BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County High School center Maci Maynard has already made a name for herself in Eastern Kentucky. But this summer, the Class of 2028 standout continues to earn national exposure by competing in one of the most prestigious youth basketball circuits in the country.
Maynard played for the Kentucky Premier team recently in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), a highly competitive program featuring only 32 teams nationwide. The EYBL circuit is renowned for attracting top-tier talent and offering players opportunities to showcase their skills in front of college coaches and recruiters.
“Our stops were Birmingham, Nashville, Phoenix, Houston, Run 4 the Roses in Louisville, and we finished at Nike Nationals in Chicago,” Maynard said. “We fell short of the Platinum bracket, but we won the Gold.”
The EYBL season spanned multiple states and elite-level tournaments, culminating at Nike Nationals earlier this month.
The 6-foot-4 Maynard continues to grow her game and compete at the highest level for her age group.
As she prepares for her upcoming sophomore season at Martin County under the direction of head coach Robin Newsome, Maynard brings back invaluable experience from facing elite competition across the country.
With three years of high school basketball still ahead, the rising star has planted herself on the radar of college scouts.
After leading the 15th Region in rebounds and averaging a double-double on the season, Maynard is on pace to break records for Martin County.