfer to UNCC to get my master’s and play basketball. While taking a leap of faith, my music took the right direction. I helped bring my team to a conference championship, conference tournament championship, and NCAA tournament appearance.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I battled depression going through my chronic injuries. I tore my ACL 4 times. 3 on my left leg and 1 on my right.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a basketball player as well as an Artist. I’ve been playing basketball my entire life, but I was inspired by a dream to create music. Since then, I have been in a mentorship program and was granted the opportunity to work with 9th Wonder, which he still helps me to this day. I’ve been making music for 2 years, and I’ve never been so happy with my growth, progress, and happiness.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
For the little girls, adults, and whoever may be reading this, I want everyone to know that it may be for a reason when things aren’t going in your favor. That reason may be something you aren’t supposed to know right at that moment, but as you continue to find yourself, happiness, and things you enjoy doing, your reason/purpose will become clearer over time. You will start to appreciate the unknown.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://snipfeed.co/mikaylaniyel
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/ChJCpiRMPp_/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikayla_niyel/status/1389042028202311680?s=21&t=V0oygONMHQX9efgspk6o3w
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRyjBSLy/
Image Credits
Emily Yellin
